Spencer Huddleston, Associate Principal Designer

So, consider it or not, I used to be a world accounting main for many of faculty. I felt the necessity to match into the middle-class suburban life-style I grew up in. But deep down I knew that wasn’t for me. 

I’ve at all times been an eccentric, creative, inventive particular person. It’s simply how I see the world. Plus, in design, you might be fairly actually defining tradition, whether or not it’s an illustration I’ve performed, a chunk of software program that hundreds of individuals find yourself interacting with, or a brand for a brand new firm, how cool is it that we’ve got the facility to really outline a model? And generate profits doing it?! I imply, come on—that’s cool! Making that change was one of the best factor I did, and being a designer has helped me consider the world via new lenses that I could not have been in a position to domesticate totally if I had not been daring and trusted my intestine.

I like this query as a result of after I say I’m a “designer” most individuals outdoors of labor nonetheless get that glazed look of their eyes. The coolest half about my job is that I get to help the those who make it occur. I get the pleasure of pushing concepts ahead with those who I genuinely love. Some days I’m a cheerleader for my crew once we get caught in a rut, and different days I get to be a mentor, although I’m regularly impressed by their creativity and motivation to domesticate new concepts simply the identical. In my expertise, if my persons are pleased, then I’m pleased, and we find yourself creating our greatest work. Period!

1. Ballerina cookies.

2. iPad.

3. AirPods.

4. Hand lotion.

5. Sunglasses.

I imply… I’m a minimalist, what can I say. I solely hold the necessities round me after I work—in any other case, I get distracted approach, approach too simply. And earlier than you say something, sure I take into account Ballerina cookies an important a part of my productiveness. I normally have my iPad shut by for sketching, and for some cause I work higher with AirPods in than listening to music out loud (principally Chromatica and Dua Lipa in the intervening time). Since we’re all washing our arms extra usually attributable to Covid-19, I at all times hold hand lotion round, cuz man, my arms have been getting all types of busted up these days. Finally, since my condo is mainly a glass field, I hold a pair of sunnies round so I look actual cute whereas I’m on zoom calls whereas the solar blazes into my retinas.

Before I began working at Spotify, I used to be a companion at a design agency I co-founded again within the States. And let me inform you, that have was a design problem in itself. There had been moments in its infancy after I would get house at night time and simply cry and cry and cry as a result of I used to be so overwhelmed with the duty of being a great boss, enterprise companion (and on the time life companion), designer, accountant, enterprise improvement supervisor, and so on.

However, one of the best recommendation I’ve from that have is, as cliché because it sounds, take issues day-to-day. At the beginning of every week, I’d meditate and suppose via the abilities that I needed to exemplify that week. Some weeks it will be easy, like drink much less espresso. Other weeks I’d deal with issues like being extra communicative or follow not taking myself so severely. Over time, I began to construct actually optimistic habits that made me not solely a greater designer however a well-rounded human being.

Juno Birch

She’s a GORGEOUS glam alien drag queen from Manchester, and let me inform you,  👏 I 👏 can’t 👏 get 👏 sufficient 👏 of 👏 her. Need one thing to snort at while sipping quarantinis? She has a Youtube channel the place she performs the Sims 2 and I’m guffawing to myself simply desirous about a number of the stunts she pulls in that sport. ICONIC.

Indya Moore

If for some cause you nonetheless haven’t gotten round to observe POSE on FX (don’t fear, the primary two seasons are on Netflix now), then I strongly counsel you begin now. Indya Moore’s character, Angel Evangelista, is among the most complicated but loveable characters I’ve seen in a collection. I regularly be taught a lot about what it’s prefer to be a black, transgender girl in America from her on and off-screen. And wow that girl’s type is so, so, so killer. Google “Indya Moore Iris van Herpen dress” and also you’ll see what I imply.

Iris Apfel

More is extra child! I’m completely obsessive about Iris Apfel, the queen of maximalism. Now, I do know I mentioned I used to be a minimalist earlier, however in case you can have a look at that girl—who remains to be a profitable businesswoman, inside designer, and vogue icon at 98 years outdated—and never be impressed, then you might be out of your thoughts. She jogs my memory to at all times be pondering, evaluating, and being impressed by my environment, and that I’m by no means too outdated to strive one thing new!

Ok, I didn’t do that portrait of me, however it’s so dang cool to not share! Go comply with fellow queer artist Ryan James Elegado Valdez for all of your pokemon coach fantasies. 🥰

Be variety to your self and to others. Learn when to talk, and when to close up and hear. Black Lives Matter—and it is black lives that fought for our rights (as queer folks) to be seen as equal. Fight for what is correct, and learn to be uncomfortable.