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Ruke
Creator and Founder of Game Nation |
Daniel T. Ruke, also known as “Ruke”, is a creative illustrator, designer, artist and businessman who transforms visions into reality, offering clients the best results and highest quality service.
At the age of five, Ruke realized that art would become his life. His private training began at age eight and continued until his graduation from Ringling School of Art and Design.
In 1993 Ruke opened his first company, Ruke Illustrations. He focused on themed and branded spaces. When most artists/illustrators didn’t want to touch a computer, Ruke embraced it. Not only was he able to do hand painted murals, but the use of technology enabled him to contribute to the overall design and theme of entertainment venues and destinations.
Understanding that “Brands are felt, not read”, Ruke expanded his illustration company in 1998 into blink, a non-traditional creative agency. The atmosphere offers employees the artistic freedom to create revolutionary work while making clients successful. Ruke has always looked for the client’s uniqueness in branding, product image and sales cycles, all of which separate the client from their competition. This was a major shift in his career. He was now able to represent projects and companies from an advertising and marketing capacity, as well as contribute to the creative and the development of their products and services. His drive and passion keep blink on the forefront of art and communication.
By blink’s eighth year of operation, Ruke decided to expand from entertainment and destinations to the video game industry as well. This expansion opened up a wide range of opportunities for blink and the brand, Ruke. The studio didn’t stop at representing video games; it helped develop them. The demand for Ruke to personally illustrate novel covers, stage productions and a wide range of digital media allowed him to revisit his roots. Ruke was asked to start lecturing on industry experiences at multiple venues including the University of Miami.
In 2010 Ruke combined all of his experience and talents to create Game Nation, the world’s first Experiential Video Game Theme Park and Resort. With total immersion and complete interactivity, Game Nation will merge video game mechanics with physical themed attractions, creating some of the most unreal experiences gamers have ever had.
In his spare time Ruke served on the South Florida chapter of the IGDA (International Game Developer Association). He worked on the board as an advisor and has done special projects to help shape their future. Because of his passion and drive for societal improvement, Ruke consults monthly, free of charge, with no less than five start-ups, entrepreneurs, and businesses looking to advance to the next level. Ruke does this through several international networking groups as an effort to give back. Participating in workshops nationwide allows him to help people see a previously unrecognized future for their companies. This philanthropic work has led him to earn the respect of industry peers and become internationally renowned.
Ruke was invited to become a Star member of World Game Executives. This honor is bestowed only on the top, most innovative thinkers in the video game industry. Ruke is very proud to serve on the Board of Advisors for this international group of gaming professionals.
One of the ways that Ruke enjoys spending quality time with his children is in his secret, dedicated Star Wars room. There he has all the toys he has been collecting since childhood. He and the children work on miniature sets and worlds inspired by the Star Wars franchise. This 600 square foot room serves as a place where Daniel plays with the children and practices themed design, architecture and special effects. To see it for yourself, visit www.TheBestStarWarsCollectionEver.com.
Ruke prides himself in creating cultural brands and being a keen observer of not only audience demographics, but, more importantly, their psychographics and socialgraphics. If you ask him, Ruke will tell you,
“Work is not my life. I live my work.”
