Designer by Day, DJ by Night
Jack-of-all-trades: The blanket descriptor eludes specificity and perfectly fits Daniel Hoffmann, whether describing his new day job as web developer at Sharethrough, his old day job as product designer for sports software and app developer Sport Ngin, or his after-hours gigs at shows across the Midwest. Daniel’s design experience ranges from video animation to UX/UI design, with his sweet spot found in jobs that allow him to tackle “each step of the design process all the way through development.” At Sport Ngin, he designed and developed new products from scratch. He’ll handle design and front-end development at Sharethrough.
As soon as the sun sets, Daniel grabs his laptop and headphones and takes the DJ’s podium as Cities of Gold. Performing alongside such big-name electronic artists as Dave Guetta and Skrillex, he’s appeared at venues ranging from intimate clubs to NFL stadiums. Daniel also works off-podium as part of SIMshows, booking and promoting club events and festivals.
"It can get pretty hectic at times balancing my personal and social life with essentially two full-time jobs but I’m really grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given," Daniel told Dribbble. "It feels like the last ten years have flown by for me but it’s been an amazing ride."
Below, Daniel discusses how his careers inform each other.
Code Camp Logo Concept
I think many people would assume that because I’m a club DJ and designer, I’d have a portfolio full of club flyers and event promos. That has not been the case for me. For example, my logo for Code Camp is simple and not very flashy. However, there has been a much larger connection between the two and it makes perfect sense looking back on my job history.
At the beginning of both careers I was young, new and getting to know each of the industries. My design work was adequate but improving and as a DJ I was learning how to be a better performer with every show. Eventually, I moved into a marketing design role and at the same time became more involved on the business side of things in the event industry. I was simultaneously learning to design more effectively for success in both careers. Now, as a product designer, I’m responsible for an entire product experience and as an owner of SIMshows, I’m responsible for the events we book and promote.
While there isn’t an apparent connection in style or subject matter between my design and DJing, there is something much larger at play. There’s a visible timeline of my growth as a designer directly influencing the level of responsibilities and involvement in both my careers.
Moonlighting is an occasional series about designers who spend a significant amount of professional time on non-design pursuits. Fit the bill? Email stories@dribbble.com.
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