Hey, nice to meet you
One time, I recorded two seconds of video every day of my life for over three years. So now I have some idea of what it’d be like to see my life flash before my eyes. Writing a bio feels like that— I’m picking out the good stuff and am probably the only one who cares. So welcome to the highlight reel, mystery recruiter/co-worker/very lost stranger.
If you take one thing away, it’s this: I love to make things. Luckily, I’ve been able to at some of the world’s top agencies in SF (Goodby Silverstein), NYC (BBDO, Publicis), and Chicago (C-K).
I’ve launched internationally awarded, fully-integrated campaigns for major brands like Foot Locker, Lunchables, AT&T, Citi, Snickers, etc starring NBA players and famous musicians like Bad Bunny and Juice WRLD. I like crafting fun, conceptual, and often absurd work— whether it’s shoes coming to life at a dunk contest or a fully edible Trojan Horse made of pretzels. One time that led me to explaining ASMR to DJ Khaled in the closet of a rented mansion. Life’s weird. Lean into the entropy.
I graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University where I was awarded Advertising Student of the Year, but spent most of my time taking the weirdest classes I could get my hands on. Like during a semester in Prague where my professor was a former Soviet punk rocker turned doctor of social anthropology who taught us how to graffiti walls at a cryptoanarchy cafe. I miss her. I was also a concert stagehand, orientation leader, magazine editor and founding member of OttoTHON —which has now raised over +$1MM for the local Syracuse children's hospital.
These days, I make a little beer money on the side as a TikTok creator with over 12 million views running an account my friends can only describe as “incredibly niche!” I’m also a partnered YouTuber and my essay on slacker movies was listed on the British Film Institute’s Best Video Essays of 2022. As a photographer, I’ve been to all 50 states, 24 countries and over the world’s highest trekking pass on the Annapurna Circuit. I work as an event and concert photographer for Mass MoCA including festivals like Fresh Grass and Wilco’s Solid Sound.
I tell you about these past lives—whether picking tobacco at 14 or my time flipping burgers under the golden arches— so you know that when the right brief comes my way, I can toss it all in a blender and create campaigns that speak to anyone from sneakerheads to soccer moms.
If that sounds exciting to you, reach out. Let’s make our next story together.
AGENCY EXPERIENCE
Goodby Silverstein & Partners SF
BBDO NY
Publicis NY
Cramer-Krasselt Chicago
AWARDS
D&AD | 2x Wood Pencil
Cannes | Gold, 2x Shortlist
AICP Next Awards | Winner
Art Director’s Club | Bronze , Merit, 4x Shortlist
One Show | 2x Shortlist
Andy’s | Gold
Webby’s | 2x Honoree
Creative Media Awards | Shortlist
Lürzer’s International Archive
PRESS
AdAge, Adweek, The Drum, Little Black Book, Le Book, Shots, Sports Illustrated, Complex, Hypebeast, XXL Mag, Yahoo, Today Show, Forbes
CONTACT
Ryan Harper | (413)-454-2487 | ryanjosephharper@gmail.com