Meet Ryan Bauhaus | Experienced Creative/Art Director | Senior Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ryan Bauhaus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ryan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My name is Ryan Bauhaus, and my journey through advertising, marketing, and entrepreneurship has been diverse and deeply instructive. With over two decades of experience in advertising and marketing, my career path took an unexpected yet rewarding turn that led me to entrepreneurship.

The genesis of my business venture was not a sudden epiphany but a gradual realization shaped by personal experiences and professional expertise. After dedicating years to the advertising industry, I took a hiatus to focus on family, specifically to spend invaluable time with my daughter. This break from the corporate world was a period of reflection and reevaluation of my professional aspirations.

Instead of returning to the advertising sector, my wife and I were inspired to channel our creativity and passion into launching a food concept. This decision birthed Atlas Meat-Free Delicatessen, quickly becoming one of Miami’s most cherished vegan restaurants. The success of Atlas was not solely due to our unique food concept but also significantly bolstered by my background in advertising. My ability to craft engaging content and effectively communicate with our audience on platforms like Instagram was critical in developing a loyal and enthusiastic customer base.

Despite the eventual closure of Atlas Meat-Free Delicatessen due to unforeseen challenges, including contractor issues and the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience was far from a loss. It was an invaluable learning opportunity that allowed me to return to my roots with a renewed purpose.

This led to the creation of Six-Based Media, a venture aimed at assisting small businesses in achieving maximum exposure at a minimal cost. The transition from running a popular vegan restaurant to starting a marketing firm was underpinned by the lessons learned from my successes and setbacks. My advertising and marketing background, combined with my hands-on experience navigating the challenges faced by small businesses, provided a solid foundation for Six-Based Media.

At Six-Based Media, we are dedicated to understanding and addressing the unique marketing needs of small businesses. Our approach is to simplify the marketing process, making effective strategies accessible to businesses operating on limited budgets. This commitment stems from a deep-seated belief in the power of innovation and cost-effective solutions to overcome financial constraints.

My upbringing also influenced my inclination towards entrepreneurship in a family of self-employed individuals. Growing up in an environment where running one’s own business was the norm, the conventional office hierarchy never appealed to me. This background instilled in me a drive to forge my path and contribute to the entrepreneurial landscape.

In conclusion, the thought process behind starting my own business was a blend of personal convictions, professional experiences, and a desire to fill a gap in the market for small businesses seeking effective yet affordable marketing solutions. It was a natural progression that allowed me to leverage my advertising expertise in a new, meaningful way, supporting other entrepreneurs in their journeys.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The journey into the world of art and creativity is as challenging as it is rewarding, and what truly sets one apart in this domain is not just talent but the ability to listen, adapt, and innovate. What distinguishes me from others is my profound respect for my client’s vision and my relentless pursuit of bringing that vision to life in the most authentic and impactful way possible.

The cornerstone of my philosophy, and perhaps what I’m most proud of, is the understanding that the client’s perspective is paramount. This understanding wasn’t innate but learned through experiences that sometimes challenged my ego and creative instincts. Early in my career, I operated with a mindset that often placed my creative ego at odds with the client’s needs and vision. It was a humbling realization to discover that no matter how innovative or right my ideas seemed, they needed to align with the client’s expectations and vision first and foremost. Every client arrives with a vision, sometimes not fully formed or clearly articulated, but it’s there. As I see it now, my role is to bridge that nascent idea and its full realization, ensuring that the result resonates with the client’s original intent.

The path to where I am today was paved with its fair share of challenges, financial constraints being among the most formidable. Running Atlas, my venture into the food industry, was a masterclass in operating within tight budgets while aiming for maximum impact. The financial limitations often felt stifling, yet they taught me invaluable lessons in creativity and resourcefulness. My ethos of achieving maximum exposure at minimal cost was born from these constraints. This experience gave me a unique perspective that many designers and creatives might not encounter if they hadn’t navigated the choppy waters of small business ownership themselves.

Overcoming these challenges required humility, creativity, and an unwavering focus on the client’s needs. It taught me that constraints could catalyze innovation, pushing me to explore avenues and solutions I might not have considered otherwise.

What is the most valuable lesson from all of this? The client is always right, even when they’re not. This doesn’t mean compromising on quality or integrity but understanding and respecting that at the heart of every project is a client’s trust and vision. It’s about collaboration, not just execution.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that our commitment goes beyond mere transactions. We are here to create, bring visions to life, and ensure that every project meets and exceeds expectations. My journey from the world of advertising to the creation of Atlas and now to Six-Based Media is a testament to the power of adaptability, client-centric creativity, and the belief that every challenge is a stepping stone to greater innovation and success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
haha, This is hard to answer. I don’t have too many friends. I kind of keep to myself. But if I did have a friend who was persistent and wanted to do something, and I had the chance to craft the perfect week for us, despite my usually solitary nature, I’d lean into the experience, aiming to share with them the facets of my world that hold special meaning to me.

Our adventure would begin at the Artisan Playhouse, a gem that I’ve long admired from afar. This place, with its crafting lessons, represents the kind of creative immersion that speaks to my soul. In my mind, it transforms ordinary moments into cherished memories.

The next logical step would be to nourish ourselves. Planta Queen in the Grove would be our destination. Sharing a meal here would be about the food and the experience – the ambiance, the flavors- all converging to create a memorable evening.

A sunset bike ride over the Venetian Causeway would be ideal for capturing such a day. There’s something profoundly peaceful about pedaling along as the sky shifts through shades of orange and pink, the city’s hustle fading behind us. I really love that. The simple pleasure often gets overlooked but can be the most fulfilling.

As the evening drew in, we’d find ourselves seeking the spot that once housed Purdy Lounge. Though it’s transformed into something new—a common tale in the city’s ever-changing tapestry—I’d welcome the opportunity to see what has emerged in its place. This part of the day feels like a nod to the past, coupled with an openness to the new experiences and surprises life offers.

This itinerary, crafted not as a list but as a narrative, reflects not just places and activities but an ethos. It’s about embracing creativity, savoring the moment, and acknowledging the beauty in transition and change. While I may not often seek out company, the prospect of sharing these experiences offers a glimpse into the value of exploration and the simple joy of being present.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a moment’s hesitation, my father unequivocally deserves credit for much of my drive, understanding, and perspective on entrepreneurship. Observing him navigate the complexities of running his own business from a tender age not only shaped my understanding of hard work but also molded my expectations of what a professional life should entail.

I have vivid memories of my father tirelessly stamping envelopes night after night, each filled with meticulously crafted marketing materials. It was a ritual that, to an outsider, might have seemed mundane. Yet, for me, it was a profound demonstration of dedication, persistence, and the intricacies of building and sustaining a business. This was my normal—witnessing firsthand the behind-the-scenes effort required to make a dream a reality.

His commitment and entrepreneurial spirit are cornerstones of my journey. The lessons learned from those formative years have been invaluable. From understanding the importance of marketing to appreciating the resilience needed to overcome challenges, my father’s influence permeates every facet of my business endeavors.

Website: https://www.sixbased.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.ryanbauhaus/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanbauhaus/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/atlas-meat-free-delicatessen-miami-2

Other: https://soundcloud.com/oldmanhopeless

Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/tinyhousephoto/