June 24, 2025

For twenty-seven years, Robyn Ricks has shaped how the outside world sees Washington Sea Grant. As the program’s creative director, Robyn has brought her visual branding and graphic design skills to produce materials from websites to the Sea Star print magazine to formal presentations. She brings an element of magic to everything she touches, turning even the most bureaucratic of documents into something beautiful. 

It is bittersweet to share that Robyn is moving on to her next chapter: retirement. 

Through all of Robyn’s projects, big and small — from the first edition of the book Heaven on the Half Shell, to the annual calendar, to countless Mailchimp emails — Robyn has high standards and she works hard to implement them. She always has a vision for how to carry out her role in presenting WSG to the public, carefully selecting artwork and photography that convey the organization’s work and mission. Robyn is also known for going above and beyond to use her wand to make creations for the sole purpose of bringing joy to her fellow WSG staff and community — for example, thoughtful birthday cards, environmentally-conscious holiday gift baskets, and even a video featuring the dogs of Sea Grant.

We had the chance to ask Robyn about her long career at WSG. Here’s what she had to say.

When did you start working at Washington Sea Grant, and what brought you here?

I joined Washington Sea Grant in December 1998. Before that, I worked at several advertising agencies and later as a designer with the University of Washington’s Marketing and Communications team. During that time, I collaborated on a few projects with David Gordon, who was then the science writer at WSG.

Although I had been doing a lot of design work in the health sciences, I found myself increasingly drawn to environmental issues—especially the marine focus of WSG’s mission. It felt like a better fit for my interests and values, which is what led me to pursue a full-time role here.

What do you like about working at WSG?

I really appreciate the kind of work we do—it’s meaningful, always evolving, and keeps you learning. I also value the culture here. It’s a kind, respectful, and professional environment where people trust one another to do their jobs well.

Our office has always felt like a supportive and thoughtful place to work. WSG allows people the autonomy to manage their work, and everyone is committed to doing what’s best for their programs and the organization as a whole.

What have been some of your favorite projects over the years?

There have been so many. I loved working on the first edition of Heaven on the Half Shell. Collaborating with Tucker, the scat-detection dog, was such a unique and delightful project.

Another highlight was traveling to Tatoosh Island to observe Julia Parrish’s seabird research—we had funded her work, and seeing it in action was a memorable experience.

I’ve also really enjoyed redesigning materials every four years as part of the funding cycle. It’s a chance to refresh our visual identity and showcase the incredible marine imagery we have access to. I’ve always appreciated the creative freedom to use high-quality photos and work with exceptional illustrators.

As creative director, you shape how WSG is presented to the outside world. How do you approach that role?

My goal has always been to make our work visually engaging and inviting. While universal themes like health, babies, and sex tend to grab attention, we’ve got something just as compelling: the beauty and complexity of the marine

environment.

I’ve been lucky to have the trust and flexibility to source powerful images and collaborate with top-tier illustrators. That freedom has allowed me to make our publications and outreach materials something people can really connect with.

I feel genuinely fortunate to have spent this part of my career at Washington Sea Grant. It’s a meaningful organization, and I’m proud to have helped share its story with the public.

What are you most looking forward to in your retirement?

As I enter this new phase, I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family, friends,  and dogs, going on hikes, birding, and being in nature, especially among moss-covered rocks and dappled light. And honestly, I’m really looking forward to not spending long hours behind a computer screen every day. It’s time to shift gears and embrace a different rhythm.

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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. Washington Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.

wsg.uw.edu

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