Modern design and digital media means taking your brand to the next level. It means taking good ideas and nurturing them with video, motion graphics, 3D animation, and web design. It means looking to the future with interactive sales tools, a 3D brand, and a vision for what’s coming.

Founded in 2013, ruef Design is a privately held small business in Dayton, Ohio, employing CAD designers, videographers, motion graphics designers, 3D animators, graphic designers, web developers, and photographers. We merge art and strategic communications to produce compelling designs and effective digital marketing campaigns for clients in various industries, including manufacturing, heavy equipment, engineering, logistics and transportation, processing, bio-medical, and research and development. We believe even the most intricate processes and products can be broken down into the simplest visuals using CAD design, video, animation, and motion graphics.

zack ruef
owner, design, strategy

Zack, our lead designer, is a patented inventor and award-winning 3D artist, product developer, animator and director. At ruef, he leads a team of enthusiastic innovators, and is constantly creating new ideas and avenues of success for those ideas. His passion to create extends to those who may not otherwise have a road to creative strategy, including business owners, companies, nonprofits, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers, designers, inventors, and more.

dane coleman
communications, web, strategy

With an extensive background in digital marketing agency work, including strategy, public relations, and web design, Dane is adept at writing, designing and presenting intriguing, concise creative and technical content intended to describe and promote products and services. At ruef, he directs the process of bringing products, services, and ideas to life through client and media relationships, web design, concept development, and the written word.

brent thurston
motion graphics, video, graphics

Brent consistently exceeds customer expectations. At ruef, his keen eye for motion graphics, visuals, video, and graphic design helps customers display their products and services on highly-targeted and intelligent platforms. As lead camera operator and video editor, Brent always stays on top of new technologies and methods, helping to ensure our videos and animations are always three steps ahead of the competition.

drew schetter
graphics, video, web

Drew brings a fresh perspective to every project at ruef. A recent graduate of The Modern College of Design, he already has an exceptional handle on the marketing and business side of design for being early in his career. As our graphic designer, Drew uses his creative talents and professional aptitude to help make our client projects shine.

james davis
photography, strategy, web

James brings his award-winning photography experience and extensive communications aptitude to the digital marketing agency world, creating images, web designs, and strategies that highlight the very best of a customer's processes, products, and profiles. An accomplished videographer and an excellent writer and communicator, James helps ruef develop content that supports all design and media efforts.

buster
sleeping, melting hearts, being adorable

Buster is the ruef Office Dog. He likes to sleep in his chair by our front door so he can watch the whole office and see who is coming and going. In his free time, Buster enjoys playing with tennis balls, growling at nothing, and hanging out with his family at Zack and Erin's house.