Meet Sarthak “rocky” Sahoo

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarthak “rocky” Sahoo a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarthak “Rocky”, really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?

I was recently affected by a mass layoff after working for a year as a UX Consultant, I worked on designing fintech applications for First United Bank and many other firms. The experience left me frustrated and apprehensive about my future—a feeling I am still grappling with. As someone who has always been deeply passionate about UX, both as a fulfilling career and a practical path, I was devastated and uncertain about what lay ahead. My concerns extended beyond my personal future to the prospects of others entering the field and the broader future of work itself. In response, I started learning how to build IOS applications and crafting proof of concept prototypes for ideas i’ve had during my time as a consultant. Treating the job hunt as a 9-5, I experienced burnouts where on my free time, I produced music, DJ, and started learning dance–ways of regenerating my energy back into working on my career.
Witnessing the rapid integration of AI into our daily lives and its impact on replacing jobs made me feel as though the work of creatives was gradually fading. However, I realized that this mindset contradicted the essence of being a creative. Ultimately, we, as creators, control the tools we use, and preserving the human touch in everything we make is a responsibility we must embrace. I came to understand that artists have a unique duty to the public: to inspire love, evoke emotion, foster acceptance, and motivate action, regardless of the form their work takes. While these are inherently human traits, they are carried more profoundly by those who create.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I am a UX Designer. I redesign applications and services for businesses, both visually and strategically. I evaluate how users feel and implement changes to product experiences based on those findings. This is what sustains me, but I am also deeply passionate about using design to impact experiences.

If I had to describe myself in terms of what I love to do regardless of the outcome or money, it would be creating music. I love making groovy and cinematic electronic dance music. I’ve always enjoyed playing covers of songs on the piano while accompanying the tracks, and music production has given me the ability to play every instrument using MIDI and construct my own body of work. This is where I express how I feel.

I also love drawing and painting visions inspired by my music taste. Both visual art and creating music have brought me true happiness. I sometimes consider them a guilty pleasure because I feel guilty dedicating time to art or music when I am constantly told to pursue practical fields like programming or data, leaving art and music for later. But I love them too much to abandon them now.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Learning how to take criticism has been a journey for me. When I first started taking my creative work seriously in high school, I didn’t know how to process criticism—I took it too personally. It always felt like the people criticizing me fell into distinct categories.

In regards to music, there were those who had never met me but offered their takes on my work. There were those who knew me personally, beyond my art, and communicated how they felt about my work. Lastly, there were those who only knew a single side of me—whether it was my appearance, who I associated with, or other superficial aspects—but acted as though they were close to me. Their criticism was always the easiest for me to dismiss.

However, when it came to people I worked with directly—those who were close to me, rooted for me, and actively involved in my life—their criticism, when offered constructively, proved to be some of the most valuable advice, even when it felt harsh. When it comes to the corporate setting, criticism is like a fuel for me, it helps me get better at my skills and progress.

When people told me I needed to change my workflow, I used to take it personally. In hindsight, this feedback was some of the best advice I’ve ever received. There’s a rhythm to creating, and it can easily be disrupted by superficial or temporary pleasures. To create meaningful experiences for others, the creator must often set aside their own dopamine-driven desires. That self-discipline is the sacred act of creation. My advice is to learn how to process criticism in a way that will only benefit you. To seperate your work from yourself, is the most divine form of energy for creators.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am seeking a community of people who share a passion for creating and collaborating on music and visuals. Whether it’s a group, specific individuals, or new experiences, I want to deepen my understanding of the music industry and explore how UX can enhance the user experiences of those involved in making music. This could include members of a band (drummers, guitarists, singers, etc.), independent producers, record labels, music executives, small-scale distributors, or professionals working in product design and application development. I’m open to connecting with anyone in this space.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rockysahoodesign.com/
• Instagram: rockysahooart
• Linkedin: https://rockysahoodesign.com/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@6FUT7MUSIC
• Other: Insta:
  Art page: rockysahooart
  Music page; dj6fut7

Image Credits

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