Our People: Interview with Tomedes’ Creative Head Venjo

Meet Venjo, a highly experienced creative director who manages the creative team at Tomedes. He is responsible for planning, developing, and implementing the creative aspect of marketing initiatives, including generating new ideas and solutions for campaigns. Venjo also oversees all the aspects of UI and UX on Tomedes’ websites, ensuring that the customers have a seamless experience. 

Highly skilled in understanding clients’ pain points and prospects, Venjo delivers engaging content that meets their expectations. Not only is he responsible for producing content and design for Tomedes’ multiple websites, social media, videos, and internal documentation, but he also directs brainstorming meetings and creative sessions, shapes brand standards, and creates procedures to ensure optimal flow and brand authenticity. 

With his extensive experience in the creative industry, Venjo is an invaluable element of Tomedes’ success, and we are happy to have him as part of our team!

The Interview

Thanks so much for joining us today, Venjo! 

Could you first speak with us a bit about your background? For example, have you always been interested in the creative side of things? As a kid, what kind of creative endeavors did you follow? Were you encouraged to develop this creativity?

I have always had a passion for the creative arts. As a child, I was constantly drawing, painting, and creating things with my hands. I loved experimenting with different mediums and exploring new ways of expressing myself.

My parents were both very supportive of my creativity and encouraged me to pursue my interests. They enrolled me in art classes and provided me with the tools and resources I needed to develop my skills. I also had some wonderful mentors who recognized my talent and helped me to grow as an artist.

As I got older, my interests evolved, and I became interested in other creative pursuits, such as photography, graphic design, and video production. I began experimenting with different software and equipment and spent hours learning new techniques and honing my skills as a hobby.

I thought to myself, why not take Architecture as a course in college since I know how to do traditional & digital art, I may as well try it. It did not end well because I dropped out and enrolled in an Arts School in a course of Multimedia Arts & Design. This allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the creative process and learn how to apply my skills to a variety of projects and mediums.

You went to school for multimedia arts and design, though you have been working as a freelance video editor well before you even began your studies. How did you get into this type of work? What kind of content do you like to work with most?

I can tell you that my passion for video editing did not start at a very young age. I was always a very curious person. I tried a multitude of things since I was given the opportunity by my parents. When I was in high school, I started experimenting with cameras, I started doing photoshoots for debuts & weddings. I was fascinated with my friend’s editing and began creating short videos with them for fun. We even have our own studio named “Infinity Studios” which is currently dead at the moment because of adulting.

After graduation, I decided to pursue Architecture but it wasn’t really the right fit for me. I dropped out and transferred to an Art School and pursued Multimedia Arts and Design. I took on various projects while studying in different areas of video production, including shooting, editing, and post-production. I was able to expand my knowledge and learn new techniques that helped me take my work to the next level. I also had the opportunity to work with other creatives and collaborate on exciting projects.

As for the type of content I like to work with most, I would say that I enjoy working on projects that have a strong narrative and emotional impact. Whether it’s a short film, music video, or documentary, I love helping to bring a story to life through video. I also enjoy working on projects that challenge me creatively and allow me to experiment with new techniques and styles.

How did you start working for Tomedes? Was there something about the company that piqued your interest in particular?

One day, I came across a job posting for a video editor position at Tomedes and decided to apply. I was drawn to Tomedes because of their commitment to quality and their focus on providing exceptional service to clients. These are my values as a person, to deliver fast and high quality output while working as a freelance video editor.

During my interview, I was able to learn more about the company culture and the team’s dedication to providing high-quality services to clients. I was also impressed by the range of projects they worked on, from video editing and translation to content creation and digital marketing.

I have been with the company for some time now and can say that I am proud to be part of a team that values quality, creativity, and professionalism.

Tell us about an average day as Creative Manager for Tomedes. What kinds of things do you oversee? Do you have the opportunity to regularly collaborate with your colleagues? 

My days are always busy and exciting! I wake up each morning feeling energized and ready to tackle whatever challenges come my way.

My first order of business is to check in with my team and make sure that everyone is on track with their projects. I review project timelines, provide feedback on creative concepts, and offer guidance to team members who may be struggling.

Throughout the day, I work closely with our creative team to develop and execute new projects. I oversee everything from content creation and video production to graphic design and digital marketing. I am constantly pushing my team to think outside the box and come up with new and innovative ideas that will help us stand out in a competitive marketplace.

What does your brainstorming process look like? What environment or situation is the best for you to come up with creative ideas? How do you develop these ideas to ensure they become successful projects?

Given that we’re working remotely, brainstorming can be a challenge, but it’s still crucial to the creative process. I use video conferencing tools to gather my team and create an open and collaborative virtual space.

I also encourage my team to use digital tools to share their ideas and build on each other’s creativity. We also take advantage of online research and real-world testing to develop our ideas.

In a remote-work environment, it’s even more important to remain adaptable and open to feedback, as we can’t rely on in-person cues to guide us. I strive to create an environment where my team feels empowered to take ownership of their ideas and collaborate effectively across digital channels.

What seems to you to be the most prominent trend in the world of design at the moment? Have these trends influenced strategy? If so, what has the evolution of it looked like? 

The most prominent trend in design is user experience (UX) design. This means designing products and services with the user’s needs and expectations in mind. The rise of technology and digital experiences has influenced this trend, and companies are investing more in UX design and using data to inform their decisions. The evolution of UX design has involved more collaboration and testing to create better user experiences.

Are you someone who likes to follow these trends, or are you more apt to carve out your own creative pathway? What are your top strategies for creating successful branding campaigns, and how do you measure the effectiveness of those campaigns?

I like to keep up with trends in order to understand why they’re popular. After that, I like to break away from the trend and experiment with my own interpretations.

To create a successful branding campaign, it’s important to have a clear understanding of the ideal client persona for each industry. This allows me to create compelling and resonating copy and visuals that will appeal to them.

My primary measurement of success for a branding campaign would be engagement and awareness, as these metrics are key in drawing people in and encouraging them to learn more about the brand. This is often reflected in website visits and other forms of engagement.

What methods do you use to ensure that your team stays on task and meets deadlines, while still encouraging creativity and innovation?

I prefer to provide my team with an initial framework that allows for up to 50% interpretation, giving them the freedom to inject their own unique style. I believe this approach encourages resourcefulness and creativity among team members, leading to more innovative and successful outcomes.

Can you describe a project that you worked on where you had to think outside of the box to solve a design challenge, and how you were able to achieve success?

We are currently prioritizing the design of our social media posts and machinetranslation.com website. While the website design updates are still in progress, we have made improvements to our social media posts.

To achieve success, I rely heavily on user feedback and strive to address any design issues or difficulties they may be experiencing. Less feedback means success of the design.

Can you discuss your experience working with a cross-cultural team? Do you think this benefits or harms successful collaboration? How do you ensure that all your team members are aligned and working towards the same goals?

I recognize the potential cultural barriers that can arise when working with a diverse team. However, I strongly believe that despite our differences, we all share a commonality in being human. It’s important to approach collaboration with an open mind, acknowledging and embracing our differences while finding common ground to drive results.

To ensure that we stay on track towards our goals, we hold weekly meetings to review our key performance indicators (KPIs) and celebrate the progress we’ve made. By regularly checking in and holding ourselves accountable, we can ensure that our team is working towards a shared vision and moving in the right direction.

Can you describe a time when you had to make a tough creative decision, and how you navigated that situation to achieve the best outcome?

I’ve faced many tough decisions in my career, but one that stands out was when I took over a project that had been started by a previous employee who had left the company. The project was already in motion, but I quickly realized that some of the creative decisions that had been made were not aligned with our overall brand strategy and could potentially harm the project’s success.

After careful consideration, I decided that the best course of action was to stick with the existing framework and work within its constraints to achieve the best possible outcome. However, I also knew that I had to make some changes to ensure that the project aligned with our brand values and met the needs of our target audience.

Do you have any other hobbies that you try to incorporate into your work as a creative specialist? Can you provide an example?

I’m a firm believer in incorporating personal interests and hobbies into my work. One of my favorite hobbies is gaming, and I've found that it can be a great source of inspiration for my design projects.

For example, I recently worked on a project for a mobile app, and I drew inspiration from the user interface of one of my favorite games. I loved the color scheme, font, and layout of the game, and I incorporated these elements into my design to create something unique and visually appealing. By tapping into my personal interests, I was able to bring a fresh perspective to the project and create a design that resonated with the app's target audience.

I think that incorporating hobbies into work can also help to keep us motivated and passionate about what we do. When we’re able to bring our personal interests to the table, we can approach projects with a renewed energy and enthusiasm, which can lead to more innovative and successful outcomes.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share with us your experience and insights, Venjo! 

You’re welcome! Always keep in mind that creativity extends beyond just the visual aspects and includes your overall approach to problem-solving. Be adaptable and find the most effective solutions to each challenge.

Wrapping Up

Venjo is clearly a crucial member of the Tomedes team, and we are grateful for his contributions to our success. His expertise and leadership have helped shape Tomedes into the company it is today! 

We are excited to continue highlighting more talented individuals like Venjo who are making a significant impact on Tomedes. So, stay tuned! We look forward to sharing more about our people down the line.