Hi, I’m Ryan Kissinger — an illustrator and designer based in Hamilton, Montana.
Award-winning illustrator Ryan Kissinger specializes in high-end educational images for scientific and medical clients, with a detailed style that reflects his reverence for the natural world. From complex illustrations of viral transmission to branding for small businesses, he brings the same research-driven, story-focused approach to every
project. He works across a range of styles and mediums, blending traditional techniques with modern digital tools.
Since graduating with an MSc in Biomedical Communications from the University of Toronto, Ryan has created hundreds of illustrations for scientific papers, as well as covers for prominent scientific journals such as Immunity, Trends in Parasitology, Current Protocols in Microbiology, and Molecular Pharmacology. Ryan is also a contributing author on several scientific papers and has been published in high-profile publications including: The Scientist, The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and various textbooks and trade publications. In late 2024 he helped launch NIH BioArt Source a curated collection of free scientifically accurate icons.
Ryan is skilled in a range of media, including traditional techniques such as pencil, pen and ink and watercolor and digital techniques including modelling, rendering, video editing, animation, digital painting and vector-based illustration. He is also fluent in a range of software applications including, Blender, Cinema 4D, Octane, Redshift, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, DaVinci Resolve and Adobe After Effects.
Originally from Canada, he is passionate about the outdoors, science education, and helping people understand science through illustration. When Ryan isn't designing and creating images, you'll find him hiking with his dog in the spectacular Bitterroot Valley!
Education
2008-2010
University of Toronto
Ryan earned his Master of Science in Biomedical Communications (MScBMC) from the University of Toronto—Canada’s only accredited graduate program in medical visualization. Graduates of the program are trained as medical illustrators—professionals who integrate expertise in medicine, science, art, design, visual technology, and communication theory to create accurate and effective visual explanations of complex scientific and medical concepts. Their work supports a range of contexts, including research, medical and patient education, and public health communication.
2004-2006
University of British Columbia
At UBC, Ryan earned his BSc in Ecology, with hands-on experience in both lab and fieldwork. It’s here where he first developed a deep appreciation for natural systems and began connecting science with visual storytelling.