Topps Senior Art Director Ryan Lee Talks Design & Representation

On Design and Innovation

Date: May 26, 2026

Topics: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Cards and Culture, Trending

Length: 1015 Words

Reading Time: ~6 Minutes

For Topps Senior Art Director Ryan Lee, The Hobby has always been more than a job. The son of longtime Topps artist and Senior Art Director Shu Lee, Ryan grew up surrounded by trading cards, artwork, and the creative energy that helped shape generations of collecting.

More than a decade into his own career at Topps, Lee now helps guide the visual identity of some of the company’s biggest brands and licenses, blending innovation, storytelling, and print technology into products that define modern collecting. This Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lee reflects on creativity, mentorship, representation, and the responsibility of helping shape both the future of design and the next generation of artists within The Hobby.

Topps Senior Art Director Ryan Lee shares how growing up around trading cards and learning from longtime Topps artist Shu Lee shaped his creative journey. In this AAPI Heritage Month feature, Lee discusses mentorship, representation, innovation in card design, and balancing classic Hobby aesthetics with modern creativity.

A Chat with Topps Senior Art Director Ryan Lee

Ripped: What does your role as a Senior Art Director at Topps look like day to day, and what parts of the creative process excite you most?

Ryan Lee: My day-to-day includes any number of steps in the process of designing trading cards and following those designs all the way to press, while also advising my reporting Art Directors and their teams. I could be at the very beginning of a product, getting briefed by Product Development managers, engineering a trading card design to compose and print correctly, or helping innovate new print technologies as we continue unlocking the potential of our presses.

What excites me most about the creative process are those moments when I’m genuinely astounded by design. It could be something I never would have thought to do, or a moment where artist block suddenly turns into a breakthrough. When a design translates from the brain to the pixels on screen flawlessly, those are the moments that make it all worth it.

What projects have you been most proud to work on during your time at Topps?

I’m particularly proud of leading Disney Chrome. Disney and Pixar are licenses I could have only dreamed of working with and designing for. These are some of the most iconic characters, films, and shows in the world, with an incredible global fanbase. To be at the head of developing that relationship has been such an honor.

How do you balance honoring classic sports card aesthetics while still pushing designs in new and creative directions?

A lot of it comes down to understanding what makes a card timeless in the first place. There are certain visual elements and structures collectors connect with emotionally, and you want to respect that foundation while still finding ways to evolve it. Innovation works best when it enhances the identity of the product rather than replacing it. The challenge is finding that balance between familiarity and surprise.

As an AAPI professional in the sports and collectibles industry, what has your experience been like working in creative spaces within The Hobby?

My story starts before I was even born. My father, Shu Lee, started as an Artist Apprentice at Topps when they were still in Brooklyn in the early 1980s and worked his way up to Senior Art Director. I grew up breaking boxes with my older brother and eventually found myself at Topps after graduating college.

Ever since I started designing Topps cards in 2012, the Art Team has always been culturally diverse and inclusive. It took no time to feel like part of the family, especially back when Topps consisted of only around 350 global employees before the company was acquired by Fanatics.

How has your cultural background or personal experiences influenced your creative perspective and design work?

Growing up around both art and collecting shaped how I approach design. I’ve always understood that cards are more than visuals. They hold emotional value for collectors. Being exposed to different perspectives and experiences throughout my life has helped me approach design with a broader lens and think about how products connect with different audiences across The Hobby.

Why do you think representation matters in sports, design, and collectibles industries today?

If I could be that person someone looks up to, it would be beyond my wildest imagination. To be representation for my race and my culture excites me. Being an Art Director for nine years and counting, the opportunities where I get to mentor younger designers mean the world to me.

To have that impact on a bigger level is hard to even comprehend, but it could be my reality. I want to be that person someone can look up to. I hope to set that role model expectation.

What advice would you give to young AAPI creatives hoping to work in sports, entertainment, collectibles, or design?

I would tell them to embrace everything that makes them unique. Their experiences and perspectives are what can individually shape what they create and put out into the world. Let creativity do the speaking.

FAQs

What does Ryan Lee do at Topps?
- Ryan Lee serves as a Senior Art Director at Topps, overseeing trading card design development, print execution, creative direction, and mentorship for other art directors and designers.
What products has Ryan Lee worked on?
- Ryan Lee highlighted Disney Chrome as one of the projects he is most proud to lead during his time as an Art Director at Topps.
Who is Shu Lee?
- Shu Lee is a longtime Topps artist and Senior Art Director who began his career at Topps in Brooklyn during the early 1980s.
Why is representation important in The Hobby?
- Ryan Lee believes representation creates opportunities for mentorship, inspiration, and visibility for future generations entering sports, entertainment, and the collectibles industry.