Hello! I am Truman Kautzman.

Growing up, my uncle regularly took me to Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Those experiences are precious memories to me. As I grew older I couldn't help but wonder what made those places so emotionally powerful. With the help of some books my uncle gave me and the early internet, I discovered that it was a beautiful blend of engineering and creativity. Theme parks are a labor of love where no detail is too small and the result is larger than life.

This philosophy has continuously inspired me. I may not build theme parks, but I balance creative and logical work as I build software. It is easy to think of software as very utilitarian. I would argue that digital experiences can be very emotional. They inform and entertain us. They empower people to create art, accomplish work, and manage their lives. They allow us to communicate with each other.

"So how does theme park design influence software?" you might ask. Good theme parks move you emotionally, and likewise all software should be intentional about how its users should feel. Well, at a minimum, not frustrated. I would say that they should feel confident. Using common patterns helps users feel like they know what they are looking at. Users should trust that the software does what it says it does. They should feel safe, especially if the app deals with money and personal information. They should feel comfortable when using an app to communicate with other people. They should feel like software is a tool, not an obstacle, for achieving their goals.

To achieve this, I went to college for Computer Science to learn the nuts and bolts of building software. I also, learned to play the French Horn, play in an ensemble, and understand the beauty of music theory. I experimented with color and shape through graphic design. I learned to communicate ideas and intent with collaborators. I am an armchair urbanist. I learn more every day in my professional and personal projects. Some of these things are directly relevant to building software, but all of these things have taught me about people, what they want to do, and how they want to feel.

Not everyone can build theme parks, but I can build software that empowers people. Theme parks may seem like they just entertain, but they inspire people to improve themselves and the world around them. Software may just be text, buttons, and forms, but it can make the world a better place when people use it for good. That is why I build software.