Five Minutes With: Sabato Urciuoli
REWIND sits down with freelance design director, Sabato Urciuoli
“Five Minutes With” is a regular feature that gives you an insight into some of the greatest minds in the immersive industry, all within the time it takes to grab a cup of coffee.
For 10+ years, Sabato has been working for design studios, product companies and digital agencies in international cross-functional teams across the world. As a Design Director, he works at the intersection of products, experiences and interfaces. Sabato has helped some of the world’s top companies and agencies throughout the concept, design and build phase of products that change people’s lives.
What’s exciting you most about the immersive industry right now?
Being able to help conceptualise, design and ship immersive experiences that people will use in their everyday lives. This will allow the industry to shift from niche to mainstream and it’s definitely a huge challenge. I’m also very curious to understand how the new generation of designers, storytellers and engineers are going to work together. In a fast-paced environment where roles, skills and tools are rapidly adapting and changing there are some interesting challenges regarding shaping teams that are able to produce outstanding work under tight schedules.
What and/or who is your source of inspiration?
To get inspired I tend to look outside of what’s happening in the XR world. I try to build analogies and connections between different industries. People are always an incredible source of inspiration for me and vibrant cities are a natural stage for that. However, during the pandemic, I decided to move to the countryside and I recently started to experience nature in a different way. Have you ever tried to take a close look at a birds nest, or just lie in the grass?
What is your favourite thing about what you do for a living?
As a freelancer, I have the opportunity to work within different teams during the year. Meeting inspiring passionate people with different backgrounds, working remotely, taking time-off between projects and in general shaping my time in a way that I consider to be more sustainable and in line with my way to see life.
Just for Fun!
What are you reading or listening to right now?
I’ll try to answer this question by mentioning two projects that combine and mix reading and a listening experience.
Killscreen is a fantastic example of how it is possible to write and speak about technology in a different way. I love how they show the human side of technology. We tend to forget there are people behind studios and products and see them and their surroundings definitely make you more connected.
Wax Poetics is a fine example of a modern well-rounded editorial project. Read, listen, watch, discover and discuss music with like-minded music people from around the world. There is so much we can learn from the history of music, especially soul music.
What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
Move out from the city and experience the countryside as I mentioned before has been the most interesting and rewarding experience of my life.
If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be?
I would love to work in the food industry. I like the idea of people sitting around a table to eat, drink and talk about life and a chef just facilitates that.
Whilst we’re here, is there anything you’d like to plug?
I run a small and independent Discord Channel. It’s a great place to learn, share, discuss and build some friendship.
If you are interested in my latest work and updates you can check my folio.
XRLO: eXtended Reality Lowdown is brought to you by REWIND, an immersive design and innovation company. If you want to talk tech, ideas, and the future, get in touch here.
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