Meet Joseph Salmon | Digital Media Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joseph Salmon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joseph, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
When I was younger I used to think that I wanted to be an engineer. I loved the thought of being able to build something with my hands and be proud of it. As I got older and developed a disdain for mathematics, I started to explore film-making as a hobby. When I was about 7 or 8, I would make stop-motion Lego videos with my family’s camcorder and Windows Movie Maker. The older I got, I found that the challenge to learn a multitude of creative mediums satisfied my passion to build and create, I was always seeing what new fields I could break into and what new tools of digital construction I could learn.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Currently, I work in the field of higher education communications and marketing, specifically in the realm of technology. So much of what my job consists of is taking complex tech jargon and condensing it into digestible content for students and faculty. When I started my current position, there was a big shift for me as a creative; I now had more autonomy and authority over the creative process and how information reaches the audience. This change was so significant to me as a creative, whereas I gained perspective over the process that I never quite attained working freelance or client work. This perspective has enabled me to appreciate all aspects of project management and how the creative process fits into organizational goals and milestones. Being so young in a professional environment can be daunting at times, but the conceptual vision I have for my team and the organization that I work for constantly pique my passion.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Flagstaff to me has always been Arizona’s hub of tight-knit community culture and art. You can’t take a walk without seeing a mural or concept piece of some kind. That being said, some of my favorite local gems in Flagstaff are as follows;

NAU Art Museum: Located in Old Main, you’re able to see artwork created by NAU Students, as well as traveling exhibits.

Sosoba: Always my go-to for ramen in a cute downtown alleyway.

Sandy’s Canyon: Best quick weekend hike, easy enough and gorgeous views.

Cedar House: Nice for a quick cup of coffee, cozy contemporary atmosphere.

Hiros: Best sushi in town, undoubtedly.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would credit so much of the person I am today to my older sister Tess; whom I always looked up to as a role model in the creative space. I would watch her success in the fields that inspired me, which had quite a significant impact on me as a young creative. I would also say that my first film professor in high school, Mr. Ingold gave me opportunities and was patient with me in a way that facilitated a lot of the educational foundations that brought me into my career today.

Website: https://josephsalmon.squarespace.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephandrewsalmon/