• What’s the skinny on you? Tell us your story.
My name is Tim Schmidt and I am a user experience / web design for PayPal. I like heavy metal music, tattoos, hockey and videogames. I played a corpse on The Wire. I live in Baltimore, MD with my fiancé and poodle.
• What is it that drew you to a life of graphic design?
I can’t really explain what it was that drew me to want to start a career in design. All through my high school career I maintained a heavy focus on music, but the summer before my senior year something clicked and I just wanted to make cool stuff. I really started to notice good typography and I wanted to help people, and visual communication was the best way I knew how.
• Where did you collect your design education?
I graduated in 2004 from the Art Institute of York. (Which was actually Bradley Academy for the Visual Arts when I started, but became part of the art institute family not long before my graduation)
• Are you a team player, or are you a solo creative?
Team player, for sure. For me its all about the communication. I think that there is an infinite value that comes from good conversation and discussions about a project. But if the open lines of communication aren’t there, then you might as well just work by yourself. Even when I work on a freelance project by myself I like to get the feedback and input of my friends / colleagues. I feel that it helps to validate my ideas.
• Are there any qualities you wish for in a project, or, describe your dream job?
Well, a flawless and completely detailed set of business requirements or brief from the client would be awesome. But it isn’t always like that. And its up to us fill in the gaps and figure out what gets the user from point A to point B. Its not just about the overall look of the site. Its about the User’s Experience.
In regards to a dream job, I’d say I got pretty lucky and landed it already. I work for a great company with a small stellar team. I love coming into the office every day. And everyone here is able to tolerate my hardcore air drumming and air guitaring.
• What primes your creative pump? Where do you find your best inspiration?
Music is a big source of energy for me. I’ve got my iPod with me at all times. I have to be listening to music while I work or I don’t feel like I’m focused enough. I’m also a big fan of awesome (or at least what I think are awesome) movies. Things in every day life and nature are also a good source of inspiration.
• We have all had projects that didn’t go well or were quite the challenge. What have you learned from these scenarios?
The most important thing is to just keep your head up. If you start to get beaten down too badly you’re final product/result will suffer. But on the flip side. There are times to stand your ground. If you feel strongly about something, and you really feel it will be better for the User’s Experience than you need to make sure that you are heard. While the client might not always agree with you, and still want to go about it another way, you’ll feel better knowing you tried.
• If you happened upon enough cash flow to retire today, what would you do?
I would travel more with my fiancé. There are a lot places we would love to go all over the world. I would also be sure to get a lifetime of season tickets for the Washington Capitals. And then I would probably still work because design isn’t just my career its my hobby.
• Any advice you care to divulge to students who are currently in training?
Keep your eyes open. Never underestimate the power of quick and rough sketches to vet out an idea before you even touch a computer. Don’t look for all your inspiration on the Internet. You need to go out an experience things yourself.
• Last chance, is there anything we missed you’d like to impart?
Rock and roll.
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