RIYL
RIYL.fm is an interactive snapshot of what’s playing on college radio stations across the country, celebrating the human taste and discovery that happens beyond the algorithm. RIYL—short for “Recommended If You Like” and pronounced rile—is a phrase long used by college radio DJs and record reviewers to connect music through shared tastes and sensibilities.
Working with founder Emily White, I developed RIYL’s brand and visual identity, along with a system of downloadable social sharecards. Drawing on my own background in college radio, I wanted the identity to feel as playful, personal, and lovingly DIY as college radio itself.
The Visual Identity
Inspired by zines, xeroxed posters, and the early internet, the identity pairs bright, energetic color with a deliberately DIY visual language. Stoned Youth Sans from Tropical Type and its library of embedded graphics became the foundation for dynamic and unexpected compositions at scale.
The Sharecards
Designed to bring RIYL beyond the site, I developed a flexible system of downloadable social sharecards to turn listening data into expressions of each DJ and station’s unique taste.
Bringing it to Life
Emily led the site build, with Rie McGwier handling the end-to-end data work. I provided design and UX feedback and conducted a full visual QA ahead of launch, helping carry the identity consistently through the digital experience.