My work sits at the intersection of craft and systems thinking, shaped by a background in print design and a decade of building digital products.

I’m a product designer with roots in traditional graphic design. I earned my BFA in Graphic Design and came up in the world of print, branding, and environmental design (the kind of work that teaches you craft, intention, and how to make things feel human).
In 2012, I shifted into digital product design when I joined a startup called Vizify. That move opened the door to everything I do today: shaping complex systems, building clear product narratives, and helping startups translate big ideas into intuitive, thoughtful software. Since then, I’ve worked across ad-tech, fintech/crypto, biotech, and early-stage tools, often as a fractional design lead partnering directly with founders and engineering teams.
My approach blends strategy, interaction design, and brand. I care as much about how something works as how it feels. I try to build products that are honest, modern, and easy to understand, no matter how technical they are behind the scenes.
Outside of design, I write and record music. It’s a big part of my life and influences how I think about rhythm, restraint, and storytelling in the work.
I live in Portland with my family, and when I’m not designing, I’m usually running, surfing, or playing guitar.
What I focus on
UX and product design
Design leadership
Data visualization and interface design
Visual and brand systems
Fractional Head of Design partnerships
Where I apply it
Biotech, ad-tech, fintech/crypto, consumer apps, sport & fitness, civic/utility.
Check out my resumé here.
Interested in working together? Let’s talk – love@ryanmassad.com