My Tools of the Trade: Cannondale Director of Global Creative Ryan Chung
Ryan Chung’s tools of the trade help him to better manage a global team and get his creative juices flowing. Design by Barbara Cadorna.
As Cannondale’s Director of Global Creative, Color & Trends, Ryan Chung has spent the last decade under the brand’s creative umbrella, helping to bring graphics, products and innovation to life. The team has propelled the brand forward, capitalizing on its leadership in the gravel, mountain, and road categories, and solidifying its presence in categories like e-bike and cargo technology.
Because Chung works two to three years in advance, he’s already designing Cannondale’s bicycles for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. But first is the upcoming release of the Cargowagen Neo, a new e-bike that can haul everything from groceries to kids around town. “Since these were the first cargo/utility bikes Cannondale has made since the early 90s, it was a real pivot in our focus and approach,” says Chung. “We prioritized recycled and recyclable materials and used paints that have durable characteristics since these bikes would likely be left outside most of the time.”
When he’s not enveloped by the designs and colorways sported by Cannondale’s latest ranges, Chung spends his free time taking his custom Triumph Bonneville for a spin in his New England homebase. Here, he shares his favorite tools of the trade (besides bikes, obviously).
1. EDC pen (Fisher Space Pen).
Chung’s Fisher Space pen is his reliable writing tool. Image: Fisher Space Pen.
Whether I’m in a design review or just out and about, having a reliable writing tool that I can jot down thoughts, sketches, and ideas when they come to me is something I really depend on. The Space Pen gives me that peace of mind since it truly works in any condition. I’m also finicky about having too many things in my pockets, so I really love the compact design. As a product designer by trade, I’m pretty critical of product designs, and I think it’s a perfect blend of form and function. Also, my wife gifted me an engraved one, so wherever I am in the world when I use it, it’s a nice reminder of home.
2. Pocket notebook (Field Notes and/or Moleskins).
These 48-page notebooks are available in three variations – graph, ruled, or plain paper. Chung likes to switch up his paper type. Image: Field Notes.
I get inspiration and ideas from anywhere and everywhere, so I always carry a pocket notebook. The ever-evolving question is to use a grid or blank, and I like to switch it up. The other reason I still like using notebooks is that after they’re full, I keep them in a banker’s box. Ideas never go out of style, and it’s just a matter of timing like most things, so I like to keep them for reference. It's a nice way to reflect when looking through them to see how I’ve evolved as a designer.
Chung’s iPad 11 Pro helps him stay organized as he manages a global team. Image: Apple.
I consider myself to be very fortunate that I still get to actually design in my role and get my hands dirty. However, there is still the business side of things, and since I manage a global team, my iPad helps me stay organized. Again, keeping things minimal, I go with the 11” iPad Pro, so it’s easy for me to carry around but still has all the functionality I need to take VCs, review artwork, and create tech packs while on the go. And in the same vein, wherever I'm going, I always bring my AirPods whether they’re for travel, working out, conference calls, or to tune out the background noise so I can focus at the office. They’ve really become one product I can’t really live without in my day to day.
4. Trackball Mouse (Logitech MX Ergo)
Chung loves the MX Ergo Advanced Wireless Trackball for drawing and designing while reducing hand fatigue. Image: Logitech.
When I used to be a full-time illustrator, I used a Wacom tablet primarily, but now I’ve become accustomed to using a trackball mouse. Some of my colleagues think I’m crazy because I’ve gotten quite good at drawing and designing with it, but I really like that I can customize all the buttons to create shortcuts for my needs — reducing the fatigue on my hand and wrist is a nice bonus. The precision mode, which slows down the tracking speed, helps with working on really fine details of an art file as well.
5. Camera (Fuji X100F)
Who doesn’t love the feel and weight of holding a proper camera? Image: Amazon.
One of the perks of my role is I get to travel quite a bit, whether that’s for vendor visits or trend/inspiration trips. Photography has always been a big passion of mine, and I got to dabble in it commercially in the early stages of my career. However, my career path shifted a bit, but I still love taking photos. The idea of something capturing a moment in time is so unique and special. It's reignited my passion for it, especially now that I have two young children. My wife hates it, but I leave different cameras lying around the house, so if there is ever a candid moment, I have a camera to use. I know the iPhone has a camera, and it is quite good, but I’m old school. I love the feel and weight of holding a proper camera. I’ve used a multitude of different cameras, and I find the Fuji X100 line is a good balance of design, functionality, and price point. It’s the one camera I find myself gravitating to the most since it can act as a good point-and-shoot but also has all the features to change aperture, shutter speed, and white balance.
6. Music (Audio-Technica AT-LP60XBT Record Player & Marshall Emberton Bluetooth Speaker)
Music just got a lot nicer with this automatic wireless turntable. Image: Audio-Technica.
Music is a big part of my creative process. It helps me focus when needed but also helps me clear my head. I don’t really consider myself a true audiophile, but my wife and I have always shared a passion for vinyl, so we have a decent collection at home, and I like to play records when I’m working from the home office. The AT record player we have also has bluetooth functionality, so if I want to stream music through my amp, it’s easy to switch back and forth. In my workshop, I use the Marshall Emberton Bluetooth speaker because it’s got that classic Marshall look but in a miniature version and has excellent sound quality for how small it is.
If you’d like to read more from Creative Factor, subscribe to our newsletter. Or looking to tell your brand story? Introducing Creative Factor’s Storytelling Studio.
Plus, more great reads right this way…
