RYAN SIMPSON / CREATIVE DIRECTOR

WEBSITE

ryanscottsimpson.com

SUMMARY

AWARD-WINNING CREATIVE DIRECTOR WITH OVER 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN

Creating innovative ad campaigns for both national and global markets in experiential, traditional, social and guerrilla styles of marketing. Thrives at leadership, conceptual storytelling and design with a passion for mentoring.

EXPERIENCE

FREELANCE•SEPT 2023 – PRESENT

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
• Working with multiple clients•Designing bespoke merch for an international music artist • Crafting fully immersive creative for an experiential agency • Fully re-branding a B2B consulting agency •

WEBER SHANDWICK•OCT 2022 – AUG 2023

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
• Captained a dynamic team of 20+ creatives•Oversaw the ideation and execution of organic, earned and paid social media campaigns and content that increased brand awareness and engagement by 65% • Managed and worked intensely on an animation for a social post that was picked up by 860 Chevy Dealers resulting in an engagement rate of 34.7%. This generated 78,243 impressions, 53 click-throughs and 521 engagements — making it one of the most successful Chevy dealer social posts ever •

FIRST FIGHT•MAR 2022 – SEPT 2022

CREATIVE DIRECTOR
• Led a talented team of designers and animators working in 2D, 3D & cel animation, Illustration, broadcast, print and all things design from concept to completion for a wide variety of clients • Creatively managed a mini-documentary focused on educating the citizens of Metro Detroit about their wastewater system which ultimately went on to win the studio its first Emmy award •

COMMONWEALTH MCCANN•APR 2013 – MAR 2022

SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
• Juggled a multitude of projects while working on experiential, broadcast, print and digital for both the national and global Chevrolet account • Pioneered and created all creative for Chevy Events & Promotions allowing supervisors to focus on other teams • Traveled to events to be on-site with clients for creative support and representation • Gained national attention for Chevy at the Army-Navy Game, CMA Festival and also MLB All-Star Game with immersive design experiences and activations • Worked on a pro bono project for Humble Design and self-funded my own trip out to the West Coast to oversee the production and help our creative come to life •

GOODBY, SILVERSTEIN & PARTNERS•MAY 2011 – APR 2013

ART DIRECTOR
• Worked on broadcast, print, digital and experiential innovation for the national and global Chevrolet account, Detroit Institute of Arts and Alternatives for Girls (nonprofit) • Created a national guerrilla marketing campaign for Chevy that ultimately won a D Show award •

DOCTORx MAGAZINE•JUN 2010 – JAN 2011

FREELANCE DESIGNER
• Designed layouts • Worked with fellow designers to keep and maintain a cohesive look and feel that suited the magazine’s aesthetic •

DRIVEN SOLUTIONS INC.•JAN 2010 – MAY 2010

COPYWRITER/ART DIRECTOR INTERN
• Created various advertising pieces • Wrote and co-directed a commercial shoot •

DISNEY COLLEGE PROGRAM•AUG 2005 – JAN 2006

LIFEGUARD
• Stationed at Blizzard Beach and various resort pools in Walt Disney World • Worked alongside coordinators and participated in team building events •

EDUCATION

BACHELOR OF FINE ARTS (BFA) in Advertising Design

COLLEGE FOR CREATIVE STUDIES Detroit, MI

• AD School: 2006-May 2010

• Dean’s List: Winter 2008

MACOMB COMMUNITY COLLEGE Sterling Heights, MI

• Studied Art: 2005-2006

• Studied Biology: 2003-2006

SKILLS

LEADERSHIP • MENTORING • CONCEPTING • STORYTELLING • DETAIL-ORIENTED • ART DIRECTION & DESIGN

PROGRAMS/APPS InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Procreate, Fresco, Premiere & After Effects (basics)

ACCOLADES

Emmy • Public Affairs Program - First Fight
D Show Honoree • Experiential/Live Shows - First Fight
D Show Winner • Guerrilla marketing - GS&P
Shorty Awards Finalist • Chevy Lofi Animation - Weber Shandwick
Motorola competition • First place