Meet Ronen Hirsch of Studio Umbrella

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronen Hirsch.

Ronen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, I always had a computer at home. My dad bought the first IBM PC in the early 80’s and so it’s always been a part of my life. As I grew up in San Jose, I learned some simple coding and began visiting BBS’s (‘prehistoric’ websites) in the early internet days of the 90’s while constantly being attracted to graphic design as well. I studied Product (Industrial) Design in Eindhoven, The Netherlands and during that time, I learned how to use Flash (among other things of course!) to create presentations of my projects – I was always attracted to the presentational/graphic/interactive aspect of my projects. After receiving my degree, I moved to Israel and started my career by creating a Flash portfolio website for myself which led to some friends’ websites and I quickly found out that I very much enjoyed this and am good at it as well! So, one client led to another and ‘StudioRonen’ (my studio’s initial name) quickly gained steam, turned into Studio Umbrella a few years later and now, nearly 12 years later, I’m living in Los Angeles while Studio Umbrella continues to grow and prosper.

Has it been a smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road 🙂 They don’t teach you how to run a business in design school so a lot of it is self-taught. Also, not getting a formal education in computer programming brings with it the challenges of self-discipline for learning how to code.

Web/Front-end development is a very fast-paced field that’s constantly evolving and introducing new technologies, methods, tools, etc. so you have to continuously keep up to date and stay familiar with relevant subjects.

Running a business also brings its struggles. I’m not only the coder, but also the designer, the manager, the accountant, the office administrator, etc… It’s a lot, but you get used to it and I like learning and being in control of everything.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Studio Umbrella – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Studio Umbrella designs and develops websites of a variety of types for small to medium sized businesses. We create e-commerce website, corporate websites, online portfolios, simple landing pages and mini-sites and also other more customized pages. Through the years, I developed my own custom CMS (Content Management System) that allows our clients to update their sites content, but we also use WordPress, and Shopify or Prestashop for e-commerce sites, but the most fun is custom coding.

I place a very high importance on uniqueness and high quality of design as well as solid, custom coding. I’m passionate about creating a meaningful and unique digital experience for my clients’ users while providing them with confidence and assurance that they are in good hands – both in the process and in the outcome.

I take pride in my work and I think that my clients can feel that during the entire process. You can get a really cheap website that will look like “just another site” and not function properly, all while receiving bad service and I don’t know why someone would want to choose that route. I offer a much better option and strive to make the entire process and end result flawless and unique.

Studio Umbrella is located at WeWork in the beautiful and inspiring Fine Arts Building in DTLA.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love LA! Though I’ve only lived here for 3 years so far, I love the lifestyle, the countless things there are to do and to explore here. There are so many different parts of the city and each with a different vibe – I love wandering the streets of DTLA and viewing its old buildings and absorbing its history, grabbing a coffee in Silver Lake, absorbing the glam in Hollywood, the beach and mellowness of Santa Monica and Venice and the great neighborhood of Mt. Washington/Highland Park where I live. Just a great atmosphere, with tons of restaurants, art, music, history, views… and the weather is perfect (aside from the occasional heat-wave).

LA is a great mix of city and nature. I feel like I live outside of the city when in fact I’m very much in it.

But I would say that sometimes the size of the city is overwhelming and it’s very sad seeing so many helpless and homeless people on the streets.

Contact Info:

• Address: 811 W. 7th St.
• Website: studioumbrella.com
• Phone: 3232025988
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.umbrella
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/web.umbrella/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/ronenhirsch
  

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.