Joseph Wright, Designer / Studio Owner
💭 Thoughts on launching your own business, The Man Behind the Microchip, and virtual vs augmented reality.
Thought Enthusiast is an AdHoc Project where we chat with fascinating thought leaders across various facets of music, tech, and culture whose work we admire, simply asking “what’s on your mind?” and “why do you care?” 💭
Joseph Wright is a freelance designer and motion designer based in Brooklyn, NY. He’s worked with loads of studios and clients in the past few years. He has also been working to build out his own design and motion studio. But more importantly he’s in the market for a rescue cat. Curious what he’s been into lately, we asked what’s on his mind.
🎯 Current focus
I’ve been lucky enough to be very busy. Busy enough to have to turn down a lot of work, which has given birth to the idea to start a little studio. I’ve been researching a lot of business operations ideas (profit sharing, 4-day work week, unions, b-corps, etc.) so more on that soon. I'm already open for business but hoping to have the site and launch ready by June this year.
📚 The Man Behind the Microchip
As I’ve been working on building out a studio, I’ve struggled a bit with confidence and self worth. Like am I passionate enough about this work anymore, am I good enough, smart enough, would I even be a good boss? It’s weird. I think any hobby that becomes your job can feel like this. At least that’s what I’m telling myself to feel better. I’ve been reading The Man Behind the Microchip about Robert Noyce (co-founder of Intel) and it has been more of a confirmation that no one has their shit figured out.
🗣️ The soothing sound of Alex Garland’s voice
I’ll just google Alex Garland podcast episodes and listen to that man talk for hours.
💪 “Those who anguish do not act, and those who act, do not anguish”
My mom used to say to me that those who anguish do not act, and those who act, do not anguish. I just hit 1 year in therapy. <3
👓 VR vs AR
I’m definitely looking to see if the Apple VR headset is a success or not. I personally think virtual reality (VR), while valid for some things, is a pretty underwhelming technology. However, augmented reality (AR) will most certainly be the future when we can get it into glasses or contacts way down the road. No one wants to see your digital eyes. It’s fucking weird.
🤳 Reddit FTW
My favorite way to consume content these days… Honestly? Reddit. I feel like ever since I got TikTok I have had permanent brain rot. Instagram makes me think of Bo Burnham saying, can anyone just shut the fuck up? Youtube is awesome but only because of my algorithm – I think it’s destroying the younger generation. Like, have you ever opened Youtube not signed in to your account??
🤖 Leaders in AI
NVIDIA has been really exciting. Also, on-device Large Language Models (LLM) AI is going to change everyone’s workflow in the next 5 years.
Follow Joe on Linkedin & Instagram and check out his new studio’s website here.