ryan smith

Ryan went about this all wrong. In high school he loved creating layouts for his band's demo tapes using construction paper, tape, and photocopied photos. He was in school plays and wrote tunes for his hardcore band that his mom hated. Long before that, he was part of a small minority of boys that got stoked for art class over gym and recess. Not exactly prerequisites for a business degree. So after graduating from Loyola College, Ryan was eager to revisit his creative youth. Inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit and genius of Shawn Fanning (of Napster fame), Ryan picked up an HTML book and decided his future would be on the web.

"I was amazed at how a 20 year old could execute on a creative idea that could transform the way we consumed media. It was the first time I experienced the web serve a greater purpose than just its basic function. I also got many great albums for free."

Fast forward to present day, and Ryan is Planit's associate creative director, interactive. His role requires him to focus and lead an award-winning interactive team on achieving the big picture. If he learned anything from his studies, it's that any idea must have a greater purpose to be great. Whether that idea simply changes the identity of a company online, or completely transforms the way they do business, the idea must be innovative, thought provoking, and most importantly, relevant.

While at Planit, Ryan has served as an interactive production designer, an interactive designer, and the interactive art director. As art director, he received several AAB Addy Awards, a National Addy, a Webby Nomination, and an Honorary Webby Nomination for his efforts with HBO's famous Comic Relief. Ryan has created information/business architectures and designs for national franchises, higher-ed clients including The Johns Hopkins University and Georgetown Medicine, and cultural arts institutions like The Walters Art Museum, Lincoln Center, and The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.