code, interactive

In 2004, I had the distinct privilege of being an unpaid Interaction Designer and Programmer for an ambitious Iowa City tech startup hoping to make waves in the then-emerging world of touchscreens. The technology was crude, unreliable, and already a dead-end, but the founders had a patent, some trademarks, and just enough confidence to convince me—fresh out of grad school and looking for work—that this was an opportunity worth my time.

I walked away with no paycheck, but plenty of lessons: that time is money, that labor has value, and that “equity” is often just a polite way of saying you’re not getting paid. I also learned that innovation requires resources, not just enthusiasm. Infrared touch frames were not the future of touchscreen technology, and neither was Macromedia Director—the outdated toolset I inherited. But as an education in self-worth, business realities, and what not to do in a tech venture, it was priceless.