Ryan Meinerding is an American concept artist and the Head of Visual Development at Marvel Studios, a role in which he has been instrumental since the early days of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He is also a member of the Marvel Studios Parliament. Growing up in suburban Northeast Ohio, Meinerding developed a passion for art at a young age, initially wielding crayons and later transitioning to an airbrush during high school. He pursued a degree in Industrial Design at the University of Notre Dame. Furthermore, he refined his skills in Illustration at the Art Centre College of Design. After completing his education, he collaborated with renowned concept artist Iain McCaig on a project that led to a meeting with director Jon Favreau. Favreau, impressed by Meinerding's work, hired him as an illustrator for the 2008 film Iron Man, marking the beginning of his long-standing association with Marvel Studios.