Ryan Lee

Milestones

My road in life took a while to figure out.

Grew up thinking that art was something poor people did.

Graduated high school with no real plans for college.

Went to a Junior college for several years (switching my major several times).

Finally decided I wanted to do something I loved and was good at (art / design).

Transfered to Biola University and studied graphic design for 2 years.

Decided to try and enter the workforce because of the need to support my family.

Saw a random ad on Craigslist for a graphic design intern at a place called Roadtrip Nation.

Worked my up from an intern to a full-time graphic designer.

Keep following my journey

Education

High School
Trabuco Hills

Career

Graphic Designer

I design websites, print pieces, and social media collateral to help people find meaningful work.

Career Roadmap

My work combines:

Art

Design

Being Creative

Day to Day

The beginning of my morning usually consists of planning and preparing for the day. After that I meet with various teams to gather information about the projects I need to work on. Then I start creating cool stuff / pretty things. Sometime around noon I'll take a lunch break, and then continue to keep myself inspired as I iterate on my designs. This is generally what my day looks like, but being a designer always throws little challenges in my direction each and every day.

Advice for Getting Started

Here's the first step for high school students

Start early. Even if you decide to pursue a different career path, you will figure that out sooner than later if you start early. Start making things. Follow other well-known creators, and don't be afraid to look at what your peers are doing. They will always push you to be better. Don't feel like your work will never be as good as someone who has been doing it for years. Sometimes it takes time to work your way up. START EARLY!