• Hi! I’m Ruaridh – a First Class Graphic Design graduate, University
    Award Winner, MSc Creative Advertising student, and freelance designer
    based in the (occasionally rainy) city of Edinburgh.

    Specialising in motion design, branding, and campaign work,
    I turn big ideas into bold visuals.

    Whether a project needs punch or a message needs meaning, I’m here
    to bring it to life – loud, proud, and with purpose. Let’s create something
    bold and brilliant.

    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.

    Genoa Black - 2025

    Worked in a highly skilled studio team and agency environment. Created a high quantity of motion / print outputs in fast-paced timeframes. Opportunity for my work to be included in final designs for a variety of developing & big-name brands (UK & International).

    Lane Group - 2025/26

    Designing various motion outputs for a range of clients. Includes social media, storyboarding, photography, ideation, and even stop motion. Working alongside an extremely talented team of designers and media planners.

    • Adobe Illustrator

    • Adobe InDesign

    • Adobe After Effects

    • Adobe Photoshop

    • Adobe Lightroom

    • Graphic Design

    • Motion Graphics

    • Branding

    • Typography

    • Illustration

  • Genoa Black - Creative Director & Senior Designer

    • “Stellar work from Ruaridh McLean. Thanks for playing your part in the pre-Christmas fun and games at Genoa Black” – Creative Director

    • “It has been a pleasure to have Ruaridh as part of the team and contribute so much in a short space of time! Don’t be a stranger!”

    Lane Group - Design Director & CEO

    • “Ruaridh has been a great addition to the team! Thanks for all your hard work so far!”

    • “Talent in spades!”

    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.