In Focus: Interview with Barbara O Stephenson, CEO of 300FeetOut, United States

We’re a team of designers and developers that work together to build creative that speaks to data, strategy, and has an emotional pull. This is a unique niche because traditionally studios are one or the other. Normally you’d have either have design or development lead the process but we actually merge them together.

It is in two parts- first the reinforcement for our clients that our agency has been award winning for over 20 years and secondly it’s the recognition from our peers which frankly just feels good. It’s justification for the hard work.

In 5 to 10 years, we’ll see AI (assistance technology) increase to the point where creative will become a highly niched role, even more so than now. This is both for designers and developers alike.Like data, design and development will be regulated if we don’t take on the ethical responsibility to do it ourselves.AR and VR for sure will be a larger part of our lives. While the hardware has made great strides in battery, processing, and comfortability; it is still a way out for the mass market. That means that right now we have fantastic potential to influence the future. If we don’t jump into VR now and start implementing good design, we’re going to end up with a mess like we had back in the early 2000s of geocities type website design.

1. I love when creatives get excited about projects and the future. No other business I have ever been in generates the same buzz.2. The ability to learn and inspire is a 360 process.3. The deep soul satisfaction of a job well done, knowing that you partnered with someone to make their business more successful.

Sooooo typical to say, my mother. If you meet her, you automatically become a better person for it.

Living in the Bay Area of California in the US means that design has a special relationship with tech. Everywhere you go you hear people discuss your craft, coffee shops to standing in line at the grocery store. You can’t escape the workshops, parties, learning opportunities etc. unless you don’t leave your house.

Always strive to be sincere, proactive, and never settle to stay in your place. This industry is full of enough fakers who think that the world revolves around them and their contributions that you have a great opportunity to be different.

Read and take classes. Develop basic coding skills, speech and debate skills, and learn how to see the big picture. Explore new things, meet and find a mentor.

The color yellow reminds me of diapers.

My motto is that everything can be improved. It means I accept finished products easier since they will never be perfect and I’m always looking for ways to be a better person, leader, and contributor to my team.