Info
Ryan Essmaker is a creative director, designer, photographer, and filmmaker. He was the cofounder and creative director of The Great Discontent, an internationally distributed magazine known for its in-depth conversations with artists, makers, and risk-takers. The magazine was sold in 2019.
With 25 years of experience in design and tech, Ryan has collaborated with clients such as Mailchimp, Adobe, National Geographic Society, Kickstarter, NBC Universal, the Clinton Foundation, Under Armour, and the City of New York.
Email / Instagram
With 25 years of experience in design and tech, Ryan has collaborated with clients such as Mailchimp, Adobe, National Geographic Society, Kickstarter, NBC Universal, the Clinton Foundation, Under Armour, and the City of New York.
Email / Instagram
CV
Modern Treasury | Principal Brand Designer
In addition to my role on the brand design team, I oversee and produce all in-house video productions at the company.
In addition to my role on the brand design team, I oversee and produce all in-house video productions at the company.
July 2022-Present
Tellie | Head of Design, Lead Product Designer
Served as lead product designer and executive team member, overseeing both product and brand design. Led a complete rebrand and helped drive a strategic pivot from synchronized video to a site builder for creatives.
Served as lead product designer and executive team member, overseeing both product and brand design. Led a complete rebrand and helped drive a strategic pivot from synchronized video to a site builder for creatives.
Apr 2020-July 2022
Simplecast | Head of Design, Lead Product Designer
Led all creative and product design efforts, reporting directly to the CEO. Delivered a full internal rebrand and app redesign in 2018. Post-acquisition by SiriusXM, Simplecast continues to power many of today’s top podcasts.
Led all creative and product design efforts, reporting directly to the CEO. Delivered a full internal rebrand and app redesign in 2018. Post-acquisition by SiriusXM, Simplecast continues to power many of today’s top podcasts.
Feb 2018-Nov 2019
The Great Discontent | Cofounder, Creative Director
Cofounded and led creative direction for TGD, which evolved from an online interview magazine into 7 print editions, films, a podcast, and 20+ sold-out live events in NYC. It was the first fully responsive long-form, art-directed editorial site — influencing a new era of digital magazine design. Sold in 2019.
Cofounded and led creative direction for TGD, which evolved from an online interview magazine into 7 print editions, films, a podcast, and 20+ sold-out live events in NYC. It was the first fully responsive long-form, art-directed editorial site — influencing a new era of digital magazine design. Sold in 2019.
Aug 2011-Nov 2019
Fictive Kin | Senior Designer, Product Designer
Balanced internal product development with high-profile client work, including homepage redesigns for Kickstarter and National Geographic Society, and the launch of Marketplace.city for NYC. Also contributed branding and UX for early-stage startups.
Balanced internal product development with high-profile client work, including homepage redesigns for Kickstarter and National Geographic Society, and the launch of Marketplace.city for NYC. Also contributed branding and UX for early-stage startups.
Jan 2015-Jan 2018
Crush & Lovely | Creative Director, Head of Product
Led the design team and internal product development. Delivered client work including an iPad app for NBC Universal, a film project for Under Armour, and web experiences for Adobe and the Clinton Foundation. Helped scale the studio from 5 to 20+ people before transitioning to focus on TGD.
Led the design team and internal product development. Delivered client work including an iPad app for NBC Universal, a film project for Under Armour, and web experiences for Adobe and the Clinton Foundation. Helped scale the studio from 5 to 20+ people before transitioning to focus on TGD.
Dec 2011-Jan 2014
Independent Designer/Front-end Developer
2000-2011