Molly Ryan HerbMore work ↗

Creative direction / people / systems

Less repetition.
More room to create.

Good systems give creative people room to do their best work. I build the tools, guide the work, and keep human judgment at the center.

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Campaign / concept to delivery

A clear idea.
A lasting impression.

For Patty Madden Software, I carried a color-driven national trade campaign from concept through photography and post-production.

The client reported longer viewing time in blind reader testing. The campaign ran for nearly five years across industry publications.

Editorial & Creative Case Study ↗
Patty Madden campaign artwork

Creative direction / Cityview

Hold the standard.Give people room.

I guide freelance, contract, and junior designers through ongoing review and constructive feedback. I explain what needs to improve and why, while giving designers room to solve problems and build confidence in their own judgment.

That same purpose drives the tools I build: less repetitive preparation, more time for creative decisions.

One story. Two paths. One finished piece.

Preparation moves forward.
Creativity gets room.

Repetitive tasks consume the time creative work needs. By streamlining routine preparation, I give that time back to the team—to explore, refine, and make thoughtful decisions. Structured work supports the creative flow, and both come together to build a polished publication.

Start with the story

Editorial submission

STRUCTURED PRODUCTION
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Editorial judgment

Copy review

People refine and approve the story.

Repeatable preparation

Structured content formatting

Story elements prepared for the layout.

Connected tools

Production formatting

Apply established styles and structure.

Creative judgment

Visual direction

Shape the idea, mood, and visual voice.

Room to explore

Photography & composition

Find the images and rhythm of the spread.

Creative choices

Creative approach

Bring the visual ideas together.

Both paths come together

Design

Shape prepared content and creative ideas into the layout.

The human touch

Refinement

Review, critique, and refine the finished design.

Press ready: one cohesive result. Automate the routine, not the creativity. Finished editorial magazine spread.

The system supports
the people.

Repetitive work consumes time, energy, and budget. I identify where human judgment matters most, then build systems that automate routine tasks and give people more room to contribute. The aim is greater productivity and stronger work—with human intuition and creative control at the center.

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A closer look / selected work

Ideas made visible.

Cityview cover with a knife slicing a red pepper
Editorial direction
Patty Madden Software national trade advertisement
Campaign design
Inked November 2016 cover
Editorial photography
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Creative technology in practice

From an idea
to an experience.

Nespresso / March 2018

A practical path to immersive storytelling.

Nespresso needed to translate stereoscopic animation into a physical experience for the Chicago home show. I advised on the technology and implementation, working with 3DAR, an Argentine animation and fabrication company.

The decision

The content called for stereoscopic playback rather than a fully interactive environment. I selected a mobile VR approach using Samsung phones and custom headset mounts, considering heat, power consumption, and reliability.

Making it work

I worked alongside the fabrication team in Dallas to integrate the experience with the physical installation, then supported installation and operation in Chicago and remained available for on-site technical support.

Harley-Davidson / November 2016

A seamless experience. A confident handoff.

At Harley-Davidson’s Milwaukee facility, I oversaw the technical setup of a 360-degree projection experience inside a custom fifteen-foot dome, ahead of its planned museum installation.

From content to projection

I prepared and rendered panoramic video in After Effects, then aligned and calibrated multiple projectors to create a seamless image around the dome’s interior.

Ready for the team

I trained staff to operate the system and provided follow-up technical support by phone. My role covered preparation, setup, and handoff at the facility; the final museum installation was handled later.