Meet a Helpful Human – Ricky Smart

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Meet Ricky Smart

Born, raised, and currently residing in Houston, Texas, Ricky Smart has a BFA in Graphic Design from The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Initially out of school, Smart was hired as an illustrator, developing designs for gift products in Las Vegas hotels. After that, he worked as a graphic designer for several different corporations and spent just a few years freelancing before landing a job at a design agency that focuses on WordPress.

Smart is a Multimedia Designer with Nexcess and has been on this position for just over a yr. His work spans making updates and design changes to the web site, designing backdrops and collateral for trade shows, creating graphics for social media, videos and motion graphics, and writing and producing commercials.

Why did you join Liquid Web?

A friend of mine told me Nexcess was in search of a designer. After looking into it, I came upon how much Nexcess and Liquid Web fit with my mindset and ethos about constructing on open-source platforms and being very engaged, helpful, and friendly. Previously, I had handled many other hosting corporations on behalf of clients, and I knew how necessary having a proactive and engaged stance was for a hosting company. It was very refreshing to see that the mindset of being helpful was deeply ingrained into this company’s bedrock.

What draws you to the hosting industry as a profession?

I didn’t initially even give it some thought since my occupation as a designer typically leads me to work with hosting corporations relatively than for them. Previously, my impression of hosting corporations was not too favorable – or on the very least, I didn’t generally imbue them with a way of personality or warmth until I got here across Liquid Web and Nexcess.

Is there something specific about Liquid Web you only love?

My team is distant, but I feel connected to everyone and the corporate. The sense of community extends to everyone in the corporate. That could be a rare thing today.

What’s your favorite part concerning the company culture at Liquid Web?

Everyone seems to be glad to be here and loves their work.

In your eyes, what’s the difference between Liquid Web and other employers?

The worth that the corporate puts on each its employees and their customers is an actual key difference.

What’s the most important milestone you’ve completed?

I’ve been really pleased with the commercials I’ve produced for Nexcess.

We’ve all been open to having anyone and everybody pitch ideas and ideas, and a few of these ideas were seeded by things that were just an initial sketch of an idea. We then determine how the concept and messaging fit with the tone of our branding and the overall personality of the corporate as an entire. It’s been interesting to seek out the proper balance of specifically outlining what we do vs. giving people a flavor of who we’re.

In fact, our personality has to return through all those talking points, so producing the majority of the creative direction in-house helps us collectively discover core messaging that we may not have ever found otherwise.

Tell us about a tremendous customer experience you may have had at Liquid Web.

We’re currently in post-production with a video that could be a customer testimonial for Nexcess. On reviewing the footage, I used to be blown away by how much they may easily speak about Nexcess and the way much the shared Liquid Web model of being helpful and having experts available had, in some ways, transformed his business and alleviated his stress.

What are you known for at Liquid Web? What do people specifically come to you for?

I’m comfortable generating concepts and concepts and iterating those ideas quickly. I type of have a broad background in several types of design. I’m undecided how that translates into how others perceive me, but I hope it means I’m open to tackling absolutely anything.

What’s one thing you would like our customers knew about their hosting?

That we do really care about their site and their business.

Work aside, what are a few of your hobbies?

I play guitar and make music. True to the technology theme, I exploit each an analog and digital signal (MIDI) for my guitar and run the whole lot through a pc using virtual instruments and digital effects.

What’s your favorite TV show?

Straight away, I’m really having fun with Ted Lasso. Other favorites are Barry, Westworld, The Rehearsal, Arrested Development, and Last Man on Earth.

What’s your favorite app?

I’ve found myself going back and spending more time on Reddit. The flexibility to up and downvote content and comments makes for a far more interesting and positive platform.

In the event you could have dinner with one superstar [dead or alive], who wouldn’t it be?

​​Joseph Campbell. His book, “The Hero’s Journey,” and the concept of the Monomyth were really influential to me.

We hope you enjoyed our series, and stay tuned for the following Helpful Human profile.