Microsoft’s Brandon Foy is a user experience (UX) designer for Windows who captured the attention of the technology giant when he created a YouTube commercial for Windows Phone 7 that went viral.
While he says it was “just for fun,” execs at Microsoft heard all the rage about the video and invited Foy to make a video for the MIX11 conference and challenged him to get at least 200,000 views so the spot could air nationally. Shortly thereafter, the tech enthusiast was offered a job.
Foy has a passion for traditional art, music, motion graphics, computer animation and compositing and here he tells us exactly who this cool designer creating animations for Windows 8 is.
Where did you study?
I have a Bachelor of Science from Full Sail University in computer animation. I also have a degree for game art and I graduated valedictorian.
Valedictorian, that’s cool, any other awards?
In 2005, I was awarded the Portfolio Gold Award for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Competition.
Did you have any previous work history before joining Microsoft?
I worked an internship doing motion graphics and compositing.
How do you stay inspired to be creative?
Listening to music, which is the base for my ideas and inspirations. I am reading a great book right now, Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality by Scott Belsky who is the owner of the website Behance.com. They are a group of creatives who look at how to make things work.
Tell us about other projects you are working on.
I consider myself a musician, not just a rapper. I am releasing three EPs. The styles vary from experimental hip-hop to electro and House music. Two are untitled. I had originally considered the title React. I shot a music video this summer and am working on the visual effects for it. It will be ready in February 2012 and project updates will be announced on my Twitter page: @BrandonFoy. I have a couple of websites: brandonfoy.tv and phnkmusic.com.
Which instruments do you play?
I play a little guitar and piano. I also perform, sing, rap and write poetry.
What’s on your playlist right now?
That’s a tough one and you’re putting me on the spot. [Laughs]. I listen to everything. The last thing I listened to on my shuffle playlist … Yasiin Bey, formerly named Mos Def, Blaqstarr, Franz Ferdinand, David Guetta, Tribe Called Quest and House music.
What are your career aspirations?
I love the entertainment industry. It is great to know that there are opportunities here at Microsoft for creatives like myself to do animation.
Hometown: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Resident: Seattle
Fashion sense: I love to buy sneakers and have come dangerously close to being a sneaker head.
Friends might not know: I love to collect photos on websites like Tumblr, Foundphotos and Weheartit.
