Revision Path

There's a lot of A's in this episode — Amsterdam, Android, and Annyce Davis! As the software team lead for ZOLA Electric, Annyce has helped the company become the leading renewable energy brand in Africa. Apart from this, Annyce is an international conference speaker and author, and shares her knowledge with developers all over the world.

Our conversation started off with a look at a typical day at ZOLA Electric, and Annyce talked about what drew her to the Android ecosystem (and to the world of software development in general). She also shared what it's like to live in Amsterdam, spoke about how public speaking has helped her career, and gave some great advice for anyone looking to work abroad. Annyce is proof that being visible and being an advocate for yourself really pays off!

You might not think of Detroit as a city for tech, but web developer Aisha Blake is helping change that perspective. She works as a web developer for Detroit Labs fosters the next generation of tech speakers through Detroit Speakers in Tech, and her story of what drew her to the city is one that you've gotta hear.

Aisha and I talked about how a goalball tournament was the catalyst for her journey to Detroit, how couchsurfing opened up her up to an entirely new community, and she shared the the one piece of advice which has helped her accomplish so much in life in such a short amount of time. According to Aisha, we all need to feel comfortable with trying new things, and I think you'll come away from this conversation feeling inspired to do just that!

We're kicking off 2018 in Berlin! Meet Abimbola Idowu, a software engineer for SAP, one of the largest tech companies in Europe. Abimbola may be fairly new to Berlin, but he's already making his mark and spends his spare time cycling and exploring the city with his family.

Our conversation began with a walk through a typical day for Abimbola at SAP, and from there, he shared how he first learned about software development, and how he went to hone his skills through Andela. We also discussed the transition in culture from Lagos to Berlin, and he talked about some of the current opportunities for tech in Nigeria and the goals he has for 2019. Abimbola says that you should never doubt yourself, and I think that's a great mindset to adopt for the year.

We're closing out the year here on Revision Path with artist and technologist Omayeli Arenyeka. I first learned about her work when she wrote into Revision Path earlier this year, and then we crossed paths again when I started covering her creative tech projects on Glitch. So in a way, this interview is a bit of a full circle moment!

We started off talking about her current engineering work at LinkedIn, and then she shared how she first learned about Glitch and what drew her to the platform. Yeli also gave a talk recently at XOXO about the "creative saviour complex", so she went into the inspiration behind that presentation and discussed who and what fuels her work. I really think she's going to be someone to watch in 2019, so make sure you check out her work and follow her journey!

Our international design series continues here on Revision Path, and our next stop is Zurich, Switzerland! Meet Courtney Pinter, a multidisciplinary creative who currently works as a senior creative at world-renowned flavor company Givaudan. Courtney is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but has been in Zurich for several years now, so I was really excited to learn more about the Swiss design scene from her.

We started with a brief look at what it's like to design at a company like Givaudan, and she told me how her previous work at Tampico helped prepare her for this work. We talked about the change in design sensibilities due to location, the biggest challenges she's faced since moving there, and Courtney shared some powerful advice for designers who want to follow in her footsteps. Courtney is proof that instead of looking for examples in others, you can be the example in your own life!

When I first met Karl a few years ago at HOW Design Live here in Atlanta, I knew I had to have him on the show because he embodies something special about the design community. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Karl came here to the U.S. for college, learned design and coding, and since then has built a vibrant and active community for coders, designers and creatives through his two annual events -- SyntaxCon and Revolve Conference.

We started off talking about Karl's work at his firm Harbormark, and from there he walked me through his journey from the Caribbean to the Carolinas, and how his first meetup in 2011 was the spark of something great. We also spent a good bit of time talking about conferences, speaking, and how these experiences are for people of color. Karl even gave some great advice for those looking to get into conference speaking, and we both give some advice for conference organizers out there. I'm really excited to see what Karl creates next!

Analise Cleopatra is living proof that sometimes the things that you are seeking may take you on another path. I first learned about Analise through a reality show on YouTube called Lace Up: The Ultimate Sneaker Challenge, so that's where we started off our conversation, and she shared how she first got into sneaker design, and what it was like studying and working at Pensole Footwear Design Academy (as well as what it's like to be on a reality TV design show).

From there, Analise talked about what's happened since the show last year, including preparing for an artist residency, painting, writing, and even film making! While Portland is where Analise calls home for now, I have a feeling her talent and keen eye for design will take her all over the world. Learn more about her in this week's interview!

It's been a while since we first had Bobby C. Martin, Jr. on Revision Path, so I'm glad to have a chance to really sit down and talk with him to kick things off for our final month of interviews for 2018.

As the co-founder and founding partner of the Original Champions of Design, Bobby's identity design system work sets him in a class all his own. Whether he's handling rebranding for the WNBA or creating an identity system for the Girl Scouts, Bobby has helped elevate companies around the world.

We started off by talking about the business of OCD, including how it's changed with the times, how they find clients, and what it's like working with and building a team. From there, we took things back to Bobby's early days in Virginia, and he shared the inspirations and memories which influenced him as a designer, and we also talked about design curriculum, as well as what it feels like for him to occupy space as such a well-known designer. Bobby wants everyone to know that you can make a living from being a designer, and putting everything you can into your work is the key to success!

Aaron Gleen is an art director and graphic designer that's taking the Philippines by storm. Through his company, GRAY+, he helps businesses and other designers recognize and learn the value of design. I caught up with Aaron at his current place in Cebu City to talk about the journey of what brought him to his current success.

Aaron spoke about growing up in Riverside, CA, and from there he spoke about how he learned about design and what sparked him to pursue it as a career. We also discuss how Aaron ended up in the Philippines, what the design scene is like there, his dream project, and where he sees his work taking him in the near future. It's a really great interview, and if you've ever been curious about the Philippines as a design destination, then wonder no more!

Jason Murphy is a legend in the design industry. He's most known as being one of a half dozen design directors who oversaw the brand for Nike, but he's also created concepts for BET, SEIU, Discovery, and many other companies and brands. Now Jason is doing his own thing as a creative director and chief creative officer, so we had a great conversation not just about his past success, but also about the future.

Jason walked me through a typical day for him, and we spoke about his talk earlier this year at the AIGA Design Conference and went from there into his time at Nike with the Nike Equality Campaign. Jason also spoke about how the Organization of Black Designers influenced him, shared what it was like working at BET in its heyday, and talked about the design scene in Portland and what he wants to do next. Jason calls himself a lover of all design, and after this interview, I couldn't agree more!