Rising Stars: Meet Ryan Eschenbach

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Eschenbach.

Hi Ryan, 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 began my journey in print/branding graphic design at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in 1998-2002, freelanced working for fashion and branding print material for American Crew, local bands and restaurants in Denver.

In 2004 I was hired at 9NEWS as a broadcast motion design and quickly learned to apply my design to animation and learned video editing. Began designing posters and album artwork for my band and other bands in Denver.

In 2007 I started as a motion designer for New Frontier Media producing high-end promotion animations and channel IDs for adult entertainment like Penthouse HD and other On-Demand adult channels.

In 2011 I was hired at FOX 31 News as art director managing a team rebranding for 31 and channel 2. One of the worst and most challenging jobs of my career.

In 2012 I was hired at Motive as the senior motion designer working on everything for branded content for Pepsi, Mtn Dew, Sobe, Native Eyewear, Macallan Scotch, and other experiential event content. This began my love for advertising.

In 2015 I was hired at Mondo Robot in Boulder as lead motion designer creating content for Microsoft, Avery Brewing, and Comcast.

In 2016-2021 I went back to advertising at Motive working on bigger brands for Pepsi, Highland Park, Ram Trucks, Lays and Ruffles, Activia, Costa, HUK, Yonex as creative director and directing content shoots.

At the end of 2021, I started my own content studio Butta Boy and now work in a shared space in Old Town Aravada.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never been a smooth road, but I have worked really hard promoting myself and working on many passion projects, getting my name out there. I’ve made tons of content for local music in Denver such as show posters, music videos, gaining a reputation in the local music scene. Graduating college right after 9/11 was really hard, then moving my career to adult entertainment during the housing crash – which became a blessing in disguise. Creating social and broadcast content during the pandemic was very challenging – pulling off shoots remotely and finding creative ways to maintain relevant content.

I believe that just continuously making cool sh*t on my own terms has become my bedrock of sanity and keeping my skills fresh.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to shoot videos, edit, animate, design, illustrate and push my creative limits. I’m very passionate with marrying my visual skills with music. Being a musician myself, playing drums and saxophone in various Denver bands has paired well with my design and content skills with video directing, editing, and animation.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being a dad of 2 boys and teaching/inspiring them to be passionate of what they love. Taking the time to teach and pass my collective knowledge to growing creatives has also inspired me.

Music makes me happy. My passion for visual arts has been tightly intertwined with music for most of my career, and I’m always looking for more ways to push my skills to the cutting edge of technology and finding new innovative ways to bring those two crafts together.

Contact Info:

• Website: buttaboy.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/butta.boy/ or instagram.com/ryaneschenbach/
• Facebook: facebook.com/ryaneschenbach/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf7e4NufWfJKC7sVYW6mq2g