Who is Dave Malouf’s hero?

June 11th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Career

[This post is part of a series on Mentors and Heroes]

David Malouf is a Professor of Interaction Design at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), and was previously a senior interaction designer for Motorola Enterprise Mobility. He is also the co-founder of the Interaction Design Association, which has amassed more than 10,000 members since 2004. Follow him on Twitter @daveIxD.

David Malouf’s hero is…

Barry Joseph, Activist Game Designer and Youth Leader

How long have you known of your hero and have you ever met?
I’ve personally known my hero since 1993.

How has your hero had such a profound impact on your life?
Barry has in my mind been the embodiment of taking a path, any path towards the goal of personal growth. All of his life tangents ended up being completely relevant towards reaching his fantasies.

How do you gain knowledge and inspiration from your hero?
I’m always reminded that there is a way back to your path. That in a Randy Pausch sense, your childhood dreams are not just attainable for a moment, but can be tied to your very being in the most successful and holistic ways.

What is one piece of wisdom your hero has been quoted as saying that has stuck with you the most?
I don’t think of it as a quote, b/c I don’t think of Barry as an orator (though he can speak and does), but it is how he models his whole life, “Staying connected to yourself is about staying connected to the important people in your life and visa versa.”

What else do you want the world to know about your hero?
He is one of the most soulful, playful, intelligent, loving, passionate, silly, and wondrous people I have ever known in my entire life. I continue to be inspired by his accomplishments in his chosen areas which are more than professional, but also personal and familial.

Thank you David for sharing your hero with us!