Ryan Knaggs: Expressing the atmosphere of his music through story-led design

The story of how I helped composer Ryan Knaggs promote his dark and dramatic musical compositions.

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The challenge

Ryan Knaggs is a composer for film, television, and video games whose music is rich in atmosphere. He wanted a website that reflects both his work and the emotions that run through his compositions. As we talked about his music, it became clear that Ryan wasn’t looking for a conventional composer portfolio. My challenge was to create a website that captures the same intensity that people experience when they listen to his music.

My approach

Every composer develops a recognisable musical style. I wanted Ryan’s website to feel just as distinctive as his work. Every design decision reinforces the atmosphere of his music. A dramatic colour palette, expressive typography, and cinematic layouts work together to create a visual identity that feels unmistakably Ryan’s.

The solution

Ryan Knaggs’ finished website is a portfolio with a dramatic, cinematic feel inspired by the horror movies Ryan loves. His colour palette adds atmosphere. Oversized headlines create rhythm while generous spacing encourages people to pause and read his content. Behind the scenes, I developed an HTML and CSS prototype before integrating Eleventy, making it straightforward for Ryan to publish new projects and keep his portfolio up to date.

Behind the design

Projects like this grow from conversations about cultural references and musical influences. As I learned more about Ryan’s love of the horror genre, the visual language became clearer. I explored colour, texture, and typography until they create the same emotional tone as his music. Every design decision helps strengthen that atmosphere while keeping Ryan’s music at the centre of someone’s experience.

The result

The finished website looks every bit as dramatic as Ryan’s music, and visitors experience the same atmosphere through his colours, layout, and typography. My design has given Ryan a distinctive visual identity that helps showcase his work.

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Working with Andy was an incredible experience. He translated my musical style into a brilliant, authentic brand. Feedback has been fantastic. Everyone mentions how the graphics and layout perfectly tell my story as a composer.

What this project demonstrates

A portfolio website can express atmosphere just as effectively as it showcases creative work. I helped Ryan create a website that’s every bit as distinctive as the music he composes.