About Joseph Dickerson
Ah, yes, here we are: the part of any website that almost always comes off as self-serving. Well, fine, I’m not one to break traditions or rock the boat….
Actually, I am, now that I think about it. Not much, but enough to make everyone else in the boat slightly queasy. I’ve not broke many traditions, but certainly have strained myself from time to time trying…
Rocking the boat, breaking traditions, burning bridges… Of all those cliches, I have never done the last one. I have seen what has happened to those who do… And I’d rather learn from other people’s mistakes than my own (though… “mistakes, I’ve made a few..”).
Anyway, enough about me; let’s talk about me for a minute (“I’ll take obscure Alan Parsons references for $200 Alex”).
I started out in creative design years ago, having created my own magazine/fanzine in junior high. I turned my passion for design into a job, designing advertising and magazines for Vulcan Publications in Birmingham. Then a brief career in journalist, reporting on pop culture on TV and in print (this is when I frightened Richard Simmons on a TV show we both appeared on – long story I CANNOT post here… ever… Well, maybe after he dies).
Then, I saved Timothy Leary from assault… Again, long story, BUT one I may eventually relate here.
After meeting the woman who eventually became my wife (I KNEW those incriminating photos I took of her would come in handy someday), I moved to Atlanta to build a future with her, and started designing print catalogs. In between photographing forestry equipment and doing page layouts in Quark Express, I convinced the management of the 40-year old mail-order company I worked at that they needed to put their product line on this new thing called “the Internet” (which I then helped them do). This was around 1990.
As I shifted my focus into web development I joined a web start-up, working in application design as well as product development. After the opportunity presented itself to become a Creative Director at another start-up, I was able to expand my skills into User Experience Design (title case, emphasis added).
Then the bubble burst.
I ended up at another start-up and designed a human resources management application. Then THEY ran out of money (this is known in baseball as strike three) and I ended up working for the CDC in UI design and human factors for several years. From there, I landed at Cingular Wireless, now the New AT&T, where I happily worked until a better (at the time, at least) opportunity came along…
Now, I’m happily ensconced at a company that does financial services and management applications for the world’s largest banks. If you pay bills on-line, or bank on-line, you’ve probably seen some of my work. I’m currently working for a major bank in Sydney Australia making their mobile and online system amazing and groundbreaking (I hope).
I also have three wonderful sons, Chip, Ernie and Rob (my wife is a VERY patient woman).
I’m blessed beyond reason.
MORE ON ME (as if you care):
My twitter page is here.
Joe’s YouTube channel is here.
Photos (family and otherwise) are available here.
An, I’m sure you are wondering, what is Joe’s interests? Well, I’ll tell ya:
Florence + the Machine, Daft Punk, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Eurythmics, ELO, movie scores, St. Francis Albert Sinatra, Propellerheads, Kate Bush, They Might Be Giants, Tori Amos, Peter Gabriel, The Rutles, Warren Zevon (RIP – enjoy every sandwich), Harry Nilsson (RIP), MST3K, Getting Things Done, The Holy Bible, Watchmen, Ian Fleming’s Bond novels, Leo Laporte, Web 2.0, Information Technology, Star Trek, Disney, G.I.Joe, The Godfather, Scrooge, A Christmas Story, Jaws (Most. Perfect. Movie. Ever.), Star Wars, Battlestar: Galactica, The Office, Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Prisoner, Twin Peaks, Mythbusters, Dr. Who, Firefly, Homicide, Star Trek (KHAAAN!), comics, Fark, Family Guy, Simpsons, Futurama, Apple, computers, usability, Ace of Cakes, shameless link bait, twitter, Quora, Celebrity Apprentice, The Gruen Transfer, interaction design, Disney, Micronauts, mobile, Firesign Theatre (“Oh, you mean Nancy!”), little baby ducks, old pickup trucks, slow moving trains, and rain.
Oh, and finally, I LOVE any show that had a talking car that helped solve crimes with the help of a super cyborg monkey from the future. Talk about a can’t-lose premise…
Contact Joe at josephcdickerson@gmail.com






















{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Joe, I came across a comment you made on the article about HCI being one of the top careers:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/best-ca…
I thought I might inquire your advice a young guy like me – thinking of entering the field myself. I have a degree in Computer Information Technology w/ minor in Graphic Design from BYU-Idaho. I'm working as a software engineer at Lockheed Martin, and am looking into various online masters degrees in HCI. Here is one that seems to stand out to me:
http://www.rit.edu/emcs/ptgrad/online/1495.php3
Any advice/suggestions/thoughts you have are highly appreciated. Thanks Joe!
Hi Dave, thanks for the question. I think if you are interested in user experience the best course I would recommend is you just start doing it – find a job or an opportunity to learn while doing and supplement your real-world experience with training and conferences. That way if you don't “feel the love” for UX you haven't spent a boat-load of money to enter the discipline first.
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