Endorsements
The strongest signal of how we work isn't what we say about ourselves — it's what the people we've partnered with say. Designers, design leaders, engineers, and executives from companies like Apple, Google, Uber, Rivian, Sony PlayStation, and Khosla Ventures have trusted us across years, sometimes decades, to help shape their teams and their careers. Their words say it better than we ever could.
Irene Au – Natural Intelligence Researcher; former Operating Design Partner at Khosla Ventures, first Design Executive at Google, Yahoo, and Udacity
Ryan has been a longtime trusted partner in helping startups find creative talent. He is easy to work with, responsive, and has a keen sense of which personalities, temperaments, and styles resonate with a team. I'm grateful for our many years of collaboration and partnership.
David Airey – Logo & Brand Identity Design Founder @ davidairey
Ryan brings clarity and trust to the process of connecting companies with design experts. He takes the time to understand both the business context and the designer’s strengths, resulting in partnerships that feel intentional rather than transactional. It’s a thoughtful, well-run approach that benefits everyone involved.
Eric Wood – SVP, Head of Product Experience at 42dot (a Hyundai Motor Company); former VP, Product Experience at VW Group, former Vice President of Vehicle Experience Design at Rivian
Ryan and the team at Desiggggn were instrumental in helping me build exceptional design teams at both Rivian and 42dot/Hyundai, consistently bringing me some of the strongest designers and design leaders I’ve worked with. They have an unusually strong network in automotive, and they don’t just find “talent” — they find people who fit the culture, match the specialization, and raise the bar from day one.
Annu Yadav – Former Head of Design, Aurora Solar
During a period of rapid growth with critical roles to fill, Ryan found talent that matched not only the role but also the organization’s culture and values. His design background meant he understood the needs without explanation, and the collaboration felt less like working with a recruiting company and more like partnering with a true partner in building the team.
Ashley Cunningham - Product Strategy (AI Experiences, Enterprise Tools, Platform) | Apple, Nerdwallet, Looker (Google Cloud), Khosla Ventures
Finding the right startup role is hard—funding, team fit, values, and whether design is respected. Ryan makes it human. He doesn’t match resumes to postings; he curates thoughtful, punctual, and often humorous connections, never pushing roles that don’t fit.
Over two decades, he placed me in three senior design leadership roles—including a four-year conceptual design lead at Apple (App Store) and strategic work at Khosla Ventures—via fewer interviews, market-rate offers, and the right fit.
For trusted access to great opportunities and a mentor who protects your agency, Ryan is the partner you want.
Melody Hammer - Product Designer @ Enigma; previously Myko AI, Aurora Solar, E*Trade and Apple
Ryan doesn’t just make introductions; he advocates. He has played a meaningful role in my career, helping me achieve my professional goals as a founding designer and design manager at prominent startups. Ryan goes to bat for the candidates he represents, helping them find roles that truly align with their strengths while also supporting salary negotiations. At the same time, he works closely with hiring clients across a strong network of companies and experience levels to ensure they find the right fit. I’m grateful for his partnership and the integrity he brings to the hiring process.
Charlie Denison - Principal UX Designer at Sony PlayStation; previously Senior Product Designer at Apple, Associate Director of Product Design at Samsung UXCA Mobile Lab
Ryan has always been incredibly effective at sourcing the right kind of talent for whatever design needs have been on the table. His positivity and energy are boundless, and his enthusiasm for making sure needs are met is greatly appreciated.
Eric Chan - Full Stack Software Engineer at Khosla Ventures
From the beginning, working with Desiggggn has been seamless. They are extremely responsive, dependable, and supportive, handling everything behind the scenes so I can focus on delivering great work for the client. Working with Desiggggn has been a pleasure, and I highly recommend them.
Diego Bauducco - Lead Product Designer @ Uber
I’ve had the pleasure of working with Ryan for the past decade, starting with our time at iTunes at Apple. He’s professional, positive, and always brings great energy to everything he does. I highly recommend working with him.
If you’re looking for the next step in your career, partnering with someone like Ryan makes total sense.
Philip Thepkaysone - Senior Interaction Designer at Google; previously Turo, Netgear, IBM, Range, and Steadfast Creative
Ryan has a remarkable ability to match designers with opportunities that align with their craft and goals. Beyond his professional expertise, he is thoughtful, easy to work with, and consistently puts people first. The roles I’ve secured through Ryan’s partnership have been pivotal, setting my career on an incredible trajectory. I’m deeply grateful for his guidance and couldn't recommend him more highly.
Brandon Melchior - VP of Product Design @ AXS
Ryan brings something rare to recruiting: the eye and judgment of a truly talented designer. He doesn’t just fill roles — he thoughtfully matches exceptional designers with teams where they’ll thrive long-term.
What sets Ryan apart is his taste, discernment, and deep understanding of both design quality and team dynamics. Every candidate he recommends feels carefully considered, not filtered through a generic recruiting process. He understands that great design organizations are built on more than resumes and portfolios. They’re built on culture fit, growth potential, collaboration styles, and shared ambition.
Alex Castellarnau - Global Design Director, General Motors
Desiggggn was an exceptional partner in helping us connect with some of the strongest design talent in the industry. Beyond simply recruiting, they deeply understood the craft, culture, and creative ambition required to build modern design organizations at scale. They consistently brought us candidates with both high creative standards and strong points of view, helping us strengthen the design team's quality and edge at BrightDrop, a GM company.
Joey Vallejo - Executive Director, Global Head of Design and User Research @ Morgan Stanley Capital International
Ryan has been one of my most trusted hiring partners for years. He understands design talent deeply — the craft, the mindset, and the difference between someone who can do the work and someone who can elevate it.
He’s helped me land roles that truly fit my leadership style and build teams with the exact caliber of designers I needed. Every time, he nails the fit.
Ryan and the Desiggggn team are sharp, honest, and easy to work with. If you need a partner who truly gets design hiring, they’re the team you want in your corner.
Omar Puig - Product Designer @ Huawei, previous, Simple Things, Inc., Ethereal Matter, Thea/Lightbrite, Porsche Digital, Netgear
Ryan was one of the first people I connected with when I moved to the Bay Area, and we quickly bonded over design craft. His warmth and genuine enthusiasm for the discipline are both contagious and refreshing.
What sets Ryan apart is that he started as a designer. He understands how design thrives at the intersection of business and technology, which helps him make matches that go far beyond skill sets. He sees cultural fit, creative potential, and career trajectory with real nuance.
Ryan is deeply invested in the success of everyone he works with. That care is what makes him such a valuable partner to both creative talent and the companies looking to hire them.
Erik Glaser - Director of UX Design @ Rivian, previously Volkswagen Group
Ryan has a unique talent for talent, forging lasting connections with colleagues and collaborators and seeing the right places for designers to shine. His own impressive design career spanning big tech, automotive, medical tech, and beyond gives him a wealth of options for guiding career paths.
Jeff Barnes - Professional Private Pilot @ Beechcraft Aircraft, King Air Series
Ryan was incredibly responsive to my needs and delivered a polished, professional website that exceeded my expectations. He skillfully transformed my ideas into a beautiful site, making the entire process enjoyable. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for top-notch web design. Thanks to Ryan, I now have a stunning website, logo, and image to present to my customers.