I’m Ricky Soto, a Brooklyn-based designer with a decade of experience in brand identity, digital design, and creative strategy.
I grew up moving around – born in California, then Arkansas and Florida, before my family settled in New Jersey. After earning my BA in Communication Studies with a minor in Professional Writing from Virginia Tech, I launched my design career in New York City. I spent the last few years in Washington, DC, and now I’m back! I'm currently living in Brooklyn with my partner and excited to reconnect with the creative energy that first sparked it all.
I recently started forming my own design studio, building an LLC as the next step in my creative journey. I'm excited to plant deeper roots here in Brooklyn and collaborate with brands, startups, and communities to make thoughtful, visually striking work that leaves a lasting mark.
My design style is influenced by bold, iconic thinkers: Shepard Fairey’s political edge and graphic repetition, KAWS’s playful yet subversive use of characters and form, Paul Rand’s timeless minimalism, Paula Scher’s expressive typography, Takashi Murakami’s vibrant, pop-art surrealism, Saul Bass’s cinematic symbolism, Aaron Draplin’s rugged Americana, and Allan Peters’s clean, smart brand marks. Their approaches continue to shape how I think about identity, storytelling, and visual impact.
Outside of design, I’m big on music, art, running, reading, museum hopping, cooking (shoutout to my mom), and staying grounded through journaling, meditation, and therapy. I’m also a lifelong Yankees and Knicks fan – with a soft spot for the Jets and Giants (somehow).
