Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Shrier.
Hi Dylan, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up just outside of Boston in a town called Natick. I played and watched all different kinds of sports growing up, but the one thing I enjoyed the most was making art. Drawing Red Sox and Patriots players and logos was an obsession. I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Make art and play sports.
While growing up, going to school was not great for me. I struggled with a learning disability and dyslexia. Reading and writing was my worst nightmare and it made learning very hard for me. I would be in class and just draw in my notebook til the class was over. I couldn’t wait til after school to go play baseball or hang with my friends.
After middle school, I transferred schools and went to a school in the north shore of MASS that was specialized for kids like me that had a learning disability and dyslexia. I instantly felt comfortable and not afraid of my disability and expressing who I am. Learning became easier and fun. The Landmark School had a great art program where I thrived in and made it my second home. I also played on the varsity tennis team, where I played singles all four years.
After building an art portfolio for the college process. I got accepted and pulled the trigger on heading to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), where I would study and get my degree in Graphic Design. Going back to my struggling in school in my town, my parents couldn’t imagine me going to college. Landmark transformed me and gave me the tools I needed to advocate for myself and be successful in college.
Going to SCAD was the best decision I could have ever made. I grinded in all my classes, and my professors gave me tips and details about the design industry while building a stellar portfolio for the job hunt come senior year. While at SCAD, I walked onto the tennis team. To have an art school with college sports was the best combination. Traveling, playing all year round, and making memories with my teammates was special and will hold onto for the rest of my life. After two years of playing, it was time to call it quits. It was very demanding and needed to focus on the bigger picture, building my portfolio and brand for the next steps.
After graduating in 2019, I moved to NYC, where I had a job waiting for me at MTV, where I worked as a junior designer. I worked in production design, where I made key art banners and ads for shows like Catfish, Ex On The Beach, and Jersey Shore. A year into the job, Covid came into the picture. I was then laid off from MTV and most of the country. I spent all of Covid in NYC and saw everything turn upside down. After searching for a job for six months. I finally found a contract gig at an ad agency that was good for now.
I have freelanced and worked in contract positions for the next couple of years, trying to find something that I like and is stable. In the fall of 2021, I came in contact with Spartan Race, the biggest obstacle course company in the world. I decided to take it on. It was the perfect mix of sports and fitness for designing. I have been at Spartan for a year and a half and leading most of the designs and concepts.
I finally get to work with my passion for sports/athletics and art/design. I tell people getting into design or entering the real world, “Do what you love cause you won’t have to work a day in your life”. Work somewhere that is meaningful and can bring inspiration and drive to you.
Spartan is just the tip of the iceberg, there are other doors to be opened and explored. Always stay challenged and hungry for the next.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like I said in my story, I have dyslexia and school when I was younger was rough and depressed. But art and sports helped me cope.
Also, getting laid off from MTV and trying to find a job for months
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a Graphic Designer based in NYC. I design in sports and athletics. I knowns for combining my designs in athletics. I am proud of how far I have come from school and my personal job growth. I play tennis, do CrossFit, do Spartan races, and run marathons. I like to call myself an Artist / Athlete. I design and being creative while being competitive in sports
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I am not much of a huge risk taker, but some of the most significant risks I’ve taken was moving out of state to go to SCAD in Savannah, Georgia. I had never been to Georgia, and I didn’t know what to expect. It was a little culture shock compared to the Northeast. Things are slower, and people are very friendly.
The other leap of faith I took was moving to NYC straight from school. I have family in the city, but I have always been intimated by the busy and fast pace vibe. New York is one of the biggest cities in the world, and it is easy to feel alone in this melting pot. With anything or anyone, you adapt quickly and find your people and places.
I believe taking more risks is key to staying challenged and wanting more. With risk, there is a reward or failure. We learn from our mistakes and we keep trying til we get it right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dylanshrier.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dylanshrier/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-shrier-626472b0/
