Ryan Conrad - Graphic Designer
I was born and raised in a suburb of Chicago, IL, and have been an admirer of good aesthetics for as long as I can remember. While my main passion is graphic design, I am inspired by industrial and interior design, as well as the fashion industry. I am a perfectionist and I believe a project is not complete until it is flawless. Attention to detail is what separates a good design from a great one. If you are going to do something, give it 110%, or don't do it at all. I also think that a superior work ethic can balance out a lack of experience or certain skill. Even though I am finished with formal schooling, I am constantly learning new things, in the field of design and out, because knowledge is power.
I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Millikin University in May of 2004, with a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Art/Computer Design. During my time there, I was immersed in a variety of art and design classes. Some of the more traditional [hands on] art classes I took include Drawing I and II, 2D and 3D Design Orientation, and Illustration. While those classes gave me a good background on color theory and the principles of design, the most important classes came in the later years. My computer design skills were tested and improved in classes like Computer Design Orientation, Commercial Art: Production Techniques, Ad Agency, Macromedia Flash Animation, and Commercial Art: Portfolio. I also had the opportunity to partake in numerous independent studies with the chair of the art department, a designer from a local ad agency, and with our marketing department in a recruiting research project.
I currently work as a graphic designer and production artist for Riddell (think NFL football helmets). I keep my skills sharp by taking on freelance projects, including work for The Principal Group, Bartlett Park District, Cunningham Photography, Pantel Business Systems, the Russian Hunting Agency, and Crazy-Tees.com, among others. Check the portfolio section to see a close up view of the work. As touched on briefly in the education section, I have also worked with a designer from an ad agency, to not only gain insight about how agencies work, but to improve my graphic deisgn and flash skills. I also completed a semester long research project for Millikin University's Marketing Department studying how to successfully recruit more minority students. This project included a supplemental printed recruitment piece based on my research. See more on my resume...here
My design philoshopy is to keep it simple and effective. Many desingers get too engulfed in "the look" they are trying to achieve. What I've found as I've developed as a designer is that my first priority is to successfully communicate a message, and that the design is secondary. No matter how good something looks, if it doesn't get the point across effectively, it isn't successful. For that reason, I focus on what the client wants their piece to communicate. After that has been decided, it is time to work on a design that can communicate that message while being aesthetically pleasing and representative of the client or his/her company. A well designed piece reflects positively on a company, the same way a poor piece reflects negatively.
In short, I design pieces that look great, so you look great.