I am a technologist and an experience designer; specializing in usability design.

Behind my work is a passion for innovation, firmly rooted in a love for technology.

In 2010 I completed the Digital Design program at Vancouver Film School.

Jesselang.ca was created as a forum to publish my work, thoughts, and discoveries.

JLI, jesse lang innovation, is my personal brand and the banner under which I work.

Questions on who I am and what I stand for.

1. How can I get in contact with you?

2. What exactly is it that you do?

3. Where do you work?

4. Where did you go to school?

5. Why do you only wear white shirts?

6. Who inspires your work?

7. What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

8. What is your favorite colour?

9. Mac vs PC?

10. Is there anything you won’t design?

11. What is your favorite movie?

12. Would you consider any non-profit work?

13. How long have you been in the design industry?

14. In 10 years where do you see yourself…

15. Describe yourself in 1 sentence using no “E”s?

16. Why do you share all your UX resources so openly?

17. What is your favorite part of the design process?

18. What are you hobbies and interests outside of design?

19. What project are you most proud of?

Offline:
Mr. Jesse Rae Lang
1238 Melville St.
Vancouver, BC
V6E4N2
Canada

Online:
me@jesselang.ca
LinkedIn

I am a self proclaimed process innovator, technologist, and user lover. I come from a background in print design and brand identity however in 2007 I shifted my focus into the world of user experience. Since then I have focused my skills in the fields of interaction design, motion design, typography, and industrial design. I was raised in a creative environment and as such I feel that successful visuals need be deeply reinforced by strong theory. So this is where I put my focus – the idea always comes before the application.

Most recently my professional career has included working as a mill wright (sans the title) in a carbon fiber manufacturing plan, I’ve worked with international computer engineering companies in the pursuit of beautiful and usable design, I’ve produced and helped produce various music videos and short films, and in 2007 I enrolled into Vancouver Film School which has lead me to more creative experiences that I could possibly list here. If you’re interested in hearing more about what I do, or if your looking for a creative chat, or even a heated geek flame war; I’m always interested in meeting new people. Send me an email or give me a call and I promise to be friendly and cordial (… unless you’ve selected the flame war option).

At the moment I am developing my skills as a freelance designer, however all that is about to change. I completed my post secondary studies once and for all on April 29th 2010. For the past 8years I have been working as a freelance graphic artist doing print and web design. Now I am ready to begin a professional career in the evolutionary industry of user centered experience design.

In 2007, I enrolled in the Visual art and Design program at Vancouver Film School with the hopes of developing my skills in the field of motion graphics and visual effects. It was during the term of my studies there that I realized my true passion was the science of user centered experience design. In 2008 I enrolled in Vancouver Film School’s Digital Design program, since then I have focused my talents in the pursuit of user centric design.

I only wear white shirts because I love all colour and white reflects each and every one of them. After I made the transition I realized that it also simplified getting ready in the morning in ways I never could have imagined.

Designers:
Mazim zhestkov
Business:
Jesse James Garrett
Tim Brown
Artists:
Egon Schiele
M.C. Escher

Both European and African swallow’s can fly up to rate of about 11meters per second or 24mph. (unfortunately, this 5oz bird could never carry a 1lb coconut. Does anyone else feel used?).

cmyk – 0.65.100.0 | rgb – 255.89.0 | hex – ff.59.00

We had both both Mac’s and PC’s in my home growing up; however there was always a heavier Mac influence, which is probably why I grew up to love PC’s so much. Although I would consider myself to be an advanced user on both platforms, as a super geek I understand the intricacies of the windows platform; and feel it to be much more efficient for my work flow. Even today I still use and own both, but my history in the world of computer modding has cemented my love for PC’s.

I have several qualifiers for the work I take on, one of which being that the design must solve a user’s problem. In other words I wont mindlessly contribute to the creation of another useless widget. Things like propaganda, pharmaceuticals, cigarette adds, unhealthy foodstuffs, and just general thoughtless design all fall well within my no fly zone.

Youth Without Youth
City of Men
Revolver
Seven Samurai
2001: A Space Odyssey

Absolutely! If it’s for the right cause and the project is exciting enough to rally support I’ll be there with bells on.

First let me state that I am currently 22years old, born November 8th 1987. I was raised by an Engineer and a Graphic Artist and each pushed me to succeed in their respective fields. I was baptized in the glow of computer monitors, spending much of my youth exercising my skills in the content creation offerings from AutoDesk, Adobe and Silicone Graphics. By the time I hit high-school I had already spent a couple years moonlighting on freelance design projects (mostly though my Mother, the designer). By 2002 I was serious about pursuing design as my life, and since then I have done just that. Today every waking moment for me is an analysis of design, I constantly analyze and pull inspiration for the word around me (I am especially sensitive to bad kerning!)

…living?
With the progression of technologies like content sharing, video broadcasting, and remote access accelerating at an uncontrollable rate; in 10 years I see myself being able to work wherever I am needed. I envision a world where working from the comfort of ones home office (or even a mobile office of sorts) can have all the benefits and rewards of working in a traditional brick and mortar system. I love to travel and I passionately want to see the world and all it has to offer, as long as I can have these freedoms where I work doesn’t matter.
…working?
My whole life I’ve dreamed of using my design to make a difference, in any little way possible. In 10 years I see myself working for a company which can realize that dream, a company interested in the open freedom of information, process, and the pursuit of human interests as a whole.
…outside of work?
I just want to have fun. I look around at 22 and see so many people working towards nothing but a paycheck; and I need more. Whatever I am doing I just want to have the freedom have fun while I’m doing it. Although I can’t imagine it just yet, I foresee a family becoming a real real possibility in the 10 years to come.
…looking in the 10 years that follow?
Trying to look forward to a time nearly double my lifespan is a very difficult thought. Sitting here now rubbing my chin I find myself picturing a similar life to that of my father’s generation – set yourself on track, find a company (or start one) and working for the term of your career to make it better. I find it troubling that the statistics even today -let alone 20 years from now- strongly disagree with my vision. I can only conclude, from sweating out this little paradox I’ve found myself trapped in, that I dream of working for a company which can offer me long-term security and excitement.

I’m a Lang, and an alumni of VFS; my pals say I’m a tad quirky, but you can call me Sir.

Too long has the high-tech industry been protecting it’s interests through, what I have titled, the acquire and archive model. Which entails buying out conflicting ideas, or merging with competitors in the interest of shelving perfectly viable and beneficial technologies. I believee in the spirit of open co-opatition, abelieff which stresses the idea of sharing knowledge with everyone -especiallyy competitors. Because it’s only when we embrace new-age movements like open-source development, and the digitization of the worlds libraries that we will really be able to take the next step.

Simply put my favorite part of user centered design is the user. I love the challenge of researching a user’s wants, needs, and consumer habits. I love the insights you get when you step into another person’s perspective. I love creating something that people will want to use and share. Most of all I love creating experiences, and that requires being genuinely excited about what the user has to offer to the design process.

Without doubt my primary passion is the pursuit of knowledge, I dedicate an hour a day a few days per week to courses offered on MIT’s OpencourseWare system. Topics like human probability, paradoxes, and theoretical physics all keep me up at night. However I am a far cry from the average book worm, I’m sure I would best be described by those who know me as a reckless free spirit not afraid to push limits, and I’m sure the term “absolutely nuts” would be stitched in there somewhere. I also love to tinker with electronics or ‘hardware hacking’ as it’s commonly called; be it a microwave or a brand new laptop, as far as I’m concerned it’s has to be taken apart (I never was much of one for warranties). In the ‘going outside’ world of hobbies – I love nothing more than to ride my bicycle during the day and wind down by freeclimbing the buildings in downtown Vancouver by night.

In 2006 I began conceptualizing a really sleek design for a computer. In mid 08 I began construction of a project called PrometheusCU. I put nearly every skill I possess into the creation of PrometheusCU in some way or another. From metal fabrication, to industrial design; graphic design, to publishing; social networking to marketing. Just general good old fashioned innovation. This project holds no constraints, I gave myself no budget, no time-limit, and no creative cap – the antithesis of project management and instead was a well backed exploration into creativity. At the height of the build project work logs and image galleries were seeing upwards of 4,000,000 unique hits a month. Since May of 2009 the project as been on hold in the pursuit of higher learning, the Summer of 2010 WILL BE it’s rebirth. I have spent the past year staring at Prometheus as it stands, tinkering here and there, making minor progress… counting the days until I was free of school and able to give it the time and finances it needs. You can check out the project log in My Designs section.

§ 5 Responses to “About Me”

• [Sponsored] PrometheusCU - Page 88 - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net says:

  May 28, 2010 at 9:26 pm

  [...] have much of my latest work on there but the about page should do a good job of summing me up. http://jesselang.ca/about-me LETS GET TO IT SHALL WE? I am proud to present, for your viewing pleasure, update number 53 in [...]
• Project: PrometheusCU - Update #1 - Dec 3rd 08 - Page 22 - Hardware Canucks says:

  May 30, 2010 at 2:58 am

  [...] have much of my latest work on there but the about page should do a good job of summing me up. http://jesselang.ca/about-me LETS GET TO IT SHALL WE? I am proud to present, for your viewing pleasure, update number 53 in [...]
• Project: Helios | concept and design - Page 3 - Overclock.net - Overclocking.net says:

  June 11, 2010 at 8:30 pm

  [...] it I have only about 30 or so hours invested so-far. The following is quoted from my website's about-me page: [...]
• Project: Helios | concept and design - Page 3 - Hardware Canucks says:

  June 11, 2010 at 8:39 pm

  [...] it I have only about 30 or so hours invested so-far. The following is quoted from my website's about-me page: [...]
• Project: Helios - concept, design and planning - AOA says:

  June 11, 2010 at 11:55 pm

  [...] it I have only about 30 or so hours invested so-far. The following is quoted from my website's about-me page: [...]