I live in the beautiful city of Cape Town, where my work and play needs are well met.
I invented the toaster strudel. Well, not really but I would have liked to.
My claim to fame is really pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, which could be anything from building white-label solutions to starting client-facing innovations labs.
It has been quite the journey. My career started, like they do in the movies, from the metaphorical mail room. I started at Lilo as an intern, which turned into a full-paying job as a designer/front-end developer. From there, I moved on to Gloo where the fun really started and worked on some really great projects which bolstered my love for the industry.
With the help of a few great mentors – Graham Talbot and Paula Hulley to name a few – I just kept climbing the ladder one step at a time, absorbing as much as I could from those around me.
Now cut to 2019, where I’m working for HelloFCB+ as a creative technologist among some of the most amazing creatives and developers in Cape Town. I couldn’t have asked for anything better!
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. These are a few of my favourite things… alongside being a foodie, enjoying the hustle and bustle of Cape Town and anything Japan (the good stuff, not the weird stuff).
Honestly, it's the creativity. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching the cultivation of an idea.
The good thing about being in my position is that every day is different. Yes, the meetings and admin are consistent but beyond that, it's anyone's guess how my day will go.
Google, Google and more Google. Learning is a key part of the job and constantly keeping in touch with the latest technologies, strategies and creative buzz is key.
Beyond the textbook research approach, there is also communicating with industry professionals to unearth more experienced insights regarding technology, prototyping the core concepts of the end product and then presenting it on where it makes sense to everyone.8. Who is getting it right in your industry?
Internship programmes need some improving. I’d love to see us taking on a more structured approach, which focuses on the growth of the individual in a goal-orientated system, or dare I say gamifying their growth.
It would not only shape our industry for the better, but also produce better talent.
I just finished up a round of judging for a particular digital awards show, but beyond that, I can't really say. Just imagine something creative needing a technological overhaul and that's where you’ll find me.
Usually while I’m driving to and from work.
Latching onto any conversational topic and convincing people that I know what I’m talking about. It's all lies, lies I tell you. Queue evil laugh!
I'm square in the middle.
While technology is my work, I don't make it my life and enjoy desensitising from time to time.
Nothing really, be my guest and check. Maybe a few terrible attempts at being Instagram relevant!
Don't be afraid to take the long road in your career.
The journey more than makes up for any shortfalls you may experience, and provides you with an infinitely more useful toolbox as your career progresses.Keep growing and take every opportunity you have to show your passion and you will be rewarded for it.
Simple as that. Follow Arries on LinkedIn Twitter, Facebook and Instagram; and HelloFCB+ SA on their LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram feeds, as well as the FCB Joburg press office, for the latest updates.
*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.