Freshly Laundered 013 / Wade Ryan

Lucky number 13, Wade Ryan, is a designer living and working in Dallas, Texas. When he’s not busy designing sports trading cards at his day job, he’s out exploring the scene and sharpening his skills with a little side work. Read on to learn more about Wade.

CB: Tell us about your Sports Cards designs, how’d you get that gig? Where do you look for inspiration?

WR: I came across the junior designer position upon graduating from Ohio University in the spring of 2010. I had collected football cards for years as a kid and when I saw the opening I immediately applied and bothered the company until they gave me a shot. The company owns and releases many different brands that are sold annually (within all the different sports), that each have their own niche and theme. Some are very low end, some are very high end. Some have vintage/worn looks, while other brands are minimal and modern. Because of the vast difference between brands, I’m able to design in a lot of different styles. Research is a necessary key to keeping these brands fresh and reinventing them year after year. Almost any design outlet available on the web could hold value for inspiration so we as a team can get new ideas relating to color, typography, photography, and other design ideologies. Inspiration could come from someone’s shirt design, or the body style of a car, or a 3D motion graphic. It’s everywhere and all over.

CB: How’s the design community out there in Dallas? Are you involved in anything happening around town?

WR: Dallas is a huge, exciting city with so many opportunities to see great art and hear amazing designers speak. Between the vast amount of agencies and boutiques in Dallas always having shows/galleries, the ridiculously talented design community in Austin coming through, and the constant onslaught of speakers and artists showing and nationally touring - I have my pick of things to see and people to meet. I try to get out there whenever I can to meet new people and experience other artist’s work in person. Dallas has no shortage of art events or anything close to a lack of a design community.

CB: That’s great to hear that the Dallas community is vibrant and giving some love to designers and artists. It seems Austin gets all of the credit for what’s coming out of Texas these days. Got any cool side projects going right now? How do you spend your time away from your desk?

WR: I try to do as much freelance and side work as I can to get better design-wise and experience some different types of clients and business. The want to create more and get more work out there is what drew me to Cotton Bureau. My freelance clients range from all different types of people and organizations. Recently, I just got done designing a label for an up-and-coming vodka brand out of Oklahoma City that should be in Texas by the end of the year called Success Vodka. I also have re-branded and created a lot of merch for some of my favorite bands including Four Year Strong in recent months. When I’m not designing I’m usually at concerts or exploring festivals and different things around the city with friends.

CB: It seems to be a common theme that designers are into some great bands. What kind of stuff do you listen to while you’re working? How does what you’re listening to affect the outcome of your project?

WR: I typically hate when I ask someone what they listen to and they respond, “everything”, but I listen to so many different things when I'm working. I think it changes throughout the day and I go on spurts with genres depending on what’s new and the time of year. I listen to a lot of pop punk and hardcore music on a pretty regular basis. Punk rock was my first love (as far as arts) and I actually began my life as a designer when I started drawing and creating promotional materials for friend’s bands in high school. I have always been, and will always be, into those type of bands. I also listen to quite a bit of electronic music, hip-hop, and country in the summertime. I think listening to music helps me zone in on a project and really focus. The outside elements around me disappear and the music gives me a pace that’s less easily interrupted. A great album can work me through a project like it could help someone get through a tough time or a road trip.

Currently playing: State Champs - Elevated

CB: That makes a lot of sense actually. Listening to a bunch of different genres while working on a project might make your mood a little disjointed which could show up in your work. Thanks for chatting with us Wade!

To pick up Wade’s latest design, Don’t Make Plans, make sure you place your order before Wednesday, November 12th at 2pm EST. You can also keep up with Wade on twitter or via his very prolific tumblr account.