LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Amy Kucksdorf - ReadySet
Ryan is an exceptional designer with a great deal of knowledge and experience. I managed Ryan while his time at ReadySet and we worked together very closely. What really impressed me most was Ryan's ability to think through a problem while focusing on the business goals and user needs and provide multiple solutions. He was both thorough and creative in his approach. Ryan is also just a great person to work with. He is fun, hard working and was able to collaborate easily with anyone. It’s without hesitation that I recommend Ryan if you are looking for a great designer.
Paul Lafata CEO - Lab 1886 USA
Dear Hiring Manager, I was initially impressed with Ryan’s enthusiasm, communication, and design ability when I first hired him as a Senior Designer for Lab1886. He played a critical role that blended strategy, customer insights, and UX / UI design. On our small team, he adapted right away, and found areas to immediately show value in brand development, UX design and customer workshops. Although he’s a seasoned pro, he’s also a constant learner, and never afraid to try new ways of doing things. He takes challenges in stride and open-minded to new ideas and perspectives. Clients frequently gave me feedback that they were impressed with his ability to understand the design challenge at hand, and deliver on an innovative solution. His teammates found him to be a creative thinker, outstanding designers and a reliable partner. Ryan is hard-working, with a high-bar for quality. I really enjoyed working with Ryan and he has my highest recommendation.
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Robert Ross VP, Digital Strategy, Artificial Intelligence, and User Experience - Stanley Black & Decker
Ryan was one of the first experience designers I hired when building the Digital Accelerator for Stanley Black & Decker. Over four years we worked together, I watched him grow both in his craft and in maturity. As any seasoned manager or design practitioner knows, designers are often faced with critique from colleagues who may have little experience with User Experience. Everyone has an opinion. Over the years I've seen Ryan grow from where such input was unwelcome to where he gratefully incorporates good input while respectfully listening to even bad suggestions. In both situations his colleagues leave with a positive impression and that is critical to high performing teams.
Beyond that, Ryan's skills are strong and his work ethic exceptional. He's always willing to jump in and help during crunch times. He often raises his hands for new assignments that drive value for the team even when such work is outside his daily duties. One example among many is where he designed all the branding for our teams so both the main group and each sub-group and branded identities.
I would welcome Ryan on any team I manage in the future and give him a full throated recommendation. If anyone reading this has the opportunity to hire or retain him...do so.
Todd Haislip Creative Director - Big Red Rooster
I’m writing a letter of recommendation for Ryan Walker. As a creative Director at Big Red Rooster, I supervised Ryan and Worked closely with him on a wide range of design projects, from branding initiatives to print advertising to web sites. What I loved most about Ryan was his passion for the work. He was always asking the kind of questions that challenged himself and others on the team to deliver better creative. And he enjoyed being a craftsman, taking the time to thoroughly explore and deliver on his deign solutions.
Like every creative professional, Ryan continues to grow. During our time together, I saw him work hard to refine his design skills and creative thinking, especially in the areas of web design and UX. His passion for the work and interest in professional growth made him a valuable member of our creative team.