Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Rankin.

Hi Steven, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

My passion for design ignited in 1997 during my freshman year of high school, when I was one of two students granted access to Photoshop 1.0. This sparked a lifelong pursuit, leading me to a BA in Graphic Design from San Diego State University.

After honing my design skills in various in-house marketing roles at SDSU and the Port of San Diego, I transitioned to the tech industry in the San Francisco Bay Area. After a 3 year period of bouncing around start ups, my first FTE role was of an Art Director in cybersecurity, for 2.5 years, before joining Google as a contract employee.

Eventually hired as a full-time employee, I spent over five years founding and leading the video production team for the Google Ads Help Center. This experience fostered my understanding of the business of design, inspiring me to delve deeper. I am currently pursuing an MFA at Columbia College Chicago (Class of 2025) while developing a Gen AI venture aimed at bridging the gap between creatives and technology to enhance generative outputs.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

My career path has not been without its challenges. Graduating in 2007 during the Great Recession, I gained valuable experience working at farm-to-table restaurants in San Diego before securing a position in my field.

While I faced setbacks, including an unfortunate termination being a “25-year old idiot”, I persevered. During my time in the tech scene, I encountered periods of financial hardship, including a brief period of living out of my car with my dog in Ocean Beach.

Despite these obstacles, I consistently grew and ultimately achieved a degree of success.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

My background is in design and illustration, with advanced expertise on creative program management, generative AI, and video production–yes, a weird mix for sure.

I am currently pursuing an MFA, specializing in generative AI methodologies and tools to empower creatives and organizations to meet their generative creative goals.

Beyond my academic pursuits, I am known for my dedicated and joyful approach to execution. I excel at seamlessly blending hard work with a playful spirit, a unique combination, and my smirk, sets me apart.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?

Generative AI is undergoing a period of rapid evolution. Currently, there is significant interest and excitement surrounding the technology. However, the current outputs often fall short of user expectations in terms of quality, usability, and cost-effectiveness.

I anticipate that these limitations will be addressed within the next 1-2 years. Within 3-5 years, I believe generative AI will become an integral part of workflows across various industries. Professionally, I am trying to meet that industry need.

Pricing:

• Video production: $5000 for 1 minute video
• Art direction: $200
• Generative AI consultation: $250
• Design support: $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://custompinyatas.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenrankin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StevenJRankin
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevenrankin/