The right moment
Flash Interview with Alfredo Lopes
C — What makes the difference between a detail and a detail that makes the difference?
AL — The right moment. A detail makes all the difference when it is brought up in the right moment. Bring it too early and we get lost and out of context; bring it too late and we lose our ground.
C — If you had to highlight a detail about yourself, what would it be and why?
AL —That I’m allergic to sesame seeds! It’s really important to me that I stay away from those nasty little things. Another detail about me is that I love fixing stuff! But I think the detail on sesame is still more important!
C — In a project, what can make the difference between nirvana and disaster?
AL — Keeping the team’s balance between its ability to think and its ability to execute. You lose this balance and you are off to a tough time. And we all know how hard it is to bring a project back on track.
C — What characteristic about our company do you value most?
AL — A good level of freedom to choose what to work on. This gives me the opportunity to work on stuff I have enjoy doing and I believe that I can only make a difference when I’m having fun.
C — Which technological detail most fascinates you nowadays?
AL — Definitely, Minimalism. When there is so much noise around technology, the one thing that fascinates me is its silence! I am amazed by technology when it serves a purpose while being almost invisible. One silly thing that caught my attention was asking for a taxi at the hotel or office reception in Dusseldorf – the person invariably and almost immediately answers: “It’s coming”. How did she ask for it so quickly? How does she know the taxi is really coming? How will I know if it’s my taxi or that other guy’s taxi? But it always worked perfectly! I was so curious that I had to peek in – every reception counter had a single-button thingamajig to call a taxi. I was left to wonder how could I apply that simplicity in what we deliver.
C — What is the little OCD ("Obsessive–compulsive disorder") that brings most benefit to your work?
AL — My obsessive-compulsive disorder to go about all new problems with a map. I need to put all the new problem’s dimensions in order before starting to discuss solutions and details. Or maybe it’s an obsession to synthesis.