January 20, 2017

Meet Sandy Springs Designer and Programmer: Steven Benton

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Steven Benton.

Steven, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I come from an artistically inclined family, so art and design have always been around me. I used to draw a lot when I was younger and after high school , I moved more into using software to design websites and graphics. I worked as a web designer for a while and then moved on to working for a software company as a programmer.

I’ve always been drawn to projects that expose people to something new or make them see things from a different perspective. I had the opportunity to attend a presentation SXSW interactive a few years ago on projection mapping. It opened my mind to creating thing outside of the realm of website and software application design, and it really cemented me on the path of trying to create new things.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s been rough at times. Leaving the security of a job and going out on my own has required a lot of sacrifice and tough decisions. Also trying to sell people on new interactive technologies and experiences can be hard. “New” requires a level of risk that most people aren’t comfortable with. So most of my work is still traditional design work, but the creative process that goes along with branding and design is still very rewarding. And the few experiential projects I’ve been able to work on have been great.

Is there some part of you work that is particularly difficult?
Keeping up with the latest trends and technology is enjoyable but also a challenge. I spend a lot of time researching and trying new things before they’re ever presented to clients.

What are you striving for, what criteria or markers have you set as indicators of success?
Do work that I enjoy and I’m proud of at the end of the day is the most important thing to me. Also maintaining a work/life balance is a key factor in how I define success.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Doing more interactive and installation projects. I’ve worked on a couple of AR and holographic projects, and I’m looking forward to focusing more on emerging media in the future.

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