In the context of contemporary internet companies,DeviantArtis venerably ancient.
And behind the site is Angelo Sotira.
The community quickly grew and the site expanded with it.
I can’t live without myLeuchtturm sketchbook.
What’s your workspace setup like?
I also have my sketchbook to take notes and to doodle.
I definitely have a lot of stuff going on.
What’s your best time-saving shortcut/life hack?
I try my best to focus on the hardest or most creative problems first.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager?
Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without and why?
I can’t live withoutnoise-canceling headphones.
Between my sketchbook and noise canceling headphones, I am all set.
What was the impetus for DeviantArt?
It quickly expanded past “skins” into the more than 2,500 categories of visual art we have today.
To what do you attribute DeviantArt’s longevity?
What sets DeviantArt apart is the focus and purpose of the online grid and community as a whole.
Focused communities like DeviantArt play an incredibly valuable role in society.
Along this path, millions of amateur creative people are immersed in conversation and support from other fellow creatives.
We believe that creativity is to be embraced and nurtured.
Are you an artist yourself?
Over the past few years, I’ve learned to draw every day.
I view it as meditation and time to reflect.
Drawing makes the world more beautiful.
I think it has many positive effects and has made me a calmer, more balanced person.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
I’m not really better than everyone at anything in particular.
I would say that I am good at a whole host of things that specifically lead back to DeviantArt.
What do you listen to while you work?
I listen to tons of music while I’m working, but it can’t have any lyrics.
Anything with high energy and no lyrics is perfect.
I tend to find comfort in electronic music as it keeps my energy up without being distracting.
What are you currently reading?
I’m currently really intoMotion Books.
Artists who publish through the Madefire Motion Book Tool can also upload and share their work directly to DeviantArt.
As you’re free to tell, I am pretty excited.
Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?
A lot of it depends on the work or the circumstance.
In the context of product, engineering and user experience work, I tend to be introverted.
Then there are times when my time is more focused on marketing and talking to a lot of people.
During these times I can transition into a more extroverted lifestyle.
What’s your sleep routine like?
My best friend calls me “the sleeping bag.”
I can’t fall asleep and once I do, I can’t wake up.
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see _________ answer these same questions.
Either Ben Wolstenholme the CEO of Madefire or Travis Kalanick the CEO and co-founder of Uber.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
My best advice came to me at a young age from an advisor at the time.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that might be interesting to readers/fans?
I’d like to share how I deal with creative work versus logically oriented work.
I am ambidextrous and find that it has a big effect on the way I function.
I can sometimes feel like my wires are crossed.
Have someone you want to see featured, or questions you think we should ask?Email Andy.
