• My name is Ruaridh McLean. I am a First Class BDes (Hons) Graphic Design graduate, University Award Winner, and freelance designer from Edinburgh Napier University based in the (occasionally rainy) city of Edinburgh.

    I thrive on bringing creative ideas to life — whether that’s making a positive impact through design, working in collaborative team environments, or turning clients’ wildest dreams into reality. Let's create something brilliant and bold.

    My love for design started when I was just a wee tot, doodling on anything I could get my hands on, and has only grown stronger through industry and higher-education experience.

    Fancy a chat over coffee or a brainstorm session? Drop me a message.

  • Emperor Design - 2019

    A brief but valuable experience at Emperor Design Agency in Edinburgh marked the beginning of my journey in graphic design. During this time, I shadowed senior designers, participated in team visits to print factories, and contributed to the creation of assets for a travel organisation.

    House of Seaweed - 2024

    Six-month internship in Edinburgh and Glenrothes. Created brand assets and designed promotional materials—for both print and digital—to introduce existing Seaweed Enterprises consumers, potential investors, and seaweed suppliers to their two new brands, House of Seaweed and Oshan, during their transitional period.

    ScotBio - 2025

    Junior Graphic Designer role working on creating client and investor pitchdecks shown to global R&D leaders, involving communication with Head of BD, CEO, and head members of the board daily. Designed a suite of icons / pictograms, interactive documents, motion pieces, and product / transit packaging.

    • Adobe Illustrator

    • Adobe InDesign

    • Adobe After Effects

    • Adobe Photoshop

    • Adobe Lightroom

    • Graphic Design

    • Motion Graphics

    • Branding

    • Typography

    • Illustration

  • House of Seaweed - Brand Marketing Director & Co-Founder

    • “Ruaridh has been a huge asset to the team. His quality of work, professionalism, attitude, and creativity have been fantastic. He has become a solid member of the team, has great working relationships, and has taken ideas and feedback and run with them.”

    ScotBio - Head of Business Development

    • “Ruaridh is a walking advert for Edinburgh Napier University and their fabled Graphic Design degree course, he has delivered us quite fantastic work promptly, and led us into the future with the volume and quality of his work. No more canva and powerpoint here!

      He leaves us with countless creations, smarter processes, and sharper ways of handling complex design tasks. With a first-class degree already secured and an Advertising MSc on the horizon, we’ve no doubt he’ll go far.”

  • ISTD Award | International Society of Typographic Designers - 2025

    • Awarded a membership for ‘Instincts of Scent’ project for using typography and layout to spread awareness on honeybee communication, their importance to us, and how we as people, can help them thrive.

    Creative Conscience Global Award - 2025

    • Awarded for my Major Project ‘Proactive Patients’, which aims to improve global public healthcare by empowering communities to become more proactive about their health. In the words of Creative Conscience, the project demonstrated ‘creative thinking to create a better world’.

    Winner of the University Award - 2025

    • Awarded for the best academic performance in BDes (Hons) Graphic Design at Edinburgh Napier University.

Let's work together.