What type of work do you do for Gastrograph?

I am responsible for the look and feel of everything Gastrograph. From the Android app to our whitepapers, I work to ensure the formatting is visually pleasing and, most importantly, usable.

We have a relatively small team size, so I work alongside every single team within Gastrograph. Emily, who is our designer, and I work together to create beautiful and easy ways to use Gastrograph.

Let's say we come up with an idea to improve the way a metric is displayed on the Producer Panel. We do some sketching and bring it to the data team to make sure they agree with our design decisions. Then I either begin coding it myself or find somebody with more experience in that particular technology. Basically, I oversee the visual side of Gastrograph.

What sparked your interest in working in that field?

I started as a user of systems like the ones I design for Gastrograph. Overly complex interfaces always frustrated me, so I developed an interest in general design early in life.

Actually, household items have always interested me more than web interfaces. Objects like rakes, doorknobs, and vegetable peelers are really just interfaces - they are things you interact with to achieve a goal. I would use these tools as a child and notice their design flaws, driving me to sketch new designs. <!--more--> To me, these design decisions were matters of quality. An object that is poorly designed is just an object of low quality. I didn't want these haphazardly designed things to be used by so many people, so I combined my interest in software development with my passion for good design.

Why did you choose AFS?

I chose AFS because I believe in the product. Taste is something that every single one of us interacts with on a daily basis. Why don't we question the things we taste and think about their flavor? Why don't we think about flavor more than, "I like this" vs. "I don't like this." Gastrograph is a tool that truly changes the way you taste. Just after using it just three times when I first discovered it, I saw my preferences in tea and beer shift completely shift.

AFS is democratizing a service that everybody should be privy to: deeper analysis of the flavors we taste. To be clear, the Gastrograph Review app for android is completely free and all you need to start thinking about flavor more regularly. The iOS version will be ready by the end of August.

Gastrograph has a pretty unique environment. What would you say your favorite part is?

Okay, this is an easy one!

My favorite part is how obsessed with flavor we all are. Our typical morning coffee goes like this: first, somebody volunteers to brew and chooses their favorite method, which is usually Chemex. Now, everybody has their own way of brewing, so the final cup turns out differently depending on who is making coffee that morning. We all sit down and fill out a Gastrograph review as we taste the coffee. There's a rule that you're not allowed to say anything related to flavor while somebody is reviewing, so it's a very quiet, peaceful way to start the day.

Once we are all finished reviewing, we go around the table and share our thoughts on which flavor notes were dominant and which were unexpected. Most of us have been doing this for a few years now, so we usually compare the coffee's flavor to what we expect from other coffees from that particular region. Inevitably, this always turns into a friendly debate of "I liked the presence of " versus "That flavor ruined it for me." It's great fun to see my friends' preferences shift as they try more coffee.

You get to evaluate many different drinks. What product is your favorite to taste test?

Probably beer. Beer has a multitude of distinct styles and so many people are brewing craft beer now that it's impossible for two beers to taste even remotely similar. Also, there seems to be more experimentation going on in today's craft brewing than in any other beverage. New releases are truly exciting and it's easier to acquire many different products in beer than in coffee.

Working at a startup can be time consuming. What activities do you do in your free time to alleviate the stress?

You know, I've never seen it as stressful work. Design is my passion and coding is an obsession, so it never really gets old. If the work does get stressful, I need time with loved ones or time alone to read fiction or play Tetris. Tetris is one of those rare activities that's so consuming as it's done that you cannot possibly think of anything else - like stress!

Other Questions: (Pick a few)

If you were a character from Star Wars, which one would you be?

I'd definitely want to be Lando. The guy is so stylish and always know what to say. Did I mention he knows how to dance? Some might question his decision to sell out Han to the Empire. To that, I'd argue that he saved his entire city (maybe planet) at the cost of Han, and then saved him in return. Lando has his cake and eats it.

I probably would be Wedge.

What would you choose as your last meal?

One Nostradamus beer by Caracole and a steak - ribeye, medium.