Learn what Josh has to say about being a senior web developer, designing coins and medals for the U.S. Mint, and his experience with translating digital designs into the real world.
You’re Idea Kraft’s Senior Web Developer! What does that mean and what do you do?
Being a senior web developer means I have many years of web experience under my belt and am the go-to person when issues arise. I’m well versed in WordPress and have a plethora of web coding and design experience. These skills allow me to make well informed plugin and design recommendations, and can troubleshoot issues that may come up on our hosted sites.
Where were you before this?
Before I worked at Idea Kraft, I worked in a few other local graphic and web design agencies. Working with large format printers, we got to tackle projects on a much bigger scale. I worked with Muckles designing and printing my own designs on tshirts, I painted a logo on the side of a local restaurant, and I even got to put my design on a local radio station’s van! It’s always rewarding to see your digital designs realized into reality!
What did you go to school for?
I went to Pratt Art Institute for Communications Design, or CommD for short. CommD explores how design communicates a message to people not only with aesthetics, but with creating new media channels to ensure that the message reaches the target audience. Some designers use graphic design and communication design interchangeably due to sharing similar skill sets.
What’s one thing that has surprised you in your career path up until now?
I was chosen as one of four students to participate in the Artistic Infusion Program at the United States Mint for two awesome years. The AIP invites artists to create designs for U.S. coins and medals. I submitted designs for the Puerto Rico U.S. territories quarter, a couple First Spouse gold coins, Lincoln bicentennial one cent obverse, and the Zachary Taylor and Franklin Pierce presidential dollar coins.
What’s one piece of advice you can offer to someone in the artistic field?
My best piece of advice is to not feel pressured to take advice! You can always consider someone’s advice in making your own decisions, but you don’t need to follow it. Use your own judgment to make the best choices for yourself. There is no shame in trying something out, changing your mind, and learning from your mistakes.
What makes working at Idea Kraft unique?
We are all a part of a close knit family and do fun activities together. I look forward to Halloween every year where we all dress up and take photos of our amazing costumes together!
What’s your go-to pizza topping?
I love to add BBQ sauce to chicken pizza! Mushrooms, green peppers, and pepperoni are also on my list of favorites.
Guilty pleasure?
In my free time I cast healing spells and fight monsters in the massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Final Fantasy XIV. Playing for almost 8 years now, I have met tons of fellow adventurers (online friends) along the way. After a long day of web development, it’s nice to unwind at my local guild and plan my next journey!
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