The best technology sparks imagination.
Today we’re featuring Zak, one of our engineers who’s building creative experiences for the next generation of artists, storytellers, and makers. From childhood game design sketches to developing features for Aqua today, his path has always been fueled by curiosity, creativity, and a love of building things that bring people together.
We talked about discovering programming, designing for kids, favorite games growing up, and why practice might be the real secret to becoming an engineer.
What made you want to become an engineer?
I was always drawn to math and science growing up, but I didn’t start coding until I took an introductory programming class in college. I was immediately hooked. During that first quarter, I’d spend Friday nights finishing homework and weekends writing my own code. My brain was buzzing with all the things I wanted to create.
It's baffling to me now, but at the time I was unsure if I should switch majors because I didn't feel as good at programming as my peers. But I took the leap and switched to computer engineering, and almost twenty years later, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
What’s been the most rewarding moment working on Aqua?
Sharing it with my nieces for the first time. We were all huddled around the iPad, laughing through a round of 1-2-3 Pass. Getting to see their creativity come alive, knowing that our team created something that genuinely feels like quality screen time, was incredibly rewarding.
Is there a feature or experience in the app that you’re unexpectedly passionate or excited about?
My favorite island is still in development. Stay tuned!
What would younger you say about the work you’re doing?
Oh, younger me would love this. My brother and I used to design games on paper and my mom is a very talented artist. So the fact that I'm working on an app for the next generation of creators is perfect.
What’s your relationship with creativity outside of work?
I love doing creative things, but I like to switch hobbies frequently. I'll pick up a creative hobby and then move on after a month or two. Here are some things I've been doing lately: painting with watercolors, designing a board game, making soccer balls, clothes embroidery, and stamp making.
What app/tool/game inspired you growing up?
Oh so many games. I basically grew up on Nintendo and old computer games - Donkey Kong Country, NBA Jam, StarCraft, Lemmings, Escape Velocity, Theme Park, I could go on and on...
But I have a fun story about an educational PC game I played growing up called Thinkin' Things. It was a game we'd play at school but it was also fun enough to play at home. I learned about physics, drawing, music, and all sorts of things. Anyway, my mentor at Adobe worked on that same game and got to tell me how it was made! I thought that was so cool that he was teaching me years before we even met! I'm hoping the same happens for Aqua!
If you could add one totally random or silly feature to Aqua, what would it be?
I'd probably add an island full of zebras. My kids are really into zebras right now so seeing a bunch of rainbow zebras would delight them to no end. We could call it Dazzle Dock, since a group of zebras is called a dazzle.
What advice would you have for kids (or grown-ups) who are inspired and want to be engineers, too?
My niece was doing timed multiplication tests in school this past month. She finished, passing them all before anyone else in the class. Of course, we were very proud and I asked her if any of the tests were hard. She said, “No, they were easy. I practiced a lot.” Which I LOVED as an answer. Because to me that's the only secret I've learned in life. If you want to achieve something, practice. A lot. If you want to be an engineer, practice the things that engineers do: math, writing, coding. Almost anything is possible with practice.
One of the most inspiring things about the Aqua team is how many different creative paths led people here, from illustration and storytelling to gaming, design, and engineering.
For Zak, building Aqua is about creating experiences that feel joyful, collaborative, and super meaningful for kids and families.
Meanwhile, we’re still hoping Dazzle Dock (the rainbow zebra island) makes it into the app someday 🦓✨ Never say never!