Brian Speier
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Brian Speier always had a keen eye for aesthetics. From the scenic boulevards to the massive mural paintings, he absorbed art everywhere he looked. Following his successful work at various Portland design firms straight after graduating from UCLA, Brian Speier took the leap to work as a Portland freelance design consultant. Utilizing the field experience he accumulated, he specializes in streamlining UX and UI designs for various platforms such as websites and mobile apps.
What do you do in your spare time?
I enjoy being physically active in my spare time. As my work predominantly has me fixated in front of a computer, I feel it is important to balance that out with some sort of activity. Whether it is a leisurely walk outside or a dedicated workout at the gym, I try to schedule some allotted time for it each day. I think it is also just the general California mentality to stay healthy that also keeps me going.
What’s your favorite type of food?
My favorite food is probably Japanese cuisine. In particular, I’m always ready for sushi rolls. When I go to a Japanese restaurant, I go back to it multiple times in an effort to try out all the sushi rolls that sound interesting to me. There are some sushi rolls that overlap across menus, and I suppose I enjoy finding out which place makes the best version of it. At the moment, I’m hunting down which makes the best Godzilla roll.
What are your aspirations in life?
It would be easy for me to say my aspirations in life revolve around my business. However, I was doing some introspection the other week regarding my priorities in life after listening to a lecture. I realized most of them are superficial in the grand scheme of things. Naturally, I would be grateful if my career continued to be successful. On a deeper level, I would be even more grateful if I could find happiness in the present without relying on achievements. That is actually a difficult mindset to adjust to as I have believed putting in hard effort equates to a feeling of fulfillment.
What is your favorite thing about working in your industry?
My favorite thing about working in my industry is the satisfaction I receive from improving upon designs. I enjoy the challenge of making the use of a product more efficient. This all stems from personal experience. For example, I could be on my phone checking a restaurant’s menu on the browser so I have my order in mind ahead of time. However, I’m unable to navigate the website easily due to pop ups, slow loading times, and misaligned text links. I can’t be the only user finding frustration in those hurdles. I keep myself in mind when I work on streamlining designs for clients. I ask myself questions such as, “Is this quick and simple to use for general use? Can I find what I want? Are the graphics easy on the eyes?” It is questions like those that keep me focused and consistent with my work.
What motivates you every day?
I believe it is my past hardships that motivate me each day. Perhaps it is more accurate to say it is my progress since those hardships that act as motivation. One of the hardest moments to overcome was the loss of a close friend of mine. There was a period where I felt I did not have the strength to do anything anymore. In time, I eventually found the strength again. When I look back to those days of helplessness, it reminds me of how capable I actually am. Now when I encounter any struggles, I understand they are temporary, and I will persevere in time.
