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Elliott Spelman
creative technology & design
Professional Background
Elliott Spelman is a forward-thinking professional whose career represents the perfect blend of creativity and technology. With extensive experience spanning various cutting-edge technologies such as augmented reality (AR), machine learning, computer vision, and image processing, Elliott has established himself as a prominent figure in the realms of new media and design engineering. His diverse skill set encompasses both software and hardware prototyping, demonstrating his versatility and adaptability in an ever-evolving technological landscape.
Throughout his career, Elliott has taken on various roles focused on developing innovative solutions at the intersection of technology and artistic expression. As a co-founder of Polycam, he has played a pivotal role in pushing the boundaries of what is possible with digital storytelling and immersive experiences. With significant contributions to companies like Exploratorium, Ubiquity6 Inc., and Lightform, Elliott has garnered invaluable experience in creating generative effects and developing new media applications that enhance user engagement.
In his earlier career, he showcased his entrepreneurial spirit as the founder/designer at facegames, where he explored novel approaches to interactive experiences. Additionally, his tenure at Symmetry Labs, LLC and Goodby Silverstein & Partners equipped him with a foundation in design and creative marketing, further enhancing his ability to generate compelling narratives that resonate with audiences.
Elliott's adeptness in both technology and design makes him an invaluable asset to any project that seeks to innovate and captivate. Whether working as a prototyping engineer or in a creative capacity, his enthusiasm for integrating various mediums allows him to produce striking results that challenge the norms.
Education and Achievements
Elliott's academic journey laid the groundwork for his dynamic career. He pursued his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design at Stanford University, an institution renowned for its emphasis on creativity and design thinking. Here, Elliott honed his artistic sensibilities and developed a strong understanding of how technology can be utilized creatively to solve complex problems.
Prior to his graduate studies, he earned a degree in Economics and Creative Writing from the University of Southern California. This unique combination of studies not only enhanced his analytical skills but also nurtured his ability to craft compelling narratives, a skill that is crucial in the fields of new media and design.
Elliott's engagement in the tech community extends to mentoring and collaboration with various organizations, encouraging innovation and forward-thinking solutions in design and technology. His work has undoubtedly positioned him as a thought leader among his peers, demonstrating a commitment to both personal growth and community building.
Core Skills and Technologies
Elliott's robust technical abilities are underscored by his expertise in a range of programming languages and software. His hard skills include:
- Mastery of Unity, a powerful platform for creating interactive 3D content.
- Proficiency in Open Frameworks and Processing, which allow for extensive experimentation in art and design.
- Familiarity with Arduino/microprocessors enables him to engage in innovative hardware prototyping.
- Advanced knowledge of Javascript, HTML/CSS, ensuring his capabilities extend to web development.
- Experience with Tensorflow, positioning him at the forefront of machine learning applications.
- An artistic approach reinforced by proficiency in the Adobe Suite, allowing for exceptional visual design.
Elliott emphasizes the importance of imagination and creativity in his projects, often referring to his knack for ``weird ideas'' as a key component that drives his success in design and technology. His ability to conceptualize and execute projects that are both visually striking and technically sound exemplifies his unique skill set.
Notable Projects and Contributions
Throughout his career, Elliott has contributed to numerous innovative projects that have garnered attention in both the tech and creative industries. As a design engineer at Meter, he contributed to enhancing product design through user-centric methodologies. His work helped pave the way for new interactions in various applications, proving that thoughtful design can lead to meaningful technological advancements.
During his tenure as a generative effects developer at Lightform, Elliott utilized his skills to create immersive visual experiences that captivate users and enhance storytelling. By leveraging advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques, he transformed how visual content is created and experienced.
Adding to his diverse portfolio, Elliott's experience as a marketing professional at WePay showcases his ability to merge creative marketing strategies with technical prowess. His work at Goodby Silverstein & Partners further solidified this approach, allowing him to explore the intersection of design and marketing in impactful ways.
Future Aspirations and Community Engagement
Elliott Spelman continues to seek out opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and growth. His passion for bridging creativity with technology drives him to explore new frontiers in design, whether that be through enhancing user experiences in AR applications or pushing the boundaries of machine learning and generative design.
In addition to his career pursuits, Elliott actively participates in community engagements that foster creativity and collaboration in tech. By engaging with emerging talent and participating in workshops and seminars, he not only shares his expertise but also learns from the energetic pool of creativity surrounding him.
With a dynamic background tempered by formal education and characterized by a wealth of experience, Elliott Spelman is primed to contribute even further to the exciting field of design and technology. His unique blend of artistic talent, technical acumen, and visionary thinking stands as a testament to his tremendous capabilities, paving the way for future innovations.
Achievements
Notable projects and contributions include API development, generative design applications, and immersive AR experiences across multiple platforms.
Location
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay is available across multiple platforms including iOS, macOS, Windows, and all web browsers. Clay is especially strong for Apple users, offering Mac, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS apps with deep native integrations on each platform. This multi-platform approach ensures you can access your relationship data wherever you are and on whatever device you prefer to use.
Clay offers tiered pricing options to suit different needs. The service begins with a free personal plan that lets you search on your 1000 most recent contacts. Clay offers a Pro Plan ($10 when billed annually) with unlimited contacts. Clay for Teams starts at $49/month/seat. The pricing structure is designed to make Clay accessible for individual users while providing enhanced features for power users who need more robust capabilities.
Yes, Clay offers extensive integration capabilities. Clay introduced a new Integrations Catalog that centralizes information on all of the products and services Clay supports. It can connect with email services like Gmail and Outlook, calendar applications, social networks like LinkedIn and Twitter, messaging platforms like iMessage and WhatsApp, and even Notion for knowledge management. Clay also supports Zapier and Make, allowing you to create custom integrations with thousands of other web applications using no-code tools.
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Clay is considered the best personal CRM and team CRM on the market. Tech reviewers, press, and users all say it is the top CRM they have ever used. Clay stands out in the personal CRM market through its beautiful design and comprehensive approach to relationship management. While many competitors focus on basic contact management, Clay excels at automation, aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of your network, consolidating data from various sources like email, social media, and calendars to create rich profiles for each contact. Its AI-powered Nexus feature sets it apart by allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network, something few competitors offer. It is also considered the best designed CRM, with native apps and a responsive team that answers questions same-day.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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