Personal Profile
Where abouts are you from?
I'm from the Chicago area in Illinois, USA.
What is your technical background and education?
My background and education are in electrical engineering and by day I work at a U.S. National Laboratory on an accelerator that generates some of the worlds brightest x-rays. I've also been involved with web design for many years, and it's because of this that I originally became interested in graphic design.
What inspires you to design watch faces?
Inspiration comes in lots of different forms. I love anything to do with technology and that's what got me into watch face design originally but literally anything can be the inspiration for a good design. Sometimes, it's not even a conscious thought or tangible item that inspires me, it can be as simple as a feeling or a mood, a collection of items that have colors that work well together. A lot of times I get my inspiration in this way. Most of the time, it has nothing to do with watches at all. For me, I find a lot of inspiration in nature. The way a landscape looks from a distance, the colors you notice at certain times of the day, the textures you find on a forest floor. There are so many things that can influence a design, it's virtually limitless. You just have to notice them. That being said, I also love to look at watches that are manufactured. I find they're a great source of inspiration, especially if I want to see how to make something look more realistic. I think to become a good designer (for myself and others like me who are learning), you have to notice the tiny details and be willing to take the time to recreate them.
What are some of your hobbies?
I love hiking, and exploring in general, whether it's in a city or a wilderness. I read books quite a bit and there's never a time when I'm not involved in a novel or series. I was heavily involved in music and bands for years and even though those times are over, I continue to be an avid music lover. I have a huge interest in science and technology and I love anything to do with space flight. I've always loved photography as well and continue to try and improve my understanding and skills. Oh, and let's not forget micro-brewed beers, sampling them, not making them ;)
Scott Benes
Your Brand
When did you create your brand?
I think February of 2017 is when I started offering my face designs on the Galaxy app store.
How many watch faces do you have in your collection right now?
About 94
Do you have a particular theme you like to create your designs around? If so, what is it?
I guess as far as a theme, I like to create faces inspired by the outdoors. I have two Wilderness collections out if that says anything. As far as a particular style, I really enjoy trying to make a face as realistic looking as I can. I favor analog designs over digital, mostly because whenever anyone looks at the face, it's going to look just a little different each time due to the position of the hands. I've always had analog watches and I think there's something cool about looking at an analog face, it's reminiscent of how clocks were originally created. This is not to say I don't have any digital designs, but for me, I enjoy creating hands and watching how they interact with each other and the other elements on the face. I find it more challenging to design a good analog face because of all the possible elements that can be included (steps, heart rate, distance, battery, etc.). All these other elements have to be visible while the hands are doing their thing. I guess it give me more satisfaction when it all comes together right.
What are your top most popular and/or most download watch faces in your collection?
Flight Test for paid faces, Tech Active Series for free downloads.
What designs are you working on next and when can we expect to see them?
I tend to let the inspiration come to me fresh each time I begin a new design. I always have a face I'm finishing up and one I'm just starting so I don't really plan my designs much in advance. I am however already thinking about the next Wilderness series, and trying to decide what direction to go with it.
Identify all the items you create for the Samsung Galaxy/Gear series: Watch Faces – Apps – Themes
I create watch faces for the Galaxy and Gear series of smartwatches.
Watch Face Community
Please talk a little about the watch face community and what makes it interesting/special for you?
When I started developing watch faces, I did it for two reasons. First off, I've always been interested in graphic design, but had only a small amount of exposure to it. I used watch face design to help get me up to speed as a graphic designer. The second, is that I've always been a very creative person and I needed another outlet for expression.
Being part of the watch face community helps in a lot of different ways. The first time we as developers offer our faces on the Galaxy app store, we are a part of it. The watch face community helps me to keep my standards high and also encourages me to develop more accurate and realistic faces. It's nice to be a part of a community that inspires competition but it's also the camaraderie you feel when you put your work out there for the consideration of all levels of designers. It's also great to see faces from all over the world. You get such a wide range of designs, it's really a good feeling to know that your designs are being seen all over the world too. That in some small way you've touched someone on the other side of the globe.
There are also a huge number of people who don't design faces but are also part of the community because they are so interested in the designs. If it wasn't for these people, none of us would be able to do what we love, and I would just like to let them know how appreciated they are, and what a huge part they play in the community without maybe, even realizing it.
Why should designers consider developing watch faces?
Because the sky is literally the limit when it comes to creating watch face designs. It's a creative outlet that's different for everyone who takes the plunge. It's something that you can make your own by designing faces that are unique to you.
What are the common pitfalls you see when designers first start out and how should they avoid them?
I think a lot of new developers feel that the more faces they put out the better. This often leads to them rushing designs out that end up suffering in composition and color choice. Take your time. There are a lot of little things that I routinely see people put on faces that just seem a little “off”, and a lot of them come down to composition. Look at your creation critically. Does it look balanced, is it readable, do the elements you chose to use, work well together? These are questions I ask myself for each design, and though people may not always like the end result (everyone has different tastes), at least you know you've taken the time to get it right.
If you could a new developer one piece of advice, what would it be?
Take your time with your design. Don't rush it, try not to force it. If something just doesn't feel right to you about the face, change it until it does. When you're not concerned about trying to put out a new face every two weeks, you'll be surprised at how your creativity will inspire you. I think above all, enjoy the design process. In time you'll develop a rhythm and a feel for when to call a face “done”. Also, it's important to never stop learning. For me that's an easy one as I'm not a professional graphics designer, so it seems there's always something new I pick up. If you use Galaxy Watch Designer to create faces, take a look at the GWD forum on the Samsung web site. It's a good place to ask questions and pick up some good tips.
Which developers create watch face designs you really like and that inspire you?
I can find things I like from a lot of different developers. It doesn't matter if they're popular or have a lot of experience. There are some great designers out there that I will say without question, inspire me to work harder at my designs (a lot of them are in MyGalaxyWatch already). These are the ones that continue to inspire all the rest of us.