Interview: Bryan Veloso of Avalonstar.com
It’s been a little while since my last interview so I decided that I’d ask Bryan Veloso to answer a few questions. Bryan currently works at The Facebook and runs his personal site Avalonstar.com.
1. Tell us a little about yourself - where you went to college, your major, what you’re doing now, etc.
Born in Atlantic City and raised in Central New Jersey, I am a 22 year-old Filipino Arian currently residing in San Jose. I am currently engaged to the lovely Jenni Verduzco, who is aiming to become a graphic artist and I live with three neurotic cats. My days are chock full of technological devices, as are my nights - it all depends on what they are. Xbox 360, my Powerbook, the DVR, it doesn’t matter what, they’re all essential. My loves above and beyond Jenni and my devices include my un-riced RX-8 and a good bowl of chicken fried rice.
I am a recent graduate from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurship with minors in leadership studies and sociology. After the college stint, I moved out here to San Jose where I am now the creative director at Facebook, the home of the largest college student directory, ever.
Woah. MySpace? What’s that?
2. You started working at Facebook this year - what’s it like working on a website where millions of people see your work everyday?
It’s a major rush. I started working at Facebook the week the new design premiered, and because my colleague was in France at the time, I had to pull off an 80 hour week to make sure it went up. There were still bugs when it finally went live, but what project isn’t without its problems? Although the design isn’t my work exclusively, I still get a great feeling when I hear the compliments about the design and functionality of the site. Many people don’t realize how many people put in countless hours to make sure the site works. But, to know the number of people that see the creations we come up with, it does a bit for the ego.
3. What’s a typical day like for you? Do you work normal hours or are you up till 3am regularly?
Like many Silicon Valley companies, and companies that are part of the tech age in general - you call it a 9 to 5 job, but it definitely isn’t. We all work the hours that work with our daily life, since Facebook’s manta is “simplifying life,” we get what needs to be done during the day and maybe even take a few more projects on. When we’re in the lovely “lockdown” stage, then we can expect to be up until the wee hours of the night racing to get features out to the users. Personally, because of my new position as creative director, I come in earlier than I used to and therefore leave earlier than I used to. But other than that, the biggest changes that came to my work day is that I now work more in InDesign than Photoshop, and am spending time directing photoshoots rather than sitting in product meetings.
4. What’s is your favorite part of working on the web? What’s the most challenging part?
My favorite part of working with the web is the process from taking a dream to reality, but it’s also the most challenging part. I’ve been doing web design in some shape or form since I was 13 and since I’m self-taught, I’ve had a lot of time to try and refine my techniques. Even more than that, trying to beat myself out of a drought or a set routine, is a welcome challenge. Everybody knows that change is feared, but inevitable - so when I can, I try and take myself out of my own box.
Outside of that box, I love interacting with the people I meet either through my website or through other projects. In fact, I’ve met some of my best friends in this manner, so it’s not enough to say that the internet is a place to keep me busy, rather than something that has taken a lot more importance in my life.
5. Do you see yourself starting your own company at some point? Are there any projects you’re working on now you want to tell us about?
Someday. My dream was to make Avalonstar a design firm, but that dream has been coming and going lately. The market’s too saturated right now and there are so many people out there that could do a much better job than I could. Because of my degree and my interests, you could see me starting anything from the web firm to some auto detailing firm to an anime store. I have no idea what I’m doing in the future, but that’s the fun of it.
As for projects I’m currently working on. I just released a site called Buzzword Hell, which lets people have some fun with the buzzwords that are constantly making us cry daily. As for Avalonstar, it’s going to be going through a major redefinition stage, which I called the Aries project. I want the site to be able to effectively contain all my different interests, and still have the design quality that people have come to expect. But who knows what I’ll think of next! Besides, what’s the fun of surprises if I were to tell all now?
6. What advice would you give a freshman in college regarding preparing for the real world?
Wait, for a freshman? Hah, don’t think about the real world yet, make sure you get your partying and video game hobbies down first. I remember having the chance to graduate in three years, but I didn’t, because I thought the idea was stupid. Also why bring the inevitable closer to than it has to be? As a freshman, enjoy it. At least for me, it was all downhill from there. Now, as for the real world, don’t limit yourself to your major, use the college experience to find other hobbies and interests that you could turn into a flourishing career. It’s like keeping your major close, but your hobbies closer. Oh yeah, don’t stress, because you’ll be doing a hell of a lot of that when you hit the workforce. Don’t slack off, but don’t rush yourself. Sit back and enjoy the ride.
7. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still at Facebook? A world famous social networking expert?
Five years at an internet firm? That’s like working thirty at some automobile company. I don’t expect myself to be with Facebook in five years, especially since I know my current situation will take me to other places. Facebook is an awesome company, but by then I’d really like to start my own firm and use my major for something. (See above). If I don’t find myself starting my own company then I know I’ll probably be with startup firms for years to come. I’ve heard a lot of rumors that once you live in the valley, you never leave, and I am starting to see how true that is. As for being a social networking expert, I like the whole industry, but it’s really not for me. 
And of course, the question everyone was wondering about…
8. If you had a chance to eat any meal in the world, what would it be?
I’m happy with my chinese food thanks. 
But if I really could eat anything right now, there’s this great chinese place called Mandarin Garden close to where I used to live in Providence. They had the best sweet and sour chicken, and unfortunately they don’t make that type on the west coast. Send me some of that, and I’ll be a happy little Filipino.
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Go Central Jersey! (I’m from the Manasquan/Pt Pleasant area myself).
Following both Avalonstar and College Startup during the past few months has been insightful. Good work on both fronts.