Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Ryan.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Austin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m Dallas born and raised, and I got my degree studying Visual Communications at The University of Texas at Arlington. While there, I spent time working and volunteering with the AIGA in both the student and national chapter, and now I volunteer for the DSVC as well working under the meetings committee to bring out speakers to share their work and knowledge with the Dallas design community. I also spent a couple of years in the Texas Army National Guard, where I was part of an Infantry battalion. Since then, I’ve spent time contracting at various companies around the Dallas area and building up a name for myself doing freelance work under the name Fever Dream Design. One day I want to make Fever Dream a brick and mortar agency and be able to share my love of design with others.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it’s been a good one to me. During school, I had trouble keeping up with my peers because of my military affiliation. Overall, it ended up holding me back a year and I watched a lot of my friends that I started school with leaving before me and going on to do great things. After school, I had some trouble finding a job, mostly due to only having one internship in my opinion. I feel that even now I’m working to regain confidence in myself and my work.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Fever Dream Design – what should we know?
Fever Dream Design is a multidisciplinary design agency and the name under which I started my freelance work upon graduating college. We specialize in doing brand identity work and have done such for companies from a startup to a national level of customer outreach. Right now, the company is still small, but I’m proud of the work we’ve done for our companies in the Dallas area.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Two of my biggest mentors have been Jake Dalton of Swoon and Parker Peterson, formerly of The Old State. It was blind luck that I found these guys, and they’ve been super helpful with the start of my business and getting my interests on the right track for which I’m eternally grateful. I’ve met countless people along my path that I owe an amazing debt of gratitude to for their help in my success. I don’t think I would even have a degree in doing what I love if it weren’t for the help and support of my family. My girlfriend has always been there for me supporting me during long nights of ideation and making concept. I owe my professors for pushing me and showing me that success doesn’t come with half-assing your work. And I love my friends for being so talented and supportive, giving me the push that I need to go forward even at the points where I feel like I had no future in the business. My success is just a mixture of all the support and kind words they’ve given me along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.feverdream.design
- Phone: 214-603-4672
- Email: austin@feverdream.design
- Instagram: feverdreamdesign
- Other: dribbble.com/feverdreamdesign
Image Credit:
Sydney Stroope
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