January 8, 2017

Meet Sugar Hill Designer & Creative Consultant: Scott Cook

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Cook.

Scott, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been fortunate to work in several different creative environments over the years, with a variety of amazing people and clients. I started out my career in civil engineering design and then moving through catacombs of the web design and the digital advertising world, eventually landing in product design.

I’ve had many roles during my career, from web designer to animator to Founder and Creative Director of my own company. These days I work primarily as a UI Creative Director for a great company in Atlanta, trying to spread great design and good vibes around.

Has it been a smooth road?
My career path has been remarkably smooth overall with some pretty amazing and fortuitous opportunities that have come my way. But there have definitely been some obstacles and serious challenges, like navigating the ever-evolving world of technology with it’s changing tools and platforms. I recall when mobile technology became the focus bringing the need for building compelling creative experiences for it. It was challenging to adapt to some of the constraints, but it was also a great opportunity for growth and thinking about things in a fresh new way.

One of the big hurdles for me was trying to keep my own design company afloat during the great recession. It was a difficult time and the fallout had a significant effect on my career trajectory, but blessings came from that challenge and I’m grateful for the beauty born out of the adversity of that time.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I think we will see a lot of development in wearables and augmented reality, and especially in virtual reality. These emerging technologies are going to continue shape the industry and challenge creatives to think in novel ways about user experience and how to create compelling content. I think that VR in particular is going to significantly change the way we interact with one another.

What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
There have been a few big obstacles over the years, but the biggest would probably be taking my former company from essentially a one-man show to a small creative studio with employees (and payroll), a lengthy client roster, and in a relatively short amount of time. A lot of this transition was driven by client demand and so maintaining healthy relationships with both partners and clients during the growth phase was a formidable challenge. I’m grateful for the amazing people who helped make it a success.

What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars. I’m kidding, I just love saying that.

Listen, absorb and focus on the relational aspect. Building relationships is where it’s at and will ultimately shape your influence and value in a team setting. And be authentic in your relationships.

Stay dubious of trends. Your head should be in innovating.

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