We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ryan Brant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ryan, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risks I ever took was ditching my steady but soul-sucking job in retail and the food industry to chase my dream of being a designer. I was always sketching, painting, sculpting, 3D modeling, and photographing everything around me in my free time. My job wasn’t cutting it for my creative spirit, and I knew I needed to shake things up.

So, I took the plunge, quit my job, and put my livelihood on the line. I spent the next four months building a killer portfolio. I had a big choice to make: go to college for connections and structure, or blaze my own trail with a fresh approach to design. I chose to break the rules, thinking I might one day teach these unconventional methods.

Within those four months, I landed a job at a top advertising firm following a 45-minute design challenge. I got the gig because I brought something totally new to the table. A few years later my unconventional path paid off in full when I was invited to teach at the University of Hawaii, I crafted a syllabus from scratch for several of my own classes, and because I was wanting to still grow I worked alongside other professors assisting them in their classes where I was able to help students, learn additional insights, and adopt new approaches without the heavy costs and extreme debt student loans often entail. This journey proved that taking risks and following your passion can lead to monumental life changes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

15 years ago, I was a creative director at a communications firm, but I felt the urge to grow, take on larger clients, and make a significant mark in the industry. Unfortunately, the firm wasn’t heading in that direction. So, I partnered with a visual effects creative, and together, we launched our full-service agency. We catered to the film industry, offering everything under one roof. While I managed digital, branding, web, and OOH, my partner focused on motion design and VFX—areas I’d always been passionate about.

A year into our partnership, my partner left abruptly, leaving me with an unfinished visual effects project: 75 shots due in two months for a stereoscopic 3D film. With only two artists capable of completing the work, I could have called it quits. Instead, I dived in headfirst, learning Maya, Nuke, and Houdini, and leveraged my design skills and 3D modeling experience to help finish the project. This experience opened my eyes to the world of motion design, VFX, filmmaking, and production, igniting a new passion within me. We delivered the project on time, and it garnered significant media attention as the first of its kind for an indie film.

From then on, I integrated motion design and VFX into every project, even when it wasn’t in the budget. Eventually, I found a reliable partner, and we ran our agency for five years, working with marquee brands. However, being based in Hawaii posed logistical challenges for some clients. I wanted more, but my partner didn’t share that vision. We amicably parted ways, I successfully exited my business and moved to Los Angeles to pursue bigger opportunities.

Since relocating, I’ve worked with numerous studios as a freelance creative director. My broad expertise and unique approach allow me to fill various roles within agencies, bringing fresh and innovative ideas to the table. I now specialize in live broadcast, film, experiential, and mixed reality media. My work has been featured in Forbes, and I’ve led agencies to three consecutive Clio awards. Additionally, my interaction and web designs have earned over 20 awards from various panels and organizations.

What sets me apart is my relentless drive to innovate and my ability to seamlessly blend different aspects of design and technology. I’m most proud of my ability to adapt and thrive in challenging situations, transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth. I want potential clients and followers to know that my work is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating impactful experiences that resonate and inspire.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m in the midst of a significant pivot right now. While working with agencies, I noticed the introduction of AR, VR, and XR technologies. Many businesses wanted to integrate these technologies but were held back by the significant costs, the lack of programming teams, and the lengthy development times. These barriers often led to projects being abandoned.

Determined to find a solution, I began learning Unreal Engine and Unity, diving deep into AR/VR/XR development. I researched the trajectory of these markets and the problems they both presented and could solve. I believe the 2D internet and traditional forms of advertising are becoming obsolete. Businesses are spending vast amounts of money for a chance at exposure and engagement, but the return on investment is dwindling.

I had a vision: if I could create a platform that allowed people with little to no 3D or programming experience to make their own immersive content, I could solve the problems of high costs and technical barriers. Over the past year, I launched h3m.studios and developed an application called Portals, which enables anyone to create immersive content in minutes without needing to code or have 3D skills.

As AI technology surged last year, I realized this too required a paradigm shift. AI offers new ways to help individuals create and enhance immersive content effortlessly. Currently, Portals is in beta, and I’m leveraging AI to simplify the creation of immersive content. I feel like I have a crystal ball, seeing how these fields will merge in the coming years. I understand what the full-scale adoption of XR and AI means for markets, and I’m pivoting in a major way with something I believe will be a catalyst for this adoption.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Launching a business at the bleeding edge of technology is like venturing into uncharted territory. It’s riddled with failures, each one a lesson that demands adaptation. Convincing people to see a forward-looking vision poses another significant hurdle. The journey to build and launch Portals has been anything but easy.

Building teams, especially for such an innovative project, is a significant challenge. Getting people to believe in a vision that’s ahead of its time requires a mix of passion, persuasion, and persistence. Maintaining a community around this vision is an ongoing effort, requiring constant engagement and trust-building.

Self-funding an endeavor like this is another immense hurdle. Striking deals, building confidence, and assembling development teams with the right mix of skills and innovation-mindedness has been a herculean task. Without existing research, plugins, or support, developing Portals felt like navigating the Wild West.

The pressure and intensity of building and launching an immersive tech platform cannot be overstated. The stakes are high, and the challenges are relentless. Yet, my mind remains laser-focused on what’s coming. This isn’t a question of if, but when, the widespread adoption of XR and AI will occur, transforming the landscape of interaction dramatically.

Despite countless failures, setbacks, obstacles, and challenges, I press on. I’m driven by the belief that we are building the future of immersive content management and creation. The resilience required to continue this journey is immense, but the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with digital content keeps me moving forward, unwavering in my commitment to this vision.

Contact Info:

• Website: h3m.studio / ryanjbrant.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-brant-5b699415/

Image Credits

The images on the previous page were created by me at several studios

1. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ PopClutch
2. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ PopClutch
3. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ WAR
4. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ WAR
5. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ Polymer
6. Creative Direction by Ryan Brant @ Polymer