PORTFOLIO
Communications Specialist
Content Strategist
Storyteller
Welcome to my portfolio! I’m a communications, content, and editorial professional with proven expertise in shaping stories and systems to create seamless, user-centered content experiences.
About Ryan
I’m a Senior Editor, Content Strategist, and Communications leader with over a decade of experience across book publishing, digital media, and aerospace. I specialize in transforming complex ideas, half-formed drafts, and messy content ecosystems into clear, compelling stories people can’t resist.
My approach is rooted in strategy and craft. I bring hands-on strength in communications planning, editorial production, and content management, backed also by years of experience at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, as well as major publishing houses, including Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and Turner Publishing. These foundations have taught me how to respect the reader, sharpen a voice, and build stories that hold up under scrutiny.
Portfolio Contents
Testimonials
“I had the pleasure of working with Ryan at JPL’s DesignLab, where his expertise as a content strategist truly stood out. Ryan excels in copywriting, copy editing, and user experience strategy, seamlessly collaborating across diverse teams to shape unified and impactful content. His ability to distill complex information into clear, actionable insights is invaluable. Beyond his technical skills, Ryan is a thoughtful and collaborative team member, consistently offering insightful feedback that elevated our work. He is an incredible asset to any team.”
Kareem Collie
NASA-JPL Creative Director & Educator
“Ryan’s fantastic to work with and always can be counted on for a fresh and considered approach. Anyone’s team would benefit from his talents.”
David Rager
NASA HQ Creative Director
“Ryan is incredibly creative, and it has been a pleasure to work with him! He is such a talented writer, thinker, and strategist. It would be an absolute advantage to have him on a team!”
Carolina Uscategui
NASA-JPL Visual Designer & Strategist
“My thanks go to Ryan Smernoff . . . Since God is in the details, his guiding of me to publication was godly.”
Art Garfunkel
Ryan Smernoff 