about
Wasted Potential is Andy Watt - a young man with poor posture and a rare mix of both right- and left-brained skills. As a kid, I spent my free time drawing comics and riding a skateboard. In addition to taking art classes in school, I also studied computer programming and took shop classes. In fact, I took every shop class my high school had to offer, which included drafting and graphic arts. Back in those days, we actually did design layouts with photographic negatives, tape and an X-acto knife! I still sometimes design by hand - it often yields effects that are hard to duplicate on a computer.
After high school, I earned a Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications and worked in a wide variety of jobs, including radio DJ, electrician, and owner of a small skateboard company. Tired of the long Pennsylvania winters, I eventually moved to Atlanta and earned a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, but the field did not offer the sort of creative outlet that I have always pursued. So, I decided to teach Technology Education for an Atlanta high school instead. After two years of working the hardest job of my life, I finally came to the realization that teachers are a special breed and I was not one of them.
After experimenting with these and other professions, I found my niche in life working as a Flash animator and developer. Since 2006, I have been working for FiveStone (www.fivestone.com), a small design firm in Buford, GA. Working for an employer who believes that ideas are king has been an incredible experience. I have had the opportunity to sharpen my skills doing everything from web design to illustration to stop-motion animation. It's great to get paid for doing the things that you love. When I'm not immersed in my work, I spend my free time with my wife, working on various art projects, renovating our house in Scottdale (built 1934) and restoring a 1961 Cadillac.
Look around, see the work, and give me a call. I would love to talk to you about how I can help fulfill your design or development needs.
Thanks,
Andy.
