Profile : Jason Nemec of Ghost Hand Games
Posted on Feb. 04, 2010 by Uncommon Grounds in Profiles
Jason, carrying fuel to get some work done!
Today we’d like to introduce you to one of our long-time customers – Jason Nemec who is at the forefront of the interactive design/gaming field through his work at FutureMedia Interactive, a design studio that recently started an offshoot gaming company called Ghost Hand Games.
He “lives on” Uncommon Grounds coffee to fuel his art direction, design and illustration for websites and mobile devices during the day at work. At night and on weekends, Jason is honing his unique woodworking craft in the basement of an old farmhouse. When not cranking out designs in the office or bowls in the studio, Jason is spending time with his wife and two children at their home in Burnt Hills.
We recently chatted with Jason about all the exciting things he’s got going on in his world. Check it out!
Uncommon Grounds (UG): What brought you to the area? Have you always lived around here?
Jason Nemec (JN): My family moved to Burnt Hills when I was going into the 9th grade. I was born in central New York; lived in Oswego, Cazenovia, and Manlius. I moved away to Rochester, NY for college for 5 years or so. I ended up coming back to Schenectady. I found some work here and decided to stay.
I really appreciate this area for its balance. Four full seasons, amazing history, not much traffic, mountains, water, cities, culture, reasonable prices; it’s all here or a short drive away.
UG: Excellent! We seem to run into folks who are magnetized back to the area, either having grown up here or who visit and then something draws them back. How long have you been working with FutureMedia Interactive?
JN: I’ve worked with FutureMedia Interactive for about 10 years. It’s been a great ride. Working in interactive media can be very exciting. When a new technology or platform is available, there’s a mad rush to explore it and push it to see what it can do. As a technology matures, that experimental creative attitude gives way to a more logical, tested, approach. Next thing you have is checklists, “best practices” and ROI. The fact is, there is always an opportunity for invention in any media, it just gets harder to convince people of its value as it matures.
As a designer and a creator, I love those awkward, first steps where everything is possible and there are no preconceived notions of the “right” and “wrong” way to do things. But as the Internet has matured, we’ve had to do the same and we’ve been focusing on picking and choosing the ideas and technologies that work best for a client and their audience.
Spooky, friendly logo! ©GHG.
UG: Interesting. I bet there’s a tough balance to strike when so many opportunities to use so many tools are at one’s fingertips these days. Speaking of new opportunities, how did Ghost Hand Games come about? Any specific reasoning for designing games for the iPhone/iPod Touch platform?
JN: Ghost Hand Games came about out of a craving to make something that is our own. Client work is great, but sometimes you need to see what you can do when you pursue your own creative objectives. We have two games available for download on the iTunes App Store right now: Nut Chuckin’ and Snow Brawlin’.
The prominence of the Apple mobile devices and the accessibility of the iTunes App Store, create an environment where a small developer can make something, and then get it into the hands of millions of people without any of the conventional complications. There are no publishers, no distribution costs, no paying for shelf space, and no packaging. It seemed worth trying and taking the small risk.
UG: A-ha! Very true! Perhaps one day you could design a “bagel-toss” game for us? Now, are there plans for Ghost Hand to expand upon current games for the forthcoming launch of the iPad? Any ideas for large format/iPad specific games?
JN: Yes. We are very excited to get one of those in our hands to see what it can do for gaming. Of all the things the iPad could bring to the party, I think gaming will be one of the most interesting. It could be such a great format for games with its 10″ screen and multitouch interface. The processor is beefed up and there is more memory than the iPhone, so it could be a “legitimate” gaming platform.
Sun Bowl #6.
UG: Seriously – Bagel Toss on the iPad! 
Now, tell us about your wooden bowls – where did you find inspiration for making these objects? Are you showing / selling them anywhere?
JN: My wood art comes from a desire to make something tangible that will last and not become obsolete. With interactive media, I’ve spent so much of my energy and time on things that are almost instantly dated. People’s expectations move as fast as the technology and something that was cool and innovative 2 years ago is now quaint and clunky. Also, I simply want to make things that still exist when the power goes out!
Wood is such a great material to work with. You can make nearly any form using simple tools. It’s a warm material that feels good to touch. It’s natural and it feels pretty amazing to spend time working with a material that is alive. I do a lot of work with wet, unseasoned wood… so, it really is alive!
Bowls by Jason Nemec.
Creating wooden bowls on the lathe is so gratifying because you can take a log and turn it into a finished piece in one day. It’s direct work, and the results are immediate. There are people right now doing amazing work; taking the wooden bowl or vessel, and carving, embellishing, and cutting it apart to create strange new things. I did a workshop with an amazing artist named Michael Hosaluk last year and it really opened my eyes to the process of creating in wood.
I’m just starting to show my work. I’m having a hard time working fast enough to build a body of work that is large enough to show. Most of my pieces go to friends and family. I did have three pieces in the Redux Art Gallery in Dorset, VT. —two of them just sold! I’ve also produced a bunch of commissioned pieces in the last few months as well.
UG: Excellent! Maybe you can show in our window sometime? Do you have any other other artistic mediums have you worked in?
JN: I was a painting/illustration major in college at RIT. So, I’ve done a lot of painting and printmaking in the past, but I lost interest when I found the Mac and Photoshop 3.0. Since then, I haven’t touched a paintbrush. As far as analog media goes, I feel more connected to sculpture and and object-making these days.
UG: Finally, can you share any thoughts about the new decade, or anything you’re excited about that’s coming up?
JN: I am excited by the humanizing of computers. I’m thrilled to see that computers are becoming more and more about humans connecting with humans rather than humans trying to figure out what the computer wants. I don’t care about computers, I care about what humans can do with computers to achieve and connect and solve. The computer is just a tool, and they are becoming more and more natural to use. I’m excited by touch interfaces and thoughtful software that is concerned with a person’s goals and objectives. I want computers as we know them today to vanish and a new breed of devices to rise up that are made to accomplish more specific tasks… and hopefully some of them are made of wood.
For continuing adventures with Jason -
Follow Jason on Twitter.
Visit Jason’s Etsy store.
Become a contact of Jason on Flickr.
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Yes, we’d love to have Jason show in the window!!!