This week, GTS sat down with Threadless' Chief Technology Officer - Harper Reed. We talk about project management, living in a connected world and big print tees. On with the show...

GTS: Gettin' The Skinny is back and this week we're sitting down with Harper Reed, Threadless' Chief Technology Officer. How are you Harper?

Harper: Great! it was a long day but we are finishing it out.

GTS: Can you describe your typical day as the Threadless CTO?

Harper: hmm. it really depends what day. but lets start with a monday - since that is when the shirts launch. usually in the morning we all arrive and hang out for a bit. everyone talks about their weekends - and whats going on. then suddenly the shirts fall from the sky and they appear on the site. nah, just kidding. really what happens is we come in and people like speedy and ross are making last minute changes to the photos and what not and then at a certain point - we push them to live. then once they are on live, we all breathe a sigh of relief and start another week. at some point (around 12), we have a staff meeting where all the managers get together and vote for the coolest employee. its pretty much always speedy for some reason. i mean he is really cool but he wins EVERY day. also in that meeting - we talk about what is going to happen that week and any upcoming craziness that may occur.

GTS: How many people work in your department?

Harper: 7 - we have scott, ivan, curlee, dylan, tristan and atkins and me

GTS: how long have you been @ Threadless?

Harper: since 2005, i started at the same time as ivan.

GTS: what were doing before you started @ Threadless?

Harper: i worked at an ad agency and did a lot of wierdo internet stuff. it was awesome. the ad agency was annoying. so it was awesome when i got a chance to work for skinny.

GTS: As CTO, do you have any project management advice for other technology professionals out there?

Harper: hmm that is a serious question. i don't know - i would say actually have project management - start with something. whether it is a simple basecamp account that you orient yourself with or if it is a txt file - just keep track of shit. so no, i don't have any advice.

GTS: I gathered from your blog, that you're really into API's, social networking and all of that good/nerdy stuff. What's your vision of how these new technologies will be incorporated into everyday life five or ten years from now?

Harper: i think that our mobile devices will end up being our computers. so when i geek out now about APIs and social networks and what not in the future this will all be set up on your mobile phone or device - that way your mobile experience and the world around you will be interacted with. imagine dopplr, twitter, and anything else that ends with R automatically posting when you were plcaes and what not. now the tricky part is this - privacy. limiting your stream, etc.

GTS: yeah, the privacy factor is definitely an issue to consider. do you ever have moments when you wish you weren't wired in?

Harper: yea of course but those are few and far between. i live my life in this connected world. i always have so not having it is weird. however - my wife would have a totally different answer for you.

GTS: how so?

Harper: she doesn't like being so connected. it isn't her thing. i think a lot of people are like that. for me - i love it. i love twittering things and talking shit but she doesn't care.

GTS: I guess it's all a matter of perspective.

Harper: yep and my perspective is the right one.

GTS: Ha ha, let's hope your wife doesn't read this interview.

Harper: she will just punch me like usual.

GTS: back on the threadless tip, What are some of your favorite recent tees?

Harper: i LOVE the all over ones. so the panda one and the new one. those are dope but i also really liked the maze one from this week. i have SOOO many shirts so for me to grab one is pretty rare. however - i like the big printed ones. i honestly have thought about picking up one of the 2xl ones and framing it cuz its such a cool design and its big enough to frame on that shirt. the print being full is so big.

GTS: you could always drop a hint to jake, jeff and co. to have that printed as a poster.

Harper: oh yea. that is a good point. the prints are dope. i really liked the infnity mpg one.

GTS: With the advent of poster printing, have you seen a big spike in the site traffic?

Harper: hmm. we don't usually talk about traffic. but we have seen an increase in traffic from places that talk about prints

GTS: Like blogs, etc.?

Harper: yea.

GTS: I asked some bloggers to submit questions for you to answer. Let's start with veteran GTS question asker littlem - she wants to know: How did you get so darned sexy?

Harper: It was a combination of playing computers all day and just being really awesome. Also not washing hair/clothes helps too.

GTS: jess4002 asked: What is the most awesome birthday present you have ever received?

Harper: Hmm. this is hard. I think it was a love and rockets tape. i was young.

GTS: chipmnk asked: What is has been your most favorite Halloween costume that you've worn?

Harper: Last year i was viking/gwar/awesomtown. It was made out of real cats i purchased on ebay.

GTS: bsweber wants to know: I hear you're a yo-yo-er (from speedyjoe), is this true?

Harper: It is true. here is my entry in the yoyowiki.org: http://yoyowiki.org/wiki/Harper_Reed

GTS:Harper, it's time to play Pick One - I'll give you a category with two choices and you pick one. Let's do this!

GTS: #1 Fun Phone: iPhone or T-Mobile Android (Google)?

Harper: I had both. but i sent back the G1

GTS: #2 Rockin' Robot: Johnny 5 or C-3PO?

Harper: C-3po

GTS: #3 Fuzzy Feet: Moccasins or Slippers?

Harper: I don't see the difference ;)

GTS: #4 Worse Halloween Candy: Candycorn or Circus Peanuts?

Harper: Candycorn

GTS: #5 Charles in Charge: Chuck Norris or Charlie Manson?

Harper: Manson

GTS: #6 Taco Time: Chicken or Ground Beef?

Harper: Beef

GTS: #7 Terrific Tee Color: Slate or Mint?

Harper: Fuck mint

GTS: #8 Bad Batman: Val Kilmer or Michael Keaton

Harper: Kilmer

GTS: #9 It's The Network: Twitter of Facebook?

Harper: Twitter! follow me!

GTS: 10# Musical Catalog Best Suited for a Death Metal Cover Band: Beatles or Beach Boys?

Harper: beatles. its so orchestral

GTS: Harper, thanks for taking the time to sit down with GTS. Just two final things - first, who would you like me to interview next and secondly, do you have any parting words of wisdom for the folks at home?

Harper: I'll go with Joe Curlee for the next interview. Thanks for having me!