Design Systems
A love of design and code has shaped my 20-year journey, leading to my current focus on design systems.
Air
Carrier’s open source design system for creating engaging, beautiful, and intuitive digital experiences.
ViewFigma Plugins
Hand-crafted tools to simplify adoption, reduce friction, and unlock efficiency for designers.
ViewElement
Bayer’s single source of truth enabling product teams to build better websites and applications.
ViewBehind the Craft
Design with Purpose
Good design is built on intention. From naming tokens to shaping documentation, every detail is an opportunity to make things clearer, more consistent, and easier for teams to use and scale.
Learn Relentlessly
I’ve always been curious, and that curiosity pushes me to explore new tools, dive into code, and ask questions that lead to better solutions. I love figuring things out and picking up new skills that help me grow — as a designer, a developer, and a collaborator.
Build to Empower
I build tools, templates, and systems that help other people move faster with more confidence. For me, success isn’t just about shipping something — it’s about enabling teams to build, scale, and solve problems without friction.
Think in Systems
I naturally zoom out to see the bigger picture. Whether I’m working across frameworks or guiding a design language, I’m always thinking about how things connect — how design, code, and people all fit together to create something scalable and sustainable.
Background
I'm a multidisciplinary designer with a heart for people and problem-solving.
CARRIER ☉ CURRENT
Design System Lead
Driving the evolution and adoption of Air, Carrier’s cross-platform enterprise design system. I shape Air’s vision and strategy—building a foundation of principles, guidelines, and scalable components that bring consistency to the Carrier ecosystem.
BAYER ☉ 2022
Senior Product Designer
While evolving Bayer’s Element design system, I developed atomic-based component libraries and theme systems in Figma while ensuring precise parity between React and Vue implementations.
NEW BALANCE ☉ 2021
Product Designer
During a maternity leave contract, I collaborated with the UX team on a variety of user research initiatives for newbalance.com, leveraging competitive analysis, market research, and consumer survey feedback/data to deliver design-centric solutions.
View my full work history on LinkedIn.
References
Kind words from talented colleagues.
If you are lucky you get to work with really talented people. If you are truly fortunate, you get to work with really good humans. Ryan has both those bases covered for me. Always taking care of design business, but more importantly, taking care of those around him.
Nathan Forness Design Studio Lead @ Bayer
Ryan is one of those rare individuals that has incredible design AND technical talents. He comes up with original design concepts and executes them to perfection.
Michael Teitelbaum President @ Baltimore Magazine
He would take the vision we had discussed and make it BETTER than I had envisioned it would ever be. Seriously, designers who do this are worth their weight in gold.
Jim Dalton Software Engineer @ Contentful
I’ve worked with Ryan for a few years now and I can say he has an amazing creative talent. He also has the ability to manage projects, people and timelines, which is a unique and valuable skill.
Kate Wilson VP Events @ ERE Media
It’s a thing of beauty, honestly. The work established here = time, calories, and money saved down the line.
Kevin Tangney Director of Design @ Carrier
Working with Ryan never felt like work. To be a great UX designer you have to be open and willing to see all angles of a potential opportunity, and Ryan is great at this.
Jeremy Carrus Senior Product Designer @ New Balance
Looking for additional references?
About
Outside the grid.
When I’m not designing, you can find me at the lake fishing or riding bikes with my kids, watching DIY videos or inside The Chapel (my three car garage turned studio) nurturing my endless love affair for 80s New Wave.
I love to learn.
I appreciate there are so many options available today. I’m currently diving deeper into React JS and just obtained my white belt in Swift.
Complete React JSUdemy
Swift FundamentalsCode With ChrisAnd read, especially to my kids.
How should a company innovate with MVPs and a Lean Startup methodology? Will Talenel escape Damnation to seek revenge on his brethren Heralds of the Almighty? Let’s find out!
Lean Product PlaybookDan Olsen
The Way Of KingsBrandon SandersonAnd give back.
These are dear friends using the power of sport to protect, respect and support homeless and street-connected children. This is part of the change I want to see in our world and I’m thankful they let me tag along as a volunteer.
And record music, when I have time.
These are dear friends using the power of sport to protect, respect and support homeless and street-connected children. This is part of the change I want to see in our world and I’m thankful they let me tag along as a volunteer.