Get to Know Torrance Scott, Our Newest Dev Expert
In search a new addition to our growing UX and dev team we've found something of an exclamation point. That's Torrance!
Wisconsin native Torrance Scott brings a ton of experience in both technical and usability realms, and is helping us take our user-centered design capabilities to a new level. That's because he's established himself across the usability space, including in agency and freelance environments. Torrance is just as comfortable leading UX projects for Fortune 500 companies as he is designing websites for our small business clients here on Monroe Street.
After graduating from UW-Madison, Torrance started his foray into the web design world and never looked back. He added to his web dev toolkit and moved up the ranks at several agencies before landing on our doorstep this summer. So far, Torrance has jumped head-first into UX projects for our edtech clients, and made it clear he's a real team player committed to making each project successful.
Torrance has a lot else to offer, too. Just take a spin through a few of his answers to the Proust Questionnaire.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Under a palm tree on white sands with a cool sea breeze, reading a book next to my family, and knowing I have a project I could work on but doesn't have a due date.
What is your greatest fear?
Being asked to come up with something clever or funny on the spot with a bunch of eyes on you and drawing a complete blank. Okay, that's probably not my greatest fear, just the thing that causes me dread that I'll actually face in a day-to-day experience. Otherwise, being chased by a bear or wolves or a disgruntled thing-that-is-larger-than-my-head, probably.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Smart home devices. I really enjoy making technology a part of my life, and having it add color to my spaces in various ways. From the TV backlighting to whole-house speakers, I've put a really silly amount of time and resources into electrifying my living space.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
Confidence often is not the measure of ability, but just of self-righteousness, self-delusion, and narcissism. I've heard so often of people who will "fake it 'till they make it" and of course you can do that to some extent, but you still have to do the work to "make it" happen. Self-assurance gained through experience shines so much truer than the most confident actor, but happens much less frequently.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I once was offered free piano lessons but turned them down for childish reasons, and have since lived a life of regret. Okay, maybe it's not that extreme, but I think I undervalued what a skill that can be. You can play the parts of 3-4 people on other instruments, and can be entertaining as a solo performer in a way that few other instruments can. Even guitar pales in complexity. Of course I could start now, but the time of limitless practice time has passed.
