Hi, I am Rok Slamek — a software developer by profession, but a creative maker at heart. I work at Siemens in Graz, Austria, and outside the tech world, I co-run milume.si, where my girlfriend and I produce wedding video. Beside that I also enjoy producing music videos. I am passionate about building things from scratch, growing plants and shaping future bonsai trees. I blend technology, storytelling, and hands-on craftsmanship into everything I do.
A Journey Through Creativity, Technology, and Craftsmanship
Creativity and craftsmanship run deep in my family. My grandfather was a shoemaker, and his workshop — full of tools and machines — was a magical place for me as a child. I spent countless hours there building contraptions and learning to work with my hands. From a young age, creating something beautiful from raw materials was my favorite way to express myself.
Early Artistic Exploration
I was especially drawn to drawing, and later, in middle school, I discovered oil painting. This passion grew throughout high school, where I participated in weekly art courses and attended art colonies. Even then, I knew that making a living as an artist wouldn’t be easy. So, instead of pursuing art school, I followed my technical interests and enrolled in a technical high school.
Discovering a Love for Programming
There, I was introduced to the world of programming—and I was hooked. I went on to study Computer Science and Information Technologies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science in Maribor.
A Ceramics Course That Changed Everything
While I was finishing my Bachelor’s degree, my sister signed me up for a 3-month ceramics course. That experience turned out to be a major turning point. After completing the course, I continued with my studies, and during the final year of my Master’s program, I took an extra year to write my thesis in Barcelona.
Ceramics, Mallorca, and Spain
Since my thesis work would begin in the second semester, I used my free time to deepen my ceramics skills. Not long after starting, I came across an Instagram post about a ceramics assistant opportunity on the island of Mallorca. I applied—and before I knew it, I was on my way.
I spent two months assisting the renowned ceramic artist Maria De Haan. Inspired by the experience and the spirit of Spain, I returned home eager to go back.
Barcelona, Skateboarding, and Academic Success
A few months later, I moved to Barcelona for seven months. There, I completed my Master’s thesis with the highest grade and received an award for the best thesis in the field of Information Systems.
Barcelona’s vibrant skateboarding culture rekindled an old passion I had left behind in college. Today, I enjoy sports that involve boards — whether it’s skateboarding, windsurfing, or, more recently, snowboarding.
Life Today: Work, Passion, and Future Plans
After returning home from Barcelona, I accepted a position as a software developer at Siemens in Graz, Austria. Outside of work, I mainly dedicate my time to videography — specifically music video production and wedding films at milume.si, a creative endeavor I share with my lovely girlfriend. Together, we’ve also recently started working on our new project, poroka.si.
In addition, I launched a local photo/video booth business fotomat.si, for which I designed and built the entire system — from the electronics to the handcrafted wooden enclosure.
To balance my tech-heavy career, I still find peace in working with my hands. While I haven’t been working with clay much lately, I’ve been more focused on woodworking. I also like to think I have a green thumb — I enjoy growing all kinds of plants, from vegetables to flowers, and I really enjoy shaping my future bonsai trees.
I have many ideas brewing and look forward to bringing more of them to life in the near future. You can follow my endeavors on Instagram at @rokslamek.