After more than a decade in immersive software, animation, and interactive tools, I’ve had some time away from full-time studio life to build something of my own. I’m still brainstorming ideas, writing code, and collaborating on projects, but now I’m doing it independently, on my own terms.
This shift has given me space to reflect on what shaped me as a developer, what still matters most in this field, and how I want to approach the work moving forward.
Teams Are Everything
Every successful project I’ve worked on, whether it was a VR training sim, a real-time animation platform, or a client tool, had one thing in common: a strong team.
It was never just about the code or the idea. It came down to how we communicated, how we supported each other, and how we handled pressure. Now that I’m building my own company, I’m thinking more intentionally about how to create that kind of environment again. High trust, clear communication, and shared ownership are what make projects sustainable.
AI Is a Creative Amplifier
In recent projects, I’ve worked with LLMs to help creators find assets, fill-in gaps in a story, or accelerate iteration. AI isn't a shortcut to creativity, but it can be an incredibly powerful assistant when you know what you're aiming for.
To me, AI works best when you're already clear on your goals. It shouldn't make the decisions for you, but it can expand the range of possibilities faster than you could reach alone. Building tools around that idea has helped me better understand the relationship between structure and spontaneity in the creative process.
The Industry Moves Fast
One of the craziest things about working in this space is how quickly things become obsolete. A workflow you finally got good at last year is likely already replaced by something better. New tools come out constantly, roles shift, and workflows evolve overnight. That kind of momentum is energizing, but it can also leave people constantly reacting instead of planning.
Working independently has given me a little more room to pause and ask bigger questions...
- What skills actually last?
- Which tools support long-term projects?
- What habits help teams stay focused even when everything around them is changing?
Those are the questions I’m exploring now, to help shape how I build moving forward.
I haven’t stepped away from the industry. I’ve just changed how I engage with it. I'm still building tools, launching projects, and solving hard problems, but with more flexibility and more intention.
I'm still in the dev world — just operating on a slightly different frequency now. I'm figuring out what I want to build, who I want to build with, and how to keep the work fun without burning out.
Writing this is part of that process. Taking stock. Making space for better habits going forward.
// Mike