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Name: Ryan Arruda

Occupation: Graphic designer

Preoccupation: Design, American history, acoustic guitar, radio dramas.

Can you give a piece of advice to an aspiring illustrator? Even if you don’t think you can draw, you can! Realize that even the most complex images or designs are just a sum of very elementary shapes and colors.

Tell us about how you created your illustration: Nothing too complicated. It’s a digital illustration created from a limited palette of color and basic shapes. I wanted the piece to have a minimal aesthetic. I was inspired a little bit from early twentieth century travel posters.

Place you live: Worcester, Massachusetts

Can you sum up the place Worcester: It’s one of the largest cities in New England, but it’s also down to earth and has lots of small New England charm.

What is the best thing about Worcester? It’s a nice little New England town. There’s even a town common with a gazebo. Very quaint. Plus there’s a lot of history and culture surrounding you here.

What is the worst? Abandoned mill buildings. Nothing inherently bad, just an irrational fear of mine.

What would be surprising about Worcester to an outsider? Worcester is home to many inventions! Modern rocketry was pioneered by hometown hero Robert Goddard, and Harvey Ball was the creator of the ubiquitous yellow smiley face.

Who are three of your favorite illustrators right now? Brad Woodard, The Heads of State, and Aaron Draplin.