Today we’d like to introduce you to Will Ragano.
Will, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Tampa, Florida (don’t hold that against me, ha ha), with an older brother and sister. My father was a lawyer, famous for representing major mob figures and Jimmy Hoffa. I played guitar in a band by age 13 (I was terrible). I studied design, philosophy, psychology and other subjects for two years at the University of Florida. Then I completed a one year course at the Southwest Guitar Conservatory in San Antonio, TX. After that I moved to Boston to get a degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. While there I met Peter Moore and other musicians I liked and joined their electro-funk-punk band Psycho Tec. Peter and I then formed Think Tree with some other members of the previous band. We toured Europe twice due to our song “Hire a Bird” being a hit in Holland. We were one of the biggest bands in Boston for a while, selling out large venues and winning many Boston Music Awards and Boston Phoenix Reader’s Poll Awards. Later Peter and I formed Count Zero and are still playing today. We toured North America with The Dresden Dolls and have released four albums to much critical and fan praise.
I was always the band member that ended up designing the flyers and album covers because I had a natural talent for it (rooted in my love of art and drawing as a child). A friend who had been studying graphic design moved and left me his books on Illustrator, Photoshop and Quark Express. I read them all during breaks while working as a Stage Manager at New England Conservatory. Then I took some design classes at the Worcester Art Museum. Soon I got hired to design a local book cover, then I started designing CD covers for other bands and eventually got a job designing for a marketing firm. I’ve worked for several design firms since then and am currently working freelance for various clients ranging from financial institutions to Pilates studios to the Wellfleet Oysterfest.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I’ve never been big on grand plans. I just let things happen naturally and it’s worked out pretty well for me. Making money as a musician is tough but I’ve had great successes and lots of fun doing it. Graphic design is a more reliable source of income and I have been lucky enough to amass a very nice portfolio and many happy clients. In music, no matter how good you are, you often feel like you are beating your head against a wall. Playing in Europe is great because Europeans have a greater respect for the Arts than Americans (generally) so you get treated very well there.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Will Ragano – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
As a graphic designer I’m known for clean designs that fit the client’s needs — whatever they may be. I’ll stand up for my favorites of the design options I present to a client, but ultimately it’s up to them (with my guidance). I feel that since my music is uncompromising and satisfies my needs as an artist, I can be more flexible with my design work and let the project dictate the direction rather than my own desires or ego. I am a generalist, which is somewhat rare these days, so I create everything from websites and animated online ads to billboards and t-shirts (and everything in between). My clients know I’ll go the extra mile and provide services they don’t even expect like advising on text choices, like avoiding insider jargon and targeting the correct audience.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Over the last few years I have been branching out into video editing and motion graphics. I’ve been doing some editing for Powderhouse in Belmont (which produces many of the PBS Nova specials). I’ll soon be releasing an album of experimental collage pieces with videos for each one combining old public domain footage chopped up and layered in a very visually stimulating way. The project is called “Tripping on Wires” and it will be featured in the Currents New Media Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico this June.
I released my first “solo” record a couple of years ago called “All in My Head” and am working on a follow-up to that now. I also play lots of improvisational music with some of the best musicians in Boston. I’m always learning new skills and exploring new art and music. Curiosity is key in being an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: willragano.com, will-r.com, count-zero.com
- Email: wragano@gmail.com
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM8Jk8gp3IshTYv4gqPIBaw/videos
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