Julien Renau

Hey I'm Julien, a French Creative Developer with a design focus profile, always trying to coordinate code and design inspiration to get a nice crafted experience. I'm currently living in Shanghai, China.

10 questions for Julien Renau:

• What did you do before becoming a designer?

  Before becoming a developer I was basically studying. I studied computer sciences for five years in Paris. I started to focus on Front End stuff when I first worked for a creative studio. I learned a lot there and I really think that I met the right people at the right time.

• Where do you turn for inspiration?

  I always try to allocate time to browse as many stuff as I can. It can simply be websites, but also music, movies, video clips, case studies. Inspiration can come from everywhere. And of course Awwwards is part of it.

• Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?

  Wow I have a lot. I guess like all of us. But If I have to give names I would say that the studios I admire the most are the one who can turn nothing into magic : Mediamonks, StinkDigital, B-Reel, Unit 9, NorthKingdom, AKQA, no surprises there.

• Is your city a good place for designers?

  China is a growing market and Shanghai is definitely the place to be. Changes happen so fast that I wouldn’t be surprised all to see the studios we love opening here and bringing the game to the next level of quality.

• Which technologies are you excited about?

  I think that like most part of people in this industry, I'm really interested in 3D. I'm sure that it can help to produce cooler projects, especially on mobile. I feel that it's even more interesting to play with 3D on your phone thanks to the possibilities we have to make the experience more immersive.

• Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.

  Yes I do and I really need it! Actually, it depends on the current mood: Quiet, Rush, Overtime! My playlist is ready for all situations: it can be rock, indie-pop, rap music.

• What are you cultural influences? (Music, books, films, ideologies, etc.)

  I'm French but I had an hybrid education, because all my family members are Spanish. More precisely, we are from Catalunya and It helped me grow up in an open-minded and rich cultural environment with values like effort, sacrifice and respect.

• Have you got an academic background or are you self taught?

  I have kind of both. I studied computer sciences for 5 years, but during the last 3 years of my degree, I was working at the same. That made all the difference. Thanks to that, I had the opportunity to meet people who took the time to teach me and help me grow in development and design.

• What do you do in your free time?

  I honestly work most of the time, but I do play football. I guess that it is from Football that I got the team and fighting spirit.

• Where do you see the industry in 5 years?

  I thinks that the barriers between online and offline will vanish. We will be surrounded by tools that can be used everywhere without any limit.

• Are you working on any personal projects?

  I always try to have side projects apart of my company work. They allow me to have more freedom. I love undertaking new collaborations with designers.

• If you could give one piece of advice to newbie designers, what would it be?

  The best advice I can give to newbies, is to keep the passion and the energy of first days. This is what will make all the difference. Everyone can do everything, the difference is the effort and work you put into it. Work with all your heart and you will succeed.