Hello,
With ten years of experience in digital and traditional media, I excel at complex design and art direction. To me, concept is king. But it means nothing without killer execution. From my very first day as a designer to my most recent position as a Senior Art Director, I have been the one to work as long and as late as it takes to finish the project on time and on strategy.
I fight the good fight, even when the client changes direction mid-campaign. And I never give in when the rest of the world throws up their hands and says, "It is what it is."
- Ryan Sorensen
Work
Alegent Health Physicians
What the client wants to say: “Our doctors are better than their doctors.” Knowing that's not possibly true or provable, we found a way to show the doctors as people you can trust to help you live healthy.
April 2009
Hines Horticulture Posters
Plant seeds. So very exciting. The challenge here was to make the point-of-purchase posters differentiate a commodity product from the competition.
March 2008
Bozell's Holiday Cards & Website
When wishing the agency's clients a happy non-denominational holiday, why not make up your own? Besides, nothing says holiday like mustaches.
December 2009
Waiting Room
Omaha is known mostly for three things: steak, Warren Buffett and the College World Series. Now, thanks to Conor Oberst, this list also includes indie music and emo kids. A new concert venue opening meant the need for a website and one kick-ass logo.
November 2007
Compact Power
Newly available at Home Depot stores across the county, Compact Power needed to do some heavy lifting with its consumer marketing. In a store already jam-packed with promotions, how do you get consumers to notice an unfamiliar multi-tool machine? Compare it to a multi-tool they ARE familiar with.
February 2008
Bozell Employee Handbook
How do you make sure new employees don't second-guess their decision to work at your company on their very first day? Make the new employee materials look as fun as the job itself.
July 2009
AIGA's One Inch Round
Charged with planning, promoting and designing AIGA Nebraska's latest design competition, we went small. One inch, to be exact. With AIGA Nebraska's first button design contest.
February 2009
Taste of the Nation
Share Our Strength's annual anti-hunger charity event seemed to focus more on the all-you-can-eat party than the actual charity. Enter our “Fight Against Hunger” theme.
March 2006
Benefit Poster
Answering a call for entries to an art auction for the local chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, this poster design reflected the event theme: movement.
September 2009
Sorority Websites
Endless college girls. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. Custom sites built for sorority recruitment, events and pictures.
January 2009
Miracle on 37th Street Press Kit
The Salvation Army makes miraculous things happen every day. The Nebraska headquarters also happens to be on 37th Street in Omaha. Makes for a perfect theme for a press kit.
June 2007
Savings Sidekick
When a friend asks you to go into business together, run. Unless you're looking to work very hard for a very long time before making any money. After a few years of learning, today Savings Sidekick is a national dealership with four cities and counting.
July 2009
Layers Magazine
Spec work sucks. But there's nothing wrong with a friendly design competition. Layers magazine was seeking re-design of an existing (poorly designed) site. A saucy new design (pun intended) and easy navigation made this entry win.
March 2009
Blue Cross Blue Shield Mobile Screening Unit
The Nebraska Lions decided to travel around the state offering free health screenings at large-scale events like the College World Series, the State Fair and more. Since no one wants to think about health care while drinking beer and eating funnel cakes, you'd better at least make the trailer look like fun.
June 2007
AIGA Deborah Adler Speaking Event
Deborah Adler's ties run deep. We showed how deep by playing a game of Seven Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
February 2007
Salvation Army Annual Report
The Salvation Army always begins their annual report with a story of someone the past year's donations has helped. Instead of the standard, corporate gobbledy-gook, we framed the story from the subject's viewpoint.
May 2008
AIGA Cards
For AIGA Nebraska's Greeting Card Contest, entrants didn't get to choose the occasion. But that didn't limit the creativity in design.
March 2006
Experience
Professional Theory
Design is an important aspect of everyday life, but is often not valued as a professional service. I want this to change because good design can not only make life better, it can save lives.
Work History
Art Director at Bozell from May ‘08 to present
As an art director at Bozell I have worked on First National Bank, Alegent Health, Tate & Lyle and Red Mango. I have handled national and worldwide print campaigns for these clients that include concepting strategy, promotions, guerilla marketing and non-traditional uses of media.
Art Director at Swanson Russell from May ‘07 to May ‘08
During my time at Swanson Russell I was an art director for Gateway Computers, Leupold and Compact Power. I handled national and worldwide print campaigns for these clients.
Director of Web for AIGA Nebraska from May ‘07 to March ‘10
A position on the board of AIGA Nebraska means a lot of responsibility, work and passion. I chose to spend my time on the board to help the design profession move in a positive direction. My specific duties on the board included redesigning the website, updating and maintaining the website and promoting, planning and staffing our events. During my time on the board, I organized two design contests: One Inch Round, a button design show for designers, and Love/Hate, a Valentine's Day card show.
Art Director/Web Designer at SKAR from August ‘02 to May ‘07
During my time at SKAR Advertising I was the sole web designer and developer. I was the lead on all sites from initial wire frame to interface design to layout design to HTML and CSS programming and even some of back-end development. In addition to those duties, I was also the art director for The Salvation Army, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Sue Bee Honey and others.
Designer at University of Nebraska-Lincoln from June '00 to August ‘02
Beginning my career at the University of Nebraska was an excellent learning experience. I was allowed to perfect my web design and front-end development skills by working on University department websites and printed materials. My duties included web design, print design, front end development and teaching University faculty basic web programming.
Education
1999-2002 University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska
Bachelor's of Fine Arts, GPA 3.5
Regent's Scholarship
1997-1999 Metropolitan Community College
Associates Degree in Graphic Design, GPA 3.85
Board of Governors Scholarship
Achievements
- 2008 Best in Show AMA Prism Award, ONE Branding, Gateway Computers
- 2008 Silver AIGA Award, Pocket Knife Poster, Compact Power
- 2008 Silver AIGA Award, New Employee Handbook, Bozell
- 2007 Silver ADDY Award, Game Ads, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
- 2006 Silver 9th District ADDY Award, Miracle on 37th Street, The Salvation Army
- 2006 Gold ADDY Award, Miracle on 37th Street, The Salvation Army
- 2006 Silver ADDY Award, Heather's Journal, The Salvation Army
- 2006 AIGA's Greetings The Contest (3 cards)
- 2005 AIGA’s The Show, Heather's Journal, The Salvation Army
- 2005 Silver ADDY Award, Fight Against Hunger, Taste of the Nation
- 2005 Silver ADDY Award, SKAR Advertising Website
- 2004 AIGA's Design the Hand You're Dealt (5 cards)
- 2004 Web Marketing Association Outstanding Website, SKAR Advertising Website
- 2004 Gold ADDY Award, Do Something, The Salvation Army
- 2003 PRSA Paper Anvil Award, Do Something, The Salvation Army
- 2003 PRSA Paper Anvil Award, Fight Against Hunger, Taste of the Nation
Contact
Email:
Twitter: @helloryan
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ryansorensen
Facebook: facebook.com/ryan.sorensen