Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Schwartz, Alex Giavis.
Andrew, Alex, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Alex: How much time do you have?
Andrew: Haha, well… We met at our previous job, doing similar work; it was an ideal introductory to the industry for both of us. I had gone to school for business and have always been passionate about hardware and the tech industry, but this was my first gig in the creative field of web and app development with a tech start up. I had done smaller scale projects, nothing complex or nearly as interesting.
Alex: Yeah, it was a wonderful environment to meet under, but a pretty bleak professional trajectory… Things kind of turned on us abruptly, and we had to make some proverbial lemonade, as they say. My background is in studio art but had been working in web design for years before. My interest in aesthetics, specifically in typography and digital design, was what lead me to UI/UX design in a more contemporary setting. Andrew and I came from very different backgrounds, but we both found ourselves on the same team, putting most of our efforts into the project management and investing all of our pride in the delivery of services. When we ended up at a crossroads concerning where to go next, it only made sense to take what we had learned and forge some sort of client-oriented web service company that could close the information discrepancy we determined has been plaguing the industry.
Andrew: Yeah, it is nice to hear from our clients how enjoyable their interactions with us are, and how that contrasts with their expectations of these tasks typically goes. We spent months working with our third partner, Vasil Drakalski, building out a project management system for desktop and mobile apps allowing our client to be in constant communication, and track the process of their creative projects in real time… Transparency is a cornerstone of our process.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Andrew: I am surrounded by visual artists! My girlfriend is a MassArt grad who makes custom jewelry and sculptural artworks, and Alex is an oil painter who happens to be co-owner of this little dev team… Personally, I find beauty in organization and functionality.
Alex: Yes yes, I make paintings. I think my upbringing in art has been the driving force in my digitally oriented creative process. I like to think about client work similarly to my personal projects; it is all problem solving. I am hyper-focused on composition, color, and concept. These considerations are pretty universal, whether it be personal, or realizing someone else’s goals. Communication is an invaluable part of the success, but we have started attracting individuals and businesses who are interested in us as service providers for our voice and aesthetic. That is cool.
Andrew: It is really cool, to say the least. It adds value to our personal products in our portfolio, because they aren’t existing as mere pet projects, but actually start driving leads based on interest in our design and work! We couldn’t ask for more, if people are seeing the value in something as ridiculous as MagaLibs – a madlib-style application designed to tease the ridiculous nature of our current president’s twitter addiction and generate customized bluster-drenched tweets straight from the source, then our mission is accomplished!
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Andrew: I have no idea, I’m not sympathetic… The struggle is real!
Alex: Hahaha, says the “businessman.” As a young artist and new transplant to Boston, it was a very welcoming community to land in fresh out of undergrad. Between the art school students and alum, the gallery scene, and the extended network of makers, it was really easy to feel at home and find the opinions you need to hear. The commercial world is a little different, in that you need to navigate different platforms for opportunity and tailor your approach for a new demographic… but it is always worth it. From my experience, people respond to real, pure genuineness; the way I see it, you can either spend the time rubbing elbows to advance, or spend the time finding your voice and putting it all in the work. The former could give promise to some financial or professional success, but the latter ensures ownership and integrity in everything you earn. That is how I approach Make Directory, as well. It is less about selling something as it is providing a service, and I want that service to be as damn good as possible!
Andrew: Well, my response didn’t age well… I guess the takeaway is that financial considerations are unavoidable. But Boston is an exceptional support for pursuing your goals, and sometimes being hungry is all the motivation someone needs to build something great.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Alex: “Make Directory” is a household name! If you want to see our work, look no further than…
Andrew: Haha, oh jeez… Our portfolio is accessible online. Just visit www.mk-dir.com, and you can access our client work through our portfolio page. You can also find the apps published on iTunes/Google Play stores. We are always available for inquiries or consultation, and you can schedule a time to chat through our website. The services span UX and UI design, web and mobile app development, SEO to SEM, and everything from branding to marketing.
Alex: Being a local startup, we are just as interested in supporting other companies’ work as we are hoping to be supported by them. Up-selling goes against our ideals; if someone wants to support us, then we will make the time to discuss what is in your best interest. Anything further is outside of our intentions and try to be forward with what best suits our clients’ needs.
Andrew: We are here to serve. If you like what you see, and want to support us, then we will be excited to discuss what we can do for you.
Contact Info:
- Address: Make Directory Developers 26 Elm Street
Quincy, MA 01269 - Website: https://mk-dir.com
- Phone: (857)400-9159
- Email: info@mk-dir.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkdir_developers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mkdirdevelopers/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mkdirdevelopers
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/makedirectorydevelopers
Image Credit:
All Photo’s / Graphics by Alex Giavis. Except for the Personal Photo that was taken by Jessica Tawczynski.
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
