Andrew Sherrard

Where are you originally from and how did you hear about MCAD?

I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis and I heard about it doing research on art and design colleges.

Why did you choose the bachelor of science program?

In high school, I really enjoyed digital photography, graphic design, and marketing. I toured MCAD and found out about the bachelor of science program. I learned that it was a combination of art and business and it seemed like such a good fit for what I wanted to do.

Briefly describe at least one of your internships.

After working on a class project for Eureka! Recycling they mentioned that there were internship opportunities so I applied. I coded and produced a simple site showcasing one of their recent recycling projects. Seeing my work as a finished project online for the world to see was an amazing feeling and what got me hooked on web development and programming.

What advice do you have for current MCAD students?

Make the best work you can. Make things you are proud of. USE SOME KIND OF PLANNER. Make the most of every minute and hour you have. Don't waste it.

Did MCAD prepare you for life after graduation? In what way?

Absolutely. It prepared me for more things than I knew at the time. Having a design background paired with my technical skills has unlocked multiple doors in software development. Being able to see projects, jobs, tasks, and their bigger picture has made the difference. I feel that no matter what job, field, or industry I am working in I know there's nothing I cannot accomplish.

How do you feel about the Twin Cities?

It's a secret garden. Minneapolis has added a lot over the last ten years. There are so many original places to go see and amazing restaurants. It is the place for independent artists in the music world. I did a photography internship for Rhymesayers Entertainment so I'm a little biased.

Name your biggest takeaway from MCAD.

Take risks, do not be afraid to fail. Never get too comfortable with what you're doing. You have to push your own boundaries of what you think is possible to really grow.

Describe what you do for work and how you feel about it.

Currently, I manage all things e-commerce for Wiha Tools in North America. Wiha's presence is on our own website which I built in 2016, a B2B website, with top accounts like Amazon.com. I also manage a small digital marketing and web development team. In one day I can be producing videos, writing code, planning promotions, and meeting with major accounts. I love what I do. There's always a new challenge and I am surrounded by an amazing team.

How did you get your job?

I started out doing contract front end development. I built simple websites. I made their look and feel based on a design. Eventually, I started working on larger teams and more complex projects. I was creating highly interactive and complex JavaScript applications. Ultimately, I got my current job through networking.

Current obsession?

Data science podcasts.

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