Ryan Cady is a multidisciplinary designer, coder, technologist, and educator.

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I recently earned my graduate degree from NYU in Interactive Media Arts (IMA LOW RES), an international joint program between NYU Tisch's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) and NYU Shanghai, with residencies in NYC, Berlin, and Shanghai.

I am currently exploring new opportunities that allow me to blend my passion for design and technology to create engaging interactive experiences.

I also teach adjunct in the Communication Design department at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit and remotely for the Masters of Graphic & Web Design program at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Previously, I spent over a decade leading design efforts at AllMusic.com, where I shaped its UX, UI, and digital strategy.

Over the years, I have collaborated with a variety of clients and agencies, including Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Digitas, General Motors, Microsoft, Organic, and Target. My work has been featured and recognized with awards from How Magazine, The FWA, The AIGA Design Review, UCDA Design Awards, and Print Magazine.

Interested in working together? Let's connect on LinkedIn or get in touch.

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Recent Work

All Projects

All Projects

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Ryan Andrew Cady

Creative Direction

Interaction Design

Code & Technology

About

With over 15 years of experience in digital design and creative direction, I bring a passion for blending creativity with strategy to elevate brands across digital platforms. I've led cross-functional teams to develop impactful content and user interfaces that resonate deeply with audiences. From concept to execution, my focus is on delivering visually compelling and user-friendly solutions that drive engagement and fuel growth.

Education

MA, Interactive Media Arts (2024)

NYU Tisch School of the Arts

New York, NY

BFA, Communication Design (2005)

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, MI

Skills

Creative Leadership: Creative Direction, Design Thinking, Strategy, Project Management

Digital & Interaction: Interaction Design, Creative Technology, UX/UI Design, Prototyping

Design & Visualization: Graphic Design, Typography, Branding, Advertising

Programming Languages: HTML + CSS, JavaScript, P5js, THREE.js

Design Tools: Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, AfterEffects

Teaching Experience

Adjunct Faculty - Communication Design (BFA)

College for Creative Studies

UX, UI, Interaction Design

September 2010 - Present

Adjunct Faculty - Graphic & Web Design (MA)

Minneapolis College of Art & Design

UX, Web Design

January 2025 - Present

Fixed-Term Instructor - Graphic Design (BFA)

Michigan State University

Senior Seminar & Professional Practice

September 2025 - Present

ITP Camp

New York University

DIY Record Pressing Workshop

June 2025

Adjunct Faculty - Graphic Design (BFA)

Wayne State University

Interactivity

January 2017 - December 2020

Experience

Adjunct Faculty - Communication Design & Strategy (BFA)

College for Creative Studies

Detroit, MI

September 2010 - Present

  • Designed curriculum and lecture presentations, teaching fundamentals of UX/UI, interaction design, and technology.
  • Created lesson plans, assignments, and assessments to ensure course objectives were met.
  • Mentored and advised students on portfolio development and career opportunities in design industries.

Adjunct Faculty - Graphic & Web Design (MA)

Minneapolis College of Art & Design

Minneapolis, MN (Remote)

January 2025 - Present

  • Teach UX Design principles, emphasizing functionality and aesthetics in crafting exceptional user experiences.
  • Guide students in user-centered design processes, usability testing, and analytics.
  • Mentor in professional deliverables like personas, wireframes, prototypes, and customer experience maps.
  • Use tools like Figma and Miro to implement project-based learning.

Senior Designer

AllMusic.com

Ann Arbor, MI

July 2012 - November 2024

  • Oversee ideation, development, and execution of UX/UI, branding, product design, art direction, and special promotion projects.
  • Directed responsive redesign of AllMusic.com from the ground up, overhauling desktop and mobile user experiences with new integrated profile features such as user profiles, the ability to write album and song reviews, and create custom lists of albums.
  • Conducted thorough digital audits to identify areas for improvement, resulting in improved user experience and optimizations which increased SEO and decreased website load times.
  • Establish comprehensive style guides to ensure consistent branding across all platforms.
  • Highlighted in How Magazine's 2014 Interactive Design Annual and received recognition in the Public Shortlist by Favourite Website Awards (FWA) in 2014.

Label Guy

Selfish Agenda

2012 - Present

  • Managed all aspects of running a small record label, including A&R, manufacturing, distribution, bookkeeping, advertising, and graphic design.
  • Successfully released records for Saturday Looks Good To Me, Winter Bear, KATIEE, and Virga.

Senior Art Director

Digitas

Detroit, MI

March 2011 - June 2012

  • Provided art direction and web design for GM.com, supporting major brands like Buick, GMC, OnStar, and eBay with content ideation and strategy.
  • Created and presented prototypes for an editorial tablet version of GM.com to better explain their corporate story and philosophy.
  • Streamlined the car buying process by organizing large datasets and developing an advanced search interface to help users easily find specific makes, models, and pricing.
  • Designed marketing assets across web, tablet, video, and mobile platforms to support external advertising efforts and promote corporate culture and workplace diversity.

Graphic Designer - Cadillac Studio

General Motors

Detroit, MI

April 2010 - March 2011

  • Collaborated with the studio director and industrial designers to develop cohesive branding and presentation strategies for the Cadillac studio.
  • Partnered with the studio director and industrial designers to develop a cohesive brand identity for the Cadillac studio, creating a style guide to represent the brand, tone, and mission to internal stakeholders.
  • Developed large-scale slide decks presented to corporate leadership to showcase upcoming car models, competitive analysis, and business data infographics.

Interactive Designer

Vectorform

Royal Oak, MI

April 2009 - April 2010

  • Collaborated closely with programmers to develop cutting-edge technical solutions for the original Microsoft Surface and iOS devices, designing interactive interfaces primarily for touchscreens.
  • Took the lead in developing interface designs, providing art direction, building wireframes and prototypes, and ensuring quality assurance to align with brand standards, creating games and digital experiences for the original Microsoft Surface, which were displayed in Microsoft Stores and trade shows.
  • Developed custom car configurators for auto shows, allowing potential buyers to explore different models, colors, and feature options.

Interactive Designer

Ham in the Fridge

Minneapolis, MN

September 2006 - October 2007

  • Designed Cartoon Network's Clipbook, an interactive drawing and animation tool that boosted audience engagement.
  • Created storyboards and interface graphics for Adult Swim's game Five Minutes to Kill Yourself.
  • Designed an interactive, timeline-based gallery for Al Franken's Senate Campaign to help promote his platform and grow his following.
  • Created layouts for Target's Club Wedding Gift Registry Program.