Back in 1994, after a year working as a veterinarian, Javier Gómez decided to put aside the stethoscope to immerse himself in what had started as a hobby, and soon became his passion: graphic design and programming. His first foray into the world of graphic arts was covering the night shift at a printing company, when handmade photoliths were still in vogue. The following year, he was ready to work as a technician specializing in editorial software and color management at an Apple Centre (the predecessors of today’s Apple Stores), squeezing the most out of applications such as Adobe PageMaker and QuarkXPress. In 1997, together with a couple of friends, he opened a design studio focused on multimedia publications.
In 1999, just before the dot-com bubble burst, Javier decided to embark on a new adventure: combining his experience in the publishing industry, multimedia and Web application programming, and workflow optimization through the use of scripts and XML, he founded a company dedicated to automating repetitive tasks in the publishing industry. To do so, he opted for version 1.0 of InDesign which was destined to replace the hegemonic dominance of QuarkXPress, taking advantage of the typographic and scripting options offered by the new Adobe application. And so, with a name that sounded very modern at the time, New Media, and with a very nineties style, Nousmedis was born.
Today, through our now typical “Meet the Team” questions, we present more about our CEO, Javier Gómez.
Do you have a morning routine or habit that prepares you for the workday?
I love to watch the sunrise and make the most of the daylight, so I get up very early, always before the sun rises. I start by drinking two glasses of water on an empty stomach and, after picking up the dishes from the night before and tidying up the kitchen, I eat a banana (from the Canary Islands!), an apple, a coffee with milk and some toast with tortilla, avocado and a good drizzle of olive oil… Yes, you guessed it, I’m a creature of habit! After a quick review of the day’s press and a comforting shower, I take a half-hour walk with my faithful canine companion and then yes: I’m ready to catch the bus to the office.
The perk of using public transportation is that you can take advantage of it to review pending issues, finish a chapter of a novel or learn a little more of the latest programming language in fashion. And you also contribute to improving the air quality in your city!
What is your role at Nousmedis?
My role at Nousmedis has evolved throughout the different stages of the company. Initially I occupied most of my time with the management and administrative tasks of my position, but now I focus mainly on the commercial area, which allows me to be in direct contact with customers and better understand their needs and the real demands of the market. I am passionate about telling over and over again the benefits of automation and demonstrate how efficiently and quickly we can produce any printed material.
As I need to keep up to date, I always participate actively in a project whenever I can, especially when it involves new challenges. This includes programming scripts or developing new features of some of the solutions we integrate. This additional involvement gives me a broader perspective on the current and future needs of our customers, allowing us to constantly improve our service offering.
What are the 3 professional skills or qualities that you think are most valued at Nousmedis?
Capacity for constant improvement and learning, passion for a job well done and, above all, exquisite customer service.
What is your secret superpower at work?
My secret superpower in the workplace is a boundless curiosity and a relentless enthusiasm to continue learning and improving myself. I am convinced that there is always room for further progress. For me, few things are as rewarding as occasionally stopping to contemplate the road I have traveled and marveling at how far I have come almost without realizing it.
What is one of the projects you have enjoyed the most in the company and why?
Difficult choice, but perhaps one of the projects I have enjoyed the most at Nousmedis has been, without a doubt, the development of the first 100% automated catalog for the Balclis Auction Room. This project was especially memorable because of its enormous impact on the client and the pleasant moments shared with his team.
The automation of the catalog allowed Balclis to incorporate many more lots and delay the closing of the catalog until just one week before the auction. This revolutionary change drastically reduced the editing process from two months to just two weeks. As a result, Balclis was able to hold two additional auctions per year. The reaction of disbelief and amazement from everyone was unforgettable.
This project not only represented an important milestone for us as a company, but also had a significant impact on our client’s efficiency and success. In addition, working closely with the Balclis team and seeing how our solution transformed their operations was a rewarding and exciting experience.
Which catalog would you like to automate?
All of them! I have yet to come across a catalog that could not benefit, to a greater or lesser extent, from the advantatges of automation. Not only is production time drastically shortened, but design teams can be confident that the quality of the data is impeccable, so they can spend their time doing what they do best: designing.
Do you think that the days of printed publications are numbered?
For better or worse, paper catalogs have a role to play that today cannot replace their digital counterpart. You can consult them at any time and place, regardless of whether or not there is coverage or a plug at hand, they have no compatibility problems, anyone knows how to use them and, above all, they are tangible works of art that you can touch and feel, that have presence and transmit sensations. In short, they are the ideal tool for the sales team.
What do you envision the future of catalog automation to be like?
As you know, the layout of a catalog is mainly composed of three stages, each with specialized processes and tools. First, it is necessary to organize and maintain product information on a centralized platform. We recommend the use of specialized product information management software, such as the PIM Sales Layer or simpler tools, similar to a database, such as Ninox. These platforms incorporate artificial intelligence-based functionalities to, for example, generate more attractive product descriptions.
The second step involves the creation and management of the artwork associated with each product. Graphics editing and creation applications such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator use artificial intelligence-based technology to retouch images and vector graphics. In addition, there are other applications such as Adobe Firefly, Google Gemini, Midjourney or Dall.E, capable of generating hyper-realistic images that can illustrate concepts and improve product presentation.
Finally, design teams use Adobe InDesign to organize all this content and present it in an orderly, coherent and attractive way. With the constantly evolving EasyCatalog plug-in, automated catalog production processes can be further improved.
Thus, barely a year after its popularization, artificial intelligence is already being applied to a greater or lesser extent to optimize and improve the catalog automation process. And this is just the beginning! The future of catalog automation promises to be bright and exciting.
When you are not working, we can find you…
Walking with my family, in a museum, having tapas with friends or taking a walk in the park with the dog, but always with a camera on my shoulder. And in summer, under the sea. Water has attracted me since I was a child, but above all, the possibility of “flying” among fish, which have the peculiarity of accepting you into their world without flinching. I am fortunate to live next to the Mediterranean Sea, with calm, warm and transparent waters, ideal for spending hours and hours underwater.
Recommend a book, a podcast, a series or a movie you’ve been obsessing about lately
When it comes to literature, I am a book devourer by nature, and although I could recommend an extensive list, there are certain works that mark a before and after in our lives. During my childhood, “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien awakened in me an unconditional love for reading. Other novels that have left an indelible mark on my heart include “Olvidado Rey Gudú” by Ana María Matute, “El nombre de la Rosa” by Umberto Eco, or “No digas que fue un sueño” by Terenci Moix, all with an exquisite narrative that invites deep and reflective reading. Among my favorites are also gems of the historical novel such as “The Persian Boy” by Mary Renault, “Memoirs of Hadrian” by Marguerite Yourcenar, and “The Doctor” by Noah Gordon, without forgetting more contemporary masterpieces, such as “Patria” by Fernando Aramburu, “The Man Who Loved Dogs” by Leonardo Padura, and timeless classics such as “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” by Homer, “Cien Años de Soledad” by Gabriel García Márquez, and “Dracula” by Bram Stoker.
As for podcasts, I’ve found a particular fascination with “TED Radio Hour” and NPR’s “How I Built This,” which offer a look at human ingenuity and entrepreneurship. I’ve also become hooked on Wired’s “Gadget Lab” and the New York Times ‘ “Hard Fork” to keep up with the latest tech trends, as well as the BBC’ s “Global News Podcast” for a global perspective on current events. And for easy laughs, “Nadie Sabe Nada“, on La SER.
Finally, in the cinematic realm, Ridley Scott’s “Blade Runner” is among my favorites. This masterpiece, which I have seen countless times, encapsulates a futuristic and thoughtful vision that continues to resonate after each viewing. It is a must-see film that, in my opinion, should have a place of honor in any collection.
What is the best advice you have ever been given and who gave it to you?
When I was a child, I read in my mother’s almanac a Chinese proverb that said: “Looking for beauty, you will find perfection”. This principle has become a fundamental element in my life, marking me by its simplicity and depth, influencing the way I work and relate to my family and friends. Seeking beauty in the everyday and in interactions with others has taught me to value and strive for perfection not as an end in itself, but as the natural result of appreciating beauty in my work, in the world and in the people around me.