Five Questions with a C5er: Shane Keaney

The team here at Column Five is made up of some very special people. They come from all walks of life. They’re creative, and they work very hard. They’re also very interesting. One staff member a week will be profiled on our blog, from our oldest project manager to our newest designer, to introduce the people behind the infographics.

Shane Keaney
Hometown: Norwich, CT
Started April 1st, 2011
Designer


In 144 characters or less, describe yourself.

I’m a shy guy who loves comedy, biking, getting lost in unfamiliar cities, design, and taking naps with my wife and cat. I’m passionate, honest, agnostic, and mellow.

What are some bands that are currently on your work playlist?

I work from home, so I employ a 50/50 mix of music and podcasts, depending on my mood and what I’m working on.

Some days, I have more illustrative work to be done, so I’ll listen to comedy or news/politics podcasts such as Comedy Bang Bang, JJGO, and The Young Turks. Other days will be more data- or code-heavy, and I’ll energize myself with music. I listen to mostly instrumental music, beats (electronic or other), and hip-hop. It’s really about finding the right level of slight distraction that actually helps me focus.

Every month, I put together a few songs that I’ve been enjoying, which all of 3 other people listen to at mixcloud.

What is your favorite thing to eat and your favorite thing to drink?

A mezze platter from a Middle Eastern restaurant. I make my own hummus and buy tahini by the jar. Wine is good to drink, but there are few things better in life than soda, though I don’t drink it that often. Strong unsweetened tea (cold or hot) is really good once you develop a taste for it. I always look for Ito En tea if I’m in a convenience store.

In what other areas of your life do you dominate?

GoldenEye / the Egyptian level / one-hit kills / grenade launchers.

That’s still relevant, right?

What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen, done, or experienced?

One of the most perfect days of my life was in the middle of a long trip with my wife.

We were broken in but not yet tired of traveling. We had a 90-percent serendipitous day in Marseilles, France, with perfect weather. In one day, we experienced a park with a grand entrance; a church with a unique, unfinished facade; another beautiful church with a drawbridge entrance and amazing views of the city; a ride on a modern tram system; friendly people; an ancient geodesic dome; a cheap ferry ride to a rock island with weird desert vegetation, abandoned buildings, cute topless girls on the beach, stray cats, the ocean and crystal-clear water, caves, forts, and no cars; and a nearby island with a castle.

We had an empty beach and half an island to ourselves as the sun set.

On the ferry ride back, we had a beautiful view, docked into a harbor that has been active for over 2,500 years, and a great dinner with a little wine.

We asked Shane to feature some of his favorite projects that he’s worked on:

Zendesk—The Fall and Rise of the Tenderloin