First, thanks for interviewing Will and passing him along to the next phase.
As someone involved in the hiring process and interviewing candidates for the digital practice, what are some things that make a candidate standout right away?
I always want to see process and methods, all the low fidelity stuff leading up to the deliverables. So many tools and templates are readily available that I’m a bit leery when the portfolio looks too polished. I want to know about the challenges and what methods were used and why. Candidates stand out when they can demonstrate comfort with ambiguity and an appetite for creative problem-solving. As designers we shouldn’t be told how to solve things, that’s for us to figure out.
What would be your dream project/engagement?
For me, a dream project/engagement is one where we perform field studies and research to identify problems without obvious solutions. The methods and tools wouldn’t necessarily become the deliverables but rather part of the process. I'm a big fan of structured activities, but prefer a loose style where we can be adaptable to adjust appropriately when faced with new information. It’s client and industry agnostic, more about empowerment and trust.
What's your ideal work space? Do you listen to music while you work?
I like open and modern spaces, ideally with plenty of whiteboards and long tables for paper prototyping and sketching. Good coffee and a few quiet areas with nice seating. To the second question, yes, I listen to a fairly wide variety of music whenever possible at work.
We know you have a great relationship with your pug, give us a little bit of background on that?
Yes, big shout out to Jasper the Pug for bringing me so much joy; my cup runneth over! My wife and I spent 8 years in Kansas City. Jasper joined our squad soon after we arrived there. He wore a bowtie to our wedding, and he’s been with us at so many other special events: he tagged along to pick up my diploma for grad school, came with us to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meetings in Omaha, stopped by several Global Service Jam design events, met Kansas City Mayor Sly James, the list goes on! Our time in KC was full of growth and Jasper was a part of it all.
Time for a plug, what’s your favorite photo of him?
I’d say this hero shot at the St. Louis Gateway Arch is my favorite.
What song do you play to get everyone dancing?
I grew up with Michael Jackson being the definition of dance, and there's a timelessness to his music. I'd most likely throw on Thriller or Billie Jean and hope for a proper moonwalk showdown.
If you were organizing a music festival, which three acts would you have headline?
I’ll go with Jay-Z, Radiohead, and Eliot Lipp.
What’s the last thing that inspired you? Doesn’t have to be music. Could be that cloud in the sky that looked like Danny Devito.
Being in New York still feels new and there’s inspiration around every corner! I love walking through Central Park and admiring all the stonework at Bethesda Fountain. After talking about it for so many years, just being here in Manhattan makes me feel inspired. I’ve got a membership to The MET and go there whenever I need a boost. There's this statue, Standing Vishnu as Keshava. Years ago when I would visit New York, I used to take pictures of that statue to admire the insane amount of detail. Now I walk a few blocks to go visit that statue, something about it resonates and inspires me.
LATEST MIX
Electro Flow to Hip Hop v1.00 | No Shuffle
Electro beats to kick in focus and productivity, with a transition to hip hop flow. (Best if played with shuffle off)