ConvergeSE 2014
Stag / The Designer
Of all the disciplines, design is the most visual. A designer's work is the first and last thing that a user will remember. Designers create the images that are burned into the minds of users. The designer must balance strength, beauty and function to create something truly memorable.
Horse / The Front-End Developer
The browser is the workhorse of the web and often determines the quality of the user's experience, regardless of our intentions. The strange breed of web practitioners who wish to tame that herd of wild beasts are filled with a fire that I rarely understand. But, I can appreciate it.
Hummingbird / The UX Designer / The Mobile Designer
When I think of mobile devices, one of the first images that comes to mind is a concert I attended where, instead of holding up lit lighters, the crowd requested an encore with their smartphone flashlights. I couldn't believe the amount of light that a thousand smartphones could produce. Thats what Mobile Designers create: little lights to guide us.
Turtle / The Developer
I've always loved the myth of the turtle (or tortoise) holding the world on its back. The myth tries to answer the question: The world holds us up, so what holds up the world? The answer is: a turtle . And what holds up the turtle? Another turtle, of course. That's how I think of development. I see it as the true foundation of the web. And what exists below the code? More code. It's turtles all the way down, baby.
Fox / The Maker
The fox has long been a symbol of cleverness and cunning. I also see the fox as agile and quick to act. If you've ever seen a snow fox hunting, you'll catch my meaning. Makers are the explorers of our community, and they are active. They are clever and inventive and willing to risk ruin for a good idea. I think a pack of running foxes, just about says everything.
Octopus / The Business Entity
To run a successful product or services business, you must have your hand on everything because everything requires a singular vision to guide to to success. Thats why the octopus is a perfect spirit animal. It's limbs move, seemingly of their own accord, but always for the good of the whole body.
Dolphin / The Gamer
A dolphin's life is filled with struggle and conflict and danger, but dolphins have developed a wonderful strategy for coping with the many struggles of their world: Play. Every task and necessity is a form of structured play. They are the true gamers that many of us attempt to be.