This interview is part of our Researching Bridges Project. Learn more about this project or read other interviews we have conducted in this endeavor.
Note that not all content below is verbatim, but all concepts are taken directly from information gathered during the interview.
Developing Southern Charm: About Mack Earnhardt
When I approached Nick Carter of AddressTwo for the Researching Bridges Project, Mack Earnhardt was the first to pop into his head. I am so glad that he introduced us! It was a wonderful, fun, informative meeting, despite the fact that he isn’t quite as left-brained as Nick apparently thought. Mack grew up in southern Ohio, but his family is from North Carolina. While attending Ohio State, his roommates couldn’t understand anything other than “Mack” when on the phone with his grandmother. Though he doesn’t have much of an accent, he certainly does have a southern way about him.
Mack is a developer and co-founder at Agile Reasoning, a create-from-scratch web app. They have developed custom solutions for Rainmakers, including the Event Attendee List. If you have a need for a web application that isn’t being met by any other service available, or if you want to consolidate your web app needs to become more productive and efficient, contact Mack.
Design From An Developer’s Perspective
In your own words, what is “design”?
Design is a tool to create an emotional response in a target audience.
What is the purpose of graphic design in the business process?
Design provides the yellow-brick road for unfamiliar users for optimal user experience. Design should provoke an emotional response or positive action from the user.
Have you ever contracted the services of a professional designer? Describe that project.
Yes, I hired an agency to create the logo for Agile Reasoning. The process went very smoothly and I had no frustrations with the designer. It was a very simple and clean process, and it has proved to be a very successful project. Not that I actually measured it with hard facts, but simply by observation.
Breaking Into The Business Process
What is one business process that you find to be most valuable?
Word-of-mouth recommendations is where I get most of my sales leads from.
Have you actually measured the success of this business process?
Again, I haven’t measured this in metrics, but by observation it is clear.
What measurable results of design would be significant to you?
Generation of qualified leads.
Thank You, Mack!
Once again I would like to thank Mack for sharing his time and expertise with me. Meeting at Hubbard & Cravens was a great idea! I have a new favorite place as well as an excuse to visit Broadripple more frequently! Also, thank you for dragging Robby down to meet me; it was a great experience talking with him as well. His interview notes will soon be published.
More interviews from various professionals throughout the next few weeks. Stay tuned!