Steven Ryan
Partner, Design Lead at Substance Collective- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Silas Munro
Steve Ryan is a great boss. I don't think I fully realized how much mentorship he provided at the time. He was very communicative, gave an abundance of insight in to how to be a working professional (beyond just design), and best of all gave me more responsibility and freedom than I thought I could handle without overwhelming me. I'm a better designer and better professional because of the experience.
Geoffrey Mark
Steve Ryan is arguably one of the best designers and design leaders in the country, if not internationally. Always humble, inquisitive to the core, and never satisfied with the obvious solution, I witnessed the passion and devotion Steve has for the practice of strategic design for over 5 years at VSA Partners. Steve is an intellectual, has an uncanny sense for the ever-changing movements in contemporary culture, and formally, is a brilliant typographer and image-maker. His work always seems to hit the target, from a business, brand and customer standpoint. As a leader, I've noted first-hand his kind and collegial demeanor toward mentoring and collaboration -- the results show in the awe-inspiring quality of the work his teams produce. It was a pleasure and honor working and learning from Steve. Both clients and colleagues can expect inspiring, unexpected, and thoughtful work that makes a positive difference with Steve at the helm.
Silas Munro
Steve Ryan is a great boss. I don't think I fully realized how much mentorship he provided at the time. He was very communicative, gave an abundance of insight in to how to be a working professional (beyond just design), and best of all gave me more responsibility and freedom than I thought I could handle without overwhelming me. I'm a better designer and better professional because of the experience.
Geoffrey Mark
Steve Ryan is arguably one of the best designers and design leaders in the country, if not internationally. Always humble, inquisitive to the core, and never satisfied with the obvious solution, I witnessed the passion and devotion Steve has for the practice of strategic design for over 5 years at VSA Partners. Steve is an intellectual, has an uncanny sense for the ever-changing movements in contemporary culture, and formally, is a brilliant typographer and image-maker. His work always seems to hit the target, from a business, brand and customer standpoint. As a leader, I've noted first-hand his kind and collegial demeanor toward mentoring and collaboration -- the results show in the awe-inspiring quality of the work his teams produce. It was a pleasure and honor working and learning from Steve. Both clients and colleagues can expect inspiring, unexpected, and thoughtful work that makes a positive difference with Steve at the helm.
Silas Munro
Steve Ryan is a great boss. I don't think I fully realized how much mentorship he provided at the time. He was very communicative, gave an abundance of insight in to how to be a working professional (beyond just design), and best of all gave me more responsibility and freedom than I thought I could handle without overwhelming me. I'm a better designer and better professional because of the experience.
Geoffrey Mark
Steve Ryan is arguably one of the best designers and design leaders in the country, if not internationally. Always humble, inquisitive to the core, and never satisfied with the obvious solution, I witnessed the passion and devotion Steve has for the practice of strategic design for over 5 years at VSA Partners. Steve is an intellectual, has an uncanny sense for the ever-changing movements in contemporary culture, and formally, is a brilliant typographer and image-maker. His work always seems to hit the target, from a business, brand and customer standpoint. As a leader, I've noted first-hand his kind and collegial demeanor toward mentoring and collaboration -- the results show in the awe-inspiring quality of the work his teams produce. It was a pleasure and honor working and learning from Steve. Both clients and colleagues can expect inspiring, unexpected, and thoughtful work that makes a positive difference with Steve at the helm.
Silas Munro
Steve Ryan is a great boss. I don't think I fully realized how much mentorship he provided at the time. He was very communicative, gave an abundance of insight in to how to be a working professional (beyond just design), and best of all gave me more responsibility and freedom than I thought I could handle without overwhelming me. I'm a better designer and better professional because of the experience.
Geoffrey Mark
Steve Ryan is arguably one of the best designers and design leaders in the country, if not internationally. Always humble, inquisitive to the core, and never satisfied with the obvious solution, I witnessed the passion and devotion Steve has for the practice of strategic design for over 5 years at VSA Partners. Steve is an intellectual, has an uncanny sense for the ever-changing movements in contemporary culture, and formally, is a brilliant typographer and image-maker. His work always seems to hit the target, from a business, brand and customer standpoint. As a leader, I've noted first-hand his kind and collegial demeanor toward mentoring and collaboration -- the results show in the awe-inspiring quality of the work his teams produce. It was a pleasure and honor working and learning from Steve. Both clients and colleagues can expect inspiring, unexpected, and thoughtful work that makes a positive difference with Steve at the helm.
Experience
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Substance Collective
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United States
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Design Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Partner, Design Lead
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Jul 2020 - Present
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Co-Founder
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Jul 2013 - Present
Co-Founder, Partner, and Co-Creative Lead Manage and oversee creative direction, design, manufacturing, and marketing of a range of products for the marching arts—the fastest growing youth activity in America*. Our offerings include custom-designed dye-sublimated performance wear & props, footwear & gloves, program consulting. Co-Founder, Partner, and Co-Creative Lead Manage and oversee creative direction, design, manufacturing, and marketing of a range of products for the marching arts—the fastest growing youth activity in America*. Our offerings include custom-designed dye-sublimated performance wear & props, footwear & gloves, program consulting.
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Cooler Screens Inc.
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United States
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Advertising Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Vice President of Design
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Jul 2018 - May 2020
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Massive Change Network
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United States
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Design Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Executive Creative Director
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Feb 2017 - May 2017
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Institute of Design (ID)
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United States
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Design Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Adjunct Professor
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Jan 2016 - May 2016
I will be co-teaching a graduate class for foundation students that will focus on principles of brand identity and brand expression design systems. I will be co-teaching a graduate class for foundation students that will focus on principles of brand identity and brand expression design systems.
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VSA Partners
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United States
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Design Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Partner
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Dec 2007 - Jan 2016
Partner, Design Discipline Lead Responsible for strategy, growth and management of client teams servicing accounts including ALDO, Best Buy, Coca-Cola, Converse, Flor, IBM, Mohawk Papers, Motorola, Sappi, SRAM, Sony, and Under Armour. Specific experiences include user-centered design, branding design & management, ideation workshop facilitation, innovation design, retail marketing, stakeholder communications Partner, Design Discipline Lead Responsible for strategy, growth and management of client teams servicing accounts including ALDO, Best Buy, Coca-Cola, Converse, Flor, IBM, Mohawk Papers, Motorola, Sappi, SRAM, Sony, and Under Armour. Specific experiences include user-centered design, branding design & management, ideation workshop facilitation, innovation design, retail marketing, stakeholder communications
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VSA Partners
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United States
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Design Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Creative Director and Associate Partner
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May 1994 - Sep 2007
Provided creative direction for creative teams servicing clients including Best Buy, Coca-Cola, Converse, Flor, IBM, Mohawk Papers, Motorola, Sappi, Sony, and Under Armour. Provided creative direction for creative teams servicing clients including Best Buy, Coca-Cola, Converse, Flor, IBM, Mohawk Papers, Motorola, Sappi, Sony, and Under Armour.
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Education
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2012 - 2014
Institute of Design, Illinois Institute of Technology
Master of Design Methods (MDM) (candidate), Design -
1991 - 1995
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago
BFA, Design and Visual Communications, General
Community
