We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ryan Lytle . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ryan below.
Ryan , so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I strongly advocate for creating opportunities to experience boredom. Engaging in activities like walking, journaling, or meditating can be highly effective. Turn off any music or podcasts if possible as well. From personal experience, I’ve found that embracing boredom can be an effective remedy for creative blocks. Often, taking a step back and allowing yourself some idle time can be more beneficial than continuously striving to push forward.
In most projects I take on, I also work in sets of time. It gives you a chance to breathe while working on a project rather than trying to crunch it all in one go.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I run a freelance business called Ryan Lytle Design and specialize in social media marketing and brand design. I began my graphic design journey at 13 years old and have loved everything about it since. Although the creative process is always enjoyable, the most fulfilling aspect for me is the significant impact my work has had on dozens of businesses and their communities.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Understanding of Human Psychology
I think human psychology is fascinating and extremely useful to understand for the purpose of creative work. Whether it is understanding color theory, visual hierarchy, or confirmation bias, there is so much to learn about how our brains work. This understanding can greatly enhance the effectiveness of creative work, making it more impactful and resonant with audiences.
2. Thirst for Knowledge
I’ve learned so much through YouTube, reading books, listening to podcasts, and more. It’s important to get in the “reps” with creative work, but you should seek outside sources to learn both hard and soft skills. Additionally, continually asking questions and seeking feedback is essential for further development.
3. Attention to Detail
Attention to detail extends beyond the visual aspects; it encompasses understanding the nuances of a project’s goals, the audience’s wants and needs, and the message being conveyed. Furthermore, it’s about being meticulous in your research, careful in your execution, and thoughtful in your revisions.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
It depends on the situation, but I believe becoming more well-rounded is most important. I’ve always had the “swiss-army knife” mindset in life. I constantly push myself to do things outside of graphic design like videography, editing photos and videos, and copywriting. I find that skills are often transferable, and engaging in a variety of creative endeavors is both refreshing and enriching. Especially when collaborating with other creatives on other projects, it is extremely useful to understand how to do a mix of everything. However, there’s a good balance you need to find, and mainly focusing on one area is important as well. For me, that is always graphic design.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ryanlytledesign.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-lytle/
