An interview with Ray Sison

You recently took part in Cut&Paste NY - how was it?

Cut & Paste was amazing!!!

I didn’t win the NY round because I was incredibly nervous. One of my design idols, Jeff Staple, was a judge and he was pacing back and forth behind me, looking intensely at my design. I was shaking so hard from nerves that I could barely hold my Wacom pen. hahaha. It was a privilege to be able to compete alongside some of the most talented designers in NY and a great overall experience to have all my friends and family in one place cheering me on while I show them what I love to do.

It was a privilege to be able to be able to compete alongside some of the most talented designers in NY and a great overall experience to have all my friends and family in one place cheering me on while I show them what I love to do.

You graduated from FIT with a degree in Graphic Design - did you ever expect to end up specifically working in interaction design?

School to me was pretty important - it’s where I learned the fundamentals of the grid system, as well as developing a love and passion for typography. Education is definitely important, but I’ve met a lot of designers in the business without a formal education in design. They come from backgrounds in music, dancing, nursing, but they find a way to make a complete 360 to follow their passions and are now some of the best designers in the business.

The most important rule in this business is to just make sure you love what you do and be happy.

Skilled Concept, Ray’s personal portfolio and blog | visit site

You’re now at RG/A. How did you find your current role, and what advice would you give to others looking to work at an agency as renowned as RG/A?

I first learned about the Junior Designer position from one of my teachers who told me that someone from R/GA could be coming to another class to speak. I was excited and jumped at the opportunity to meet him. During his presentation, he informed us of a Junior Designer position at R/GA that was open. I jumped out of my seat when he finished and asked for a business card. That night, I shot him an email, wishfully thinking that I could get a job, even though I was sure my chances were slim.

If I was to give advice to anyone in school or looking for a job, I would suggest that they take every opportunity to get out there, no matter how good or bad they think they are. Just take the chance and never let an opportunity slip by you.

Nike Sportswear

Why did you choose to work at R/GA, and why do you think they are different and ultimately more successful than many other organizations in the industry?

I’ve been a fan of R/GA since I started school. The work they produce has always been top notch and innovative. The real reason I chose R/GA, though, is not because of the work they produce but because of the people that work there.

Before R/GA, I interned and worked for various other agencies, where I helped them produce amazing work. Even though I loved what I was doing, I wasn’t really happy and was some waht bored. I could tell after my first week at R/GA that this was the place to fit my personality - a bunch of people who loved design but were total tech nerds. They not only loved design but shared the same passion as me when it came to coding and technology. Everyone had amazing stories to tell about their lives. I’m a true believer that you become who you surround yourself with. These are the people that help spark and challenge my mind everyday. These are the people I look up to and I work hard to try to achieve what they have and more.

Have you ever met the big man Bob Greenberg himself?

He is pretty consistant in coming to the office all in black with some crazy blinging keychain and rockstar bracelet. I have never seen Greenberg wear any other colors then black.  But he has to be one of most humble bosses I’ve met. He takes the time to walk around the office to introduce himself to new people.

Do you enjoy working at a large agency? What are the pros and cons?

I didn’t think I would like working at a large agency since the past jobs I’ve held only had 3-15 people. I must say though, working at R/GA has been a blast. From our holiday parties to our summer picnics, I wake up everyday loving my job.

The only con in working in a larger agency is you only get to tackle one account most of the time, but I really don’t mind, I love the account I’m working on.

Which website or piece of interactive design are you most proud of?

The work I’m most proud of is actually ballersnetwork.com. It’s a facebook application that helps basketball players find pick up games and courts around them. I was truly amazed with the complexity of the project and the incredibly talented people who worked on it to make it happen. This project itself was one of the hardest things to work on because we were cramming so much information into somewhat of a small space.

Ballers Network | visit Skilled Concept to read and see more

What piece of advice would you give any aspiring graphic designer or interactive designer about starting in the industry?

Steve Jobs said it best in his Stanford commencement speech in 2005

“stay hungry, stay foolish”

I live by that quote everyday.

Would you say you’re a graphic designer or an interactive design first? How easy do you find it to move from print to web or vice versa, and how different/difficult do you find the two disciplines?

I would say I’m still a graphic designer as well as interactive because I still do both. I love interactive but I do some freelance on the side to feed my need to do print. I still love seeing my work being handed out at events or made into booklets. Nothing beats the smell of a new book.

I do think people with print background do make a mistake thinking web is nothing more then a poster that you can view on a computer. Websites and interface design in general has certain rules and complications that aren’t found in print. Both disciplines in general have some qualities alike but are two entirely different applications. I think neither one is easier than the other but if a designer was to switch from one discipline to another I would just advice him or her to take time to learn as much as he or she can about each of them.

CSA Carbone Smolen Agency | visit site

Where do you find inspiration?

New York City is such a great place to walk around with a camera because of all the interesting things you’ll always find. You can walk the same street in New York City everyday if you wanted to and still find yourself amused with something new each time.

— Posted on May 6th, 2009 by Daniel in: Interview

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