Kyle Richter is a talented Environmental (EGD) and Architectural Graphic Designer located in San Clemente, California. He works at RSM Design, an award-winning firm that creates graphic connections with architecture, as a Principal and the Director of the San Clemente office. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the Art Institute of California, Orange County.
Known for his ability to blend artistic vision with practical design solutions, Kyle works adeptly within the built environment of both small and large-scale projects. With an eye for spatial relationships and an understanding of user experience, he crafts immersive environments that seamlessly integrate signage, wayfinding, and branding elements.
Kyle’s project background showcases a diverse range of projects, from retail environments to masterplan campuses to public spaces and more, each reflecting his passion for creating engaging and memorable experiences for visitors as well as bringing brands to life. His approach goes beyond aesthetics; he strives to create designs that not only captivate the visitor, but also enhance functionality and improve intuitive navigation. With his expertise and creative flair, Kyle Richter continues to leave a lasting impression on some of the world’s most renowned projects through environmental graphic design and the built environments.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day involves a structured morning routine. I prioritize my tasks for the day based upon a continually updated list, which functions as a place for everything from winning new work to providing art direction to a project team. Organization is key to making each day and the entire week productive, helping to keep things on track and maximize productivity on the priorities that matter most.
How do you bring ideas to life?
Bringing design ideas to life involves understanding the client’s primary goals, objectives, and challenges. Asking questions, conducting research, sketching concepts, producing visual representations or digital renderings, and seeking feedback for re-alignment with the client’s priorities are all key within the design process. Having a broad knowledge of three-dimensional through processes and knowledge of constructability help to bring early concepts to life to actually be built. Questioning limitations is also a great way to push innovation. I find it always brings things to life that you may not have thought possible.
What’s one trend that excites you?
One design trend that excites me is emerging technologies. Elements such as AI, automation scanning, and design representation tools help to push the limits on how we see things and how we think of design solutions. It’s inspiring to see more designers and architects incorporating AI thinking and representation as a tool for quicker ideation and biophilic design principles in their projects. It’s encouraging to witness the creative solutions emerging from the intersection of technologies and the built environment.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Besides setting larger goals for myself for the year and creating smaller to-do lists for each day, one habit that motivates me to be productive is connecting these daily tasks with their greater outcomes. If a particular item on my to-do list is overwhelming me or slowing down my productivity, it helps to take a moment to clear my mind and focus on why this task is important. Most of the time, it is a stepping stone toward one of the major goals that I have for myself. Reminding myself about my motivation can help energize me and increase my productivity.
What advice would you give your younger self?
If I could give advice to my younger self, I would say to never stop asking questions and don’t fear failure. Mistakes and failures are part of the learning process. Also, invest in meaningful relationships with family, friends, and mentors. These connections will provide support, inspiration, and valuable perspectives throughout your life.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you.
I believe that everything can be a learning experience. Whether it’s a mistake or a failure, a seemingly insignificant encounter, or the endless variety of people, places, and things that surround us, there is always an opportunity for insight or inspiration upon reflection.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
One thing I repeatedly do is set yearly goals for myself. Some are just for me, and others are for me and my family. This provides guidance year over year and allows you to progress. Without a guiding goals list for the year, you could look back and 3 years later be in the same place as you were. Taking even just a few minutes each day to focus on your guiding purpose, concentrate on your breathing, clear your mind, and be present in the moment can allow you to live more intentionally.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
When I feel overwhelmed, I take an hour or so and create a to-do and action list to identify the high-priority tasks that are the most important for the day. This helps to refocus my efforts, and it also creates a list that I can revisit throughout the day and even into the next day so I can move from task to task without stopping to ask myself what I need to do now. Prioritizing and creating lists is a big help in keeping me on task and as productive as possible.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
A strategy that has helped me grow in my career and throughout life is cultivating a strong network of relationships along with a determined work ethic. Networking isn’t just about collecting business cards or making connections on LinkedIn; it’s about building genuine, mutually beneficial relationships with others, not only in your industry but in life. Overall, investing time and effort into building and nurturing my professional network has been instrumental in my career growth. It’s a strategy that continues to pay dividends in terms of new opportunities, support, personal development, and even building lifelong friendships.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Everyone experiences failure, and I believe it is something to learn from. I can think of a particular instance where I made a mistake. To overcome it, I acknowledged the failure, analyzed what went wrong, sought feedback, focused on learning, and implemented changes for future projects. The lessons I learned included the importance of clear communication, flexibility, thorough planning, embracing failure as a learning tool, and seeking diverse perspectives. This experience taught me resilience and the value of continuous improvement.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
While there have been great strides in this direction, I think that AI is a powerful tool that can be leveraged for greater productivity, particularly in organizing our personal goals and tasks. The more personalized this technology can become, the more helpful it will ultimately be to its end users.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Todoist is a task management application that helps me stay organized, prioritize tasks, set deadlines and reminders, collaborate with team members, and review progress. It’s an essential tool in my productivity toolkit, enabling me to stay focused and on track with my goals.
What is the best $100 you recently spent?
As I mentioned, I deeply value my personal relationships. I enjoy giving gifts to the people in my life when I see something that I think they would value. The best $100 I spent recently was on one such gift, which brought me great joy to share.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast from which you’ve received much value?
As for podcasts, one that I highly value is “The Tim Ferriss Show.” Tim Ferriss interviews a diverse range of guests, from entrepreneurs and athletes to scientists and artists, delving into their habits, routines, and strategies for success. I’ve gained a wealth of knowledge and inspiration from the insights shared on this podcast, whether it’s learning about productivity hacks, mindset shifts, or unconventional approaches to problem-solving. Ferriss’s curiosity and willingness to explore different topics make each episode engaging and thought-provoking, which is why it’s one of my go-to sources for learning and personal development.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
The Queen’s Gambit is a captivating series that follows the journey of an orphaned chess prodigy named Beth Harmon as she rises through the ranks of competitive chess in the 1960s. It features compelling storytelling, well-developed characters, stunning cinematography, exploration of themes such as addiction and ambition, and chess as a metaphor for life. Overall, it’s a masterfully crafted series that offers a memorable viewing experience.
Key learnings:
– Embrace failure as a learning opportunity and focus on continuous improvement.
– Cultivate strong professional relationships for insights, support, and opportunities.
– Prioritize yearly goals and daily to-do lists to stay focused on your productivity and growth.
– Find inspiration and valuable insights from diverse sources, such as podcasts, articles, and movies, to fuel creativity and personal growth.