Humans of The Summer Studio: Ryan
Meet Ryan (our second Ryan of The Summer Studio)
Next up in our Humans of The Summer Studio- 2025 Edition: Ryan!
Ryan is a Senior Product Designer at Procore Technologies, and his design resume reads like someone who never met a medium they couldn't master—digital, analog, 2D, 3D, he's done it all. But what makes Ryan special isn't just his range; it's the thoughtful seriousness he brings to every project. He's not flashy about it—he's the person who asks the grounding question when a conversation gets too abstract, who brings the team back to what matters. Procore's leadership recognized his potential and sent him to The Summer Studio, and Ryan made the most of it. His quiet intensity became an anchor for the group.
Check out his reflections on the studio experience below.
How did you first hear about The Summer Studio, and what made you decide to attend?
I first heard about the program from the Senior Manager of my group, he sent me an overview and asked me if I had heard of it. It sounded like a really interesting and cool opportunity to meet new people and work on a different problem set than I normally encounter in my role.
What moment or activity from the week stands out most in your memory?
Writing and sharing our introductions was an incredible experience for me. The focus on identifying and articulating who you are as a designer was a really interesting activity for self reflection and helped me shape not only my brand for who I am now but where I want to go next. The dedicated time to think about this, critique it, and reflect, was invaluable and something I am not sure I would have done otherwise.
What did you learn from collaborating with the other Fellows, Principal Designers, and/or Client?
I learned the most from how people from different industries approached the problem, we took a different approach to problem solving, spending more time analyzing than would typically be available. I was reminded that breaking down the problem and identifying the core need is often more important, and more difficult, than producing the actual artifacts.
What were your biggest takeaways from The Summer Studio?
My biggest takeaway is the importance of intention as a leader. Intention is key not only to forming our internal perspectives, but how to build trust, alignment, and understanding for our teams. If people know you are someone who is intentional with how you spend their time, they will lean in. This can be applied to big things like sharing your vision for a product, or kicking off meetings with clear expectations, outlines, and framing for how you want to approach the conversation.
How have you applied what you learned since returning to your work?
I have leveraged framing what you hope to get, and how you want people to engage, in almost every meeting since attending The Summer Studio. I have also begun to refine the way I talk about who I am, and what you will get from working with me.
Any advice for future Fellows about The Summer Studio experience?
Attend office hours in the AM! It’s super valuable and I got a ton out of it.