About Me
I've been creating digital products at the intersection of design and technology for over 18 years. I love getting to the heart of large, complex problems to create simple, meaningful, experiences. This portfolio has some of my more recent work.
Work History
I founded my own digital product studio, Blacksquare, right out of MIT. Named after Kazimir Malevich's painting from 1915 which ushered in the era of abstract art, the studio brings innovation to digital media by combining creative and analytical thinking. My clients have ranged from VC-funded startups to Fortune 500 companies, including Intel, Bank of America, News Corp, Fox, GAP, Microsoft, NOAA, Peoplesoft, PRTM, William’s Sonoma, Esquel, Pubmatic, Stitcher, Playboy, and Pottery Barn Kids.
At Blacksquare, my days are spent building and mentoring teams ranging in size from 3 to 30, setting business strategy and process, and communicating with clients. All while staying ahead of trends in digital media, navigating complex projects, approaching experience from analytical, user, creative, and technical sides, and pushing my fair share of pixels.
Along the way, I've strengthened my startup chops as co-founder and lead for product and experience in five companies: America's Guide (sold 1998), Rentometer (sold 2011), Rentomatic (sold 2011), IMO/Dashbid (sold 2013), and Moovee.
Awards: I've won over 30 awards including 4 Webbys and been featured globally in the App Store for sites and apps I designed.
Professional Associations: International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, Interactive Media Council, AIGA.
Judge: Webby Awards, WebAwards, Mobile WebAwards.
Publications: Contributing author, Programming Web Components, published by McGraw-Hill.
Press: My work has garnered national media attention including the Wall Street Journal, CNN Money, Reuters, US News & World Report, Fox Business, Washington Post, LifeHacker and has been exhibited in MOMA. I was also featured recently on EBS Korean TV in a show about global, multi-disciplinary creatives.
Art: I also have a career as a concert violinist combining my interests in live performance systems, electronic music, and digital media. I've performed internationally, from Lincoln Center to the Academy of Sciences, and my passion is bringing together the best contemporary composers, artists, and inventors in dance, film, architecture, and technology to work on experiential media projects. I have included some of my personal projects in this portfolio.
Contact
email: julia@blacksquare.com
twitter: @ogrydziak
https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliaogrydziak
Education
MIT
BS Physics, BS Music
Alumnae Award for Top Woman Graduate, List Visual Arts Award, Naess Award for best Music Performance, Media Lab Researcher for 3 years in Physics & Media and Hyperinstruments Groups
Harvard
MDesS, Graduate School of Design
Graduated with Distinction (1st in Class)
Studied violin at:
New England Conservatory of Music
SF Conservatory of Music
Prep Alumni of the Year Award
Conservatory of Music, Paris