Interview with Paul A. Szypula

Hello there, can you tell us how did you start your career as a designer?
After graduating RIT (Rochester Institute of Technology - [link]http://www.rit.edu/[/link]) in 1999, I started my career at Dennis Interactive ([link]http://www.bubblebathgirl.com/projects/di[/link]) in New York, NY. I had also done internships at Curious Pictures ([link]http://www.curiouspictures.com[/link]) in NY during the summer following my freshman year of college, and at Birdsall Designs ([link]http://www.birdsallinteractive.com/[/link]) in Oakland, CA the following 2 summers.

We allknow that you are a designer of DNA studio. Was is hard to get that position? Why did you leave DNA?
As of November 29, 2004 I will be a full time employee of Los Angeles, CA based 65 Media ([link]http://www.65media.com[/link]). I have been freelancing at 65 for a month and a half and have enjoyed the experience. I have been doing freelance full time since I left DNA ([link]http://www.dnastudio.com[/link]), back in the beginning of August, working for a handful of other agencies in New York and Los Angeles. Prior to this I worked at DNA Studio in Los Angeles for 2 years. My primary reason for looking into a position there was that an on line acquaintance of mine, Jens Karlsson of Chapter.net, was to be working there as well. I ended up working with him, as well as with other talented creative there whose comradery made the challenges of the organization itself more approachable.

Tell us about your life outside the working days. Got a family? How do you chill?
Life outside of work is spent with the girlfriend, a little at the gym, sometimes with family, and frequently at dinners and social gatherings. I also enjoy workin on collaborative projects. The May 1st Reboot ([link]http://www.may1reboot.com[/link]) has been a rewarding challenge of the past few years, and I'm looking forward to the development of the 2005 iteration. I also enjoy helping out on other people's personal projects. Most recently I collaborated with Bob Partridge of thesixfootrabbit ([link]http://www.thesixfootrabbit.com[/link]), while under the Art Direction of Simona Lo, to launch Simona's portfolio site Seriph ([link]http://www.seriph.com[/link]).

What do you think about web design these days? Where it is going?
I think web design is slowly evolving. It's going to take some time before web design earns the respect that media such as print and broadcast already have.

Ok, you are also the owner of May1Reboot project. Whats the history behind it?
Check out may1reboot.com to read up on the official history of the event.

Whats the plans for the future with May1Reboot and your career at all?
Right now, I'm trying to make the event as easy and rewarding to partake in as possible. Every year has it's own look, but the focus is always on coming up with better ways for people to participate. The event flowed very smoothly last year thanks to Drew Millecchia, the Technical Director for the project, who made sure that the Flash and the backend communicated swiftly and clearly. (mt) media temple ([link]http://www.mediatemple.net[/link]) is onboard, once again, as the primary sponsor for the Reboot - it has been a pleasure and an honor to have such professional and reliable people to depend on.

How your day starts and what is the end of it?
My ideal day starts with a nice hot shower, and ends with a solid meal - pretty simple.

Can u show us your last commercial work?
The last completed project I worked on was at 65 media for The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou movie site: [link]http://lifeaquatic.movies.go.com/main.html[/link]

What are you going to do after designer career?
I'm hoping my design career will be something that I am able and happy to do for many years to come.

Do you surf on ezines like Digital Abstracts? What do you think about them?
I think ezines, community sites, and news portals are all extremely useful and important parts of the web design field. They are great ways to share knowledge.

What do you think about global warming... What would you do, if tomorrow is the end of days?
Global warming seems to have fallen substantially in the list of things that I think about - it's a much more subtle threat then humans and other natural disasters.

What would u suggest to a newbbie, who is just starting his career?KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid. Clean and elegant design with smart composition, interaction with usability as the priority, and motion art based on character and composition are elements of web design that I think anyone starting out should pursue with vigor.

Are you design educated? Do you think its important?
I graduated from RIT with a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in Graphic Design and an AAS (Associate in Applied Science) in Illustration.
Design education is important as a foundation from which to build real world experience.

Final comments please.
Right now I enjoy what I do and feel lucky that I can make a living
doing so. Hard work has payed off as has flexibility.

Here's a fun little seasonal game (a collaboration from years past) you still may enjoy that: [link]http://www.bubblebathgirl.com/drewbert[/link]

Thanks, Paul. Good luck.