Hello, my name is Devon
I am an infinitely curious, empathic and creative storyteller who strives for simplicity. I am inspired by nature, philosophy and the infinite possibility of digital interactions. I want to make things that are simple and delightful by identifying the 'first principles' of a design problem, and reasoning up to an elegant solution.
My journey into design began as a philosophy major at the University of California, Santa Cruz. I loved how philosophy taught me that any subject or argument can be broken down to its “first principles” and assumptions. Discussing the ‘first principles’ of any subject or argument requires an understanding of how the broadest principles are manifested in the finest detail (and vice versa). While I love discussing ideas at their fundamental level, I also wanted a more concrete way to solve problems I see in the world.
The first time I watched Objectified - a design documentary which examines how common objects like chairs, cars and phones influence our daily lives - and heard designer Dieter Rams (of Braun) talk about how abstract design philosophies initiated and manifested themselves in his work, I was hooked. My job as a designer is to define any problem and develop an informed solution that communicates the fundamental principles of a brand, product, or idea. My background in philosophy helps me understand the fundamental causes of problems and address what matters most to users by paving new roads and leveraging existing design patterns and systems.
I have too many hobbies, but here are a few.
Travel: Traveling to foreign cultures and beautiful places helps remind me that life isn't as homogenous as we experience in our daily lives. Traveling to Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Nicaragua, Australia, New Zealand, almost every country in Western Europe, and living in Copenhagen has given me a broader perspective on life in its many forms. This diversity of perspective increased my empathy and informs how I design simple and meaningful things.
Music: I look to music for energy, inspiration, and focus. I love live music and constantly have music around me. I love - Jazz, Funk, Soul, The Beatles (yes, they get their own genre), Rap/Hiphop, Disco, NuDisco, ElectroPop, Folk to name a few.
Sports: Sports have always offered a sort of mediation for me and I cherish them accordingly. I've played Ultimate Frisbee competitively since college and I currently play on a club team, Revolver based in San Francisco. We have won 3 of the last 5 national championships and the last two world championships in Osaka, Japan (2012) and Lecco, Italy (2014). I also love my Bay Area sports (especially #DubNation and #SjSharks).
Surfing: Ocean Beach is my home break, but since I sampled the tepid waters of Nicaragua I can't wait to travel somewhere warm again.
Get in touch
Email: devonanderson5@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonsa
Twitter: https://twitter.com/devonsanderson