Education and Early Career

Ryan Newhouser is a graphic artist and designer who began his design career in the early 2010s after completing formal education in graphic design. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of Jacksonville in 2011 , following an Associate’s degree in Graphic Design and Business Management from the University of North Florida in 2009 . During and after college, Newhouser gained practical experience through various design roles and internships. He worked in print and signage shops and took on graphic design positions that honed his skills in visual communication and branding. Notably, he served as a graphic designer for the sporting goods retailer Sports Authority, where he contributed to the company’s marketing and branding projects . In these early roles, he led campaigns for major “big-name” brands, developing expertise in marketing campaigns, event design, and visual brand strategy . This period in the corporate design world provided Newhouser with a strong foundation in production, typography, and brand strategy. However, a sudden corporate layoff in 2016 became a turning point in his career , prompting him to pursue a new path as an independent creative professional.

Housa Creative and Entrepreneurship

In 2016, Ryan Newhouser founded Housa Creative, a solo creative studio through which he offers freelance design services . He is the founder and creative director of the studio, which is based in Jacksonville, Florida . Drawing on his corporate experience and entrepreneurial drive, Newhouser established Housa Creative with a mission to “shake up the apparel and event” design scene as an independent creator . By 2018, he had fully transitioned to working for himself, serving local clients full-time and embedding himself in the Jacksonville event community . Housa Creative has spent years specializing in apparel design, event branding, and visual brand strategy for small businesses and personal brands . Housa Creative blends human creativity and emerging technology (such as AI, AR and VR) to help clients visually development their ideas. Living and working in Jacksonville, he often draws inspiration from the local culture. Incorporating the city’s jaguar iconography and vibrant spirit into event and apparel designs for the community . Through Housa Creative, Newhouser has built a reputation for innovative design solutions and has redefined what it means to operate as a solo freelance artist in the region.

Notable Projects and Achievements

Since establishing Housa Creative, Ryan has worked on a variety of notable projects and cultivated a diverse client base. He has helped many local businesses, entrepreneurs, and even fellow creatives bring their branding ideas to life through his design services . One of his signature offerings is the development of Brand Flash Kits, a service he launched to provide clients with a package of custom illustrations and brand graphics. These one-page “flash sheet” kits encapsulate a brand’s mission and character and are used across merchandise, packaging, and promotional materials. As of early 2024, Newhouser had created over 20 Brand Flash Kits for businesses around the country, demonstrating the demand and reach of this innovative branding tool.

Newhouser’s portfolio includes clients like Oath Nutrtion + Blender Bottle, NAS Jax, City of Jacksonville Beach, 904 Happy Hour, Hot Box Preztels, Ink Factory Brewing and Nimnicht Chevy to name a few. While preparing for The 2022 Jacksonville Taco and Tequila Festival, he fully embraced artificial intelligence tools in his creative process and developed a technique called Ghost Sketching. After learning about an AI-assisted artist winning an art competition in Colorado, Newhouser began experimenting with AI image generation (such as MidJourney) to brainstorm visual concepts that would then be re-illustrated and customized for clients. This forward-thinking approach helped him overcome creative blocks, deliver on wild client requests, explore new styles and produce fresh ideas. By integrating AI into his workflow, he boosted his productivity, learned the art of prompt engineering and pushed the boundaries of traditional design processes. This innovative step has since become a passion for experimenting with emerging AI technologies with human lead creativity and ideas.

Earlier in his career, while working in the corporate sector, Newhouser contributed to successful marketing campaigns for nationally recognized brands . His experience at Sports Authority involved creating advertising graphics, directing product shots and direct mail visuals for a major retail brands. Before that, he worked on design projects for a sports apparel company (Rox Volleyball) and handled creative duties at the print shop, experiences that gave him broad exposure to client needs ranging from sublimation printing, logo design, apparel graphics to event signage. These experiences laid the groundwork for the versatile skill set he offers through Housa Creative.

Throughout his professional journey, Ryan Newhouser has garnered respect as a multifaceted designer who merges artistic skill with technological savvy. He continues to evolve Housa Creative’s offerings exploring areas like augmented reality and spatial design to provide immersive branding experiences and discover potential value for interested clients. His notable achievements include not only the successful campaigns and events he’s designed, but also the entrepreneurial initiative to turn a layoff into a self-made demand.

Current Updates

Lately, I’ve been in the middle of a powerful creative shift evolving from solely providing client work to becoming a source of inspiration through bold experiments at the intersection of human creativity and emerging tech. My mission now is to lean into the disruption that AI is bringing to the creative industry, not resist it. Turn clients into creators because the gatekeeper to creativity is no longer talent. The new currency is made of ideas, adaptability and the creative thinking to make them a reality. I’m using this moment to encourage others to become creators themselves, showing that innovation and imagination still lead the way. This next chapter is about honoring my love for problem solving, building things that didn’t exist before, and bringing ideas to life in ways that weren’t previously possible. No matter how silly or serious they may get.

I’m passionate about sharing my journey and insights, hoping to inspire and support the next generation of creative pioneers. As I continue to evolve in this ever-changing landscape, I remain committed to innovation and community, ensuring that my work resonates for years to come.