Meet Fernando Rodriguez | Creative Technologist

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

Hi Fernando, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
My background has been a constant motivation in my life and plays a crucial part shaping the person I am today. I was born in the small town of Chamacuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico, to a family of migrant workers. I share a very similar upbringing and struggle that a lot of immigrants and migrant workers have in today’s time. Seasonal migrant work in agricultural fields have been a large part of my life, and for the majority of my childhood, it was all I knew. My days in the field are echoed by recurring phrases my parents continued to tell me: “Ponte a estudiar, porque en la labor no está facil” (study hard because working in the fields isn’t easy). They always vowed that I’d find more value in education than I would in the fields. I became the first in my family to continue my education into college. With the support of my parents and three other siblings, I became the first person in my family to graduate with a master’s degree in architecture. Shortly after I received my second master’s degree, focusing on technology.

As I navigate corporate life, entrepreneurship, and professional practice after graduation, I reflect on the importance of embracing your roots and upbringing. They are the most pivotal points in my life, having shaped me into the person I am today and continuing to motivate me in the future.

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.
I think I’m on a very long and versatile career path. I’m happy that, with the support of others, I’ve been able to open many doors for myself to help keep my career path flexible. Over the years, I’ve been able to maneuver through varying roles and career paths, whether it be academia, professional practice, or entrepreneurship. This has allowed me to happily shift between roles; for example, I’ve been able to work with robotics, develop with computer programming, design brands, design buildings, develop 2D and 3D websites, develop games, develop and prototype scientific instruments, contribute to academic papers and research, create interactive experiences, work in video production, work with motion capture systems, and do photography, to name a few.
In return, these varying paths have provided me with fresh perspectives and have helped shape my choices and understanding as I operate moving forward. I’ve been fortunate that every role I’ve had was extremely flexible and open-ended, allowing me to lean in on a large range of my personal interests while also expanding into nearby territories. Keeping my career path open-ended is one of the things I’m most excited about and hope to continue doing moving forward in whatever direction I take.

Getting to this point required a lot of built-up effort and a lot of extra hours. I make an effort to remain curious throughout my career and approach most situations like a student ready to learn and soak up as much as I can while offering my best expertise and knowledge. I think a good guideline for staying curious is to know 70% of what you are doing and have the other 30% be unknown, so you can continue to discover, learn, and move forward. This can be tricky depending on many different variables, but I make sure to always consider whether I’m learning or moving forward in the long run. Otherwise, I feel falling into something repetitive and non-challenging can easily hinder your growth. Lastly, I stand by the importance of knowing your worth, knowing when to bet on yourself, and, through strategic planning, knowing when to take a risk or not.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My first thought and recommendation for anyone new to Miami is to visit the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. I’m instantly drawn to the area for all the overlapping personal interests happening both inside and outside of the two buildings. Within the space, you have an intersection of architecture, art, science, and nature. Additionally, it encourages urbanicity and gives a glimpse of what Miami could look like as a fully walkable city. Being so close to downtown, I’d encourage walking through the adjacent park that sits next to the PAMM and moving towards Bayfront Park while enjoying the waterfront views and front tower views of Miami opposite. I’d then hop on the metro mover and work my way towards Brickell City Center to end the voyage.
My second instinct and recommendation are interchangeable with my third, depending on the person. I’d recommend picking up some Cuban sandwiches and having a calm day at the beach, soaking in the Florida sun. I typically avoid going to Miami Beach. I think if it’s your first time in Miami, it’s naturally the first beach on your mind; however, I would recommend the more calm, less touristy, and family-friendly beaches of Key Biscayne or Virginia Key. Within Virginia Key, you get great views of the city, while within Crandon Park, you get a more secluded beach experience if you want to go the extra length. Then I would encourage people to visit Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, which is the beaches at the end of the island, topped off with a lighthouse at the very end of the route with endless views of the ocean.

My third suggestion would be to visit Wynwood. I think Wynwood is a standout staple of Miami. It’s a fairly young place with an interesting history and a range of places to visit. Additionally, it’s a good excuse to drink, with many bars to choose from.

After hitting any other of the major places and reasons why people visit Miami, I would settle into the more local shops, restaurants, and places I normally visit within the area of Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. I would most likely encourage a movie at either, the more conservative and traditional Art Cinema in Coral Gables or the luxurious and modern Cinepolis in Coconut Grove. Following the movie, some sweets from either Fireman Derek’s Bake Shop or ice cream from Salt & Straw would definitely hit the spot. Throughout the two areas, there are many great restaurants and spots to visit for days to come. Additionally, I’d encourage a visit to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, which is at the peak of the two areas and provides great picturesque landscape views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I personally believe my success could not be achieved without the effort and support of those around me. It really does take a village to raise a child. I have been shaped by my community and have received an immense amount of support and inspiration from it. My family is the most important factor in that equation, providing me with a solid foundation on which to build my entire system of support. My mentors and friends have also all significantly contributed to molding me into the person I am today. Along the way, they have provided me with incalculable resources, connections, and support.

Website: www.worp.space

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nando123abc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernando-worp/

Image Credits
Jovani Rodriguez, Eddie Jimenez