Welcome to my corner of the digital world! I’m Brock Harrison Austin Barnett, and I’m thrilled to have you here. Let me take you on a journey through my lifelong affair with technology, design, and everything in between.
Even when faced with tasks I’ve never encountered before, my eagerness to learn remains unwavering. It’s a defining trait that I hold dear. A guiding principle in my life echoes the words of Pablo Picasso: “I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” This philosophy drives me to embrace challenges and step into the unknown, because I believe that growth is born from pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone. Each new endeavor becomes a canvas for my ever-expanding palette of skills and knowledge.
Born on July 18, 1989, amidst the charm of Louisville, Kentucky, my fascination with computers began at an early age. Even as a kid, I was captivated by the creative possibilities of these machines. At just eight years old, I got my hands on my first computer, it was built out of old used parts that were being thrown out, but my brother-in-law used them to build me a PC instead. This opened up a universe of possibilities for me and really a universe of ideas including the idea to build my own universe! Afterall, I figured I probably would not be able to become an astronaut, but I still could explore space via computers.
As the years rolled on, my passion grew. Around 2003-2004, I found myself immersed in the online game FFXI. I of course became very knowledgeable about the crafting system. Inspired to create both in game and in real life, I embarked on a journey to build a website for fellow players. I delved into the world of web design, teaching myself the basics of HTML. This endeavor resulted in a space where I could share insights about the game’s crafting mechanics with ease.
My quest for knowledge and skills did not stop there. In my exploration of the space game called Freelancer, I ventured into the realm of modding. Soon, I was assisting with troubleshooting and developing user-friendly guides. This endeavor led me to learn JavaScript and be more creative designing splash screens for game versions.
My journey took a decisive turn when I became a main developer for Dark Cosmos, a role that propelled me into learning PHP and understanding the mechanics of forums. However, life’s unpredictable nature intervened, and the group eventually disbanded after the loss of my best friend, Robert Pierce. Before he died, he encouraged me to join a fan made project for FreeSpace 2 called Shadows of Lylat which gave me more webmaster experience.
Amidst these experiences, I pursued formal education, graduating from ITT Technical Institute with an Associate’s Degree in Visual Communications. My achievements were many, including receiving the highest honors, being a part of the National Technical Honors Society, and securing an Academic Excellence Award.
Professionally, I carved my niche in the digital landscape. From humble beginnings as a freelancer at Humana’s marketing department, I progressed to being a Senior User Interface Developer at Radancy (formerly TMP Worldwide). Over time, I took on greater responsibilities, ultimately becoming a User Interface Tech Lead and being a Product Liaison. My role involves leading and setting standards of developers from all over the world that use CSS and HTML to sculpt the visual front-end of websites, collaborating closely with the product team, and ensuring our clients’ needs are met with precision as well as expanding our product offerings for sales to have more to market.
When I’m not immersed in the secular world, I channel my creativity into making YouTube videos about game development and sharing insights on website design and development through this site you are on now. I have been able to release some indie games and been able to work with other indie developers like Jorge Felico. I have another passion: cosplay, or costume play and love going to conventions and festivals.
My family life is equally exciting. September 8, a day that celebrates both International Literacy Day and Star Trek Day, was the perfect backdrop for my marriage to fellow geek and talented writer, Rebecca Timberlake. As fate would have it, December 2022 brought the joyful news of our forthcoming addition: a baby girl who arrived a bit ahead of schedule on April 27, 2023. Scarlett has become our pride and joy.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about my story. I hope you enjoyed the various facets of my journey. I encourage you to explore the posts on this site. Here, you’ll find a collection of my latest endeavors, ranging from insightful articles about website design and development to captivating YouTube videos that delve into the world of game creation and many other random topics that this ADHD brain gets interested in. Join me on this ongoing adventure, and together, we can continue to push the boundaries of creativity and technology.