We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Agustín Schelstraete a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Agustín thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump right into how you came up with the idea?

I have been in the design and software business for a long time. At some point in my journey working with visionary entrepreneurs and purpose-driven startups I realized that it was really hard for them to find reliable design partners who can help them turn their ideas into great digital products.

My whole life and story are shaped by people that were able to create better ways to interact with technology and the world around us. I knew from the inside that I wanted to be part of that.

I see design as a universal language. A strong bridge that connects us with all the possibilities that technology can provide to our life for the better. With such a strong statement, I wanted to make something to help entrepreneurs fill the gap between their vision and what they could achieve.

And that’s what we do at AshCamp. We partner with entrepreneurs and established companies to help them create products and experiences that give them an unfair advantage in a fast-acting world.

Agustín, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Computers and the internet are two words that have shaped me since I was seven.

When I was a little kid, I visited my father’s office on weekends whenever he had extra work to do. I have wonderful memories of us spending time together while using his computer to explore a magical place called the World Wide Web.

By the age of thirteen, I realized I could also be part of the movement that was shaping this new world. I made my first steps by building my own websites, and later for others.

After having my bachelor’s degree in Advertising I received an offer to join a fast-growing startup for a position I didn’t hear before: UX/UI Design. Since then I never looked back.

During my career, I have been partnering with brands and inspiring innovators to craft solutions that are simple, honest, and meaningful to people. I came to believe that design without intention is nothing more than decoration.

My creative process combines strategy, design, and a conscious understanding of human behavior. With these ingredients, I can build products that bring health, help, and hope to their users.

In summary, companies come to me to turn bold ideas into meaningful solutions. At this point in my career, I’m proud to say that I work with people who are committed to making the world a better place, and am grateful to partner with them to achieve their vision through design.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew the best way to find your voice in the creative journey is by constantly creating and dropping stuff to the world.

When it comes to creativity and making something from nothing, everyone has an opinion and a bunch of best practices to accelerate the process. The reality is that is more complex than that.

You can’t find what works best for you and what makes you special until you start experimenting and creating without judging yourself and the results.

There is something magical when you create. At some point in the process, you identify what is true for you and what is a vague reproduction of the ideas and voices of others. With the help of time, that depuration brings clarity to your journey and you start being more honest with yourself and the path that you are taking. You start living by your own terms, and not by others.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Back in my early days as a software designer and creator, I used to think that the best project was the one that I was currently working on. At some point, I thought that the result will define me as a person and professional.

Today, I see projects as artifacts to collect feedback and gain clarity during the journey. The more I create, the better I know for the next project, the closer I am to succeeding.

I found that putting so much pressure on what I do is counterproductive to my creativity. I used to pay attention to insignificant details that don’t make any difference in the result and ended up feeling insecure about the decisions I made through the process. At some point, I gave up and leaved projects that mattered to me a lot because I couldn’t handle my own expectations.

I think that if you free yourself from the pressure of being “perfect” (whatever perfect means) and you just do your work with the confidence that you are doing your best with all the love you can give to something, everything is gonna be fine.

In the end, we can’t control the result of the things we do. What we can really control is the love, energy, and decisions we made to create the best result possible. And that’s more than enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashcamp.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aschlstrt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aschelstraete/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aschlstrt