Ryan Putnam is an art director for Facebook Messenger. Putnam’s approach to his work is fun, personal, and always forward-looking. His goal is to combine craft functionality with fine art integrity and the exacting principles of design.
In the past he was a lead illustration designer at Dropbox and has worked with other teams at Airbnb, Pinterest, Credit Karma, Stripe, Operator among others.
Change is nature, it’s inevitable. When it comes your way, do you resist or adapt? In our final chapter, we explore technology’s effects on illustration, art education, and creative careers.
There’s a big difference between a “style” and a “system.” One is fragile, the other is flexible. One is pretty, the other is proven. This week, we examine the end of the Putnam Process. How do you ensure the successful launch and legacy of an illustrated brand?
Illustration isn’t child’s play, witchcraft, or snake oil. It’s the product of practical, proven processes. And alliteration. In episode two, we discover how illustrated styles leap from ideation to visualization.
A decade ago, the tech landscape looked a lot different. For our inaugural episode, we explore how one young startup's decision to put illustration at the heart of its brand and user experience changed everything.