Meet Lawrence Hu | Creative Director and PC Builder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lawrence Hu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lawrence, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Gamer’s Nexus (1.64M YouTube subscribers) and Linus Tech Tips (14.5M YouTube subscribers) have both explored in-depth the sketchy reality of buying prebuilt gaming PCs. Shipping damage, outright incorrect configurations, low-quality parts, and proprietary components all come together to make the buying experience both a headache and often a poor investment. If you’re not well-versed in computer hardware, you might be getting ripped off with worse-than-advertised performance and a machine that isn’t meant to last long.

The Glitch Lab is the third iteration of the founder’s (Dane P.) vision. With decades of build experience between the both of us, we’ve made it our mission to assemble, pack, and ship out systems across the U.S. that are not only unique and powerful, but backed by our limited lifetime warranty. If something fails in the system, we’ll replace it out of our pocket. We want to be available to help all of our customers immediately, without having to put them through prewritten scripts and long wait times.

Following our motto of “f**k companies that overcharge and underdeliver”, we hope to cut down on e-waste by providing systems that are upgradable, affordable, and durable – our computers perform at 100% always, and we back that up.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a self-taught graphic designer with focus in typography and photography. I got my start as a kid, toying around with Photoshop CS5, YouTube, Twitch, and video gaming. My start in the digital age was starting my own gaming channel when I was in middle school. Fast forward to today, I’ve been through photography, videography, video editing, writing, graphic design, and merchandise design positions and jobs. They’ve been in stable, journalism scenarios and range to hectic entertainment startups.

I’ve been treated like a king and somebody worthless, and everything in between. I think the one of the most difficult parts about being a creative professional is keeping your chin up and maintaining a positive self-image. Our work reflects on us as a creator, an artist, and even as a person, so maintaining that self-esteem despite negative feedback or treatment is crucial.

I’ve learned that the creative process is such a chaotic, lively, and inspiring thing. From the birth of a random idea in the back of your mind to building an entire brand and vision that fuels you to keep going, it’s really you vs the world. The Glitch Lab, our custom computer building company, was birthed from that vision. My partner Dane and I share the belief that precision, longevity, and customer support were our priorities. From a creative perspective, we believe in minimalist, striking design that goes beyond all other competitors.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Saint Louis often gets a bad reputation for many reasons, but as someone who has lived here since the second grade, I’ve gone from loving it to hating it and then falling back in love with it again.

While I’d say that Saint Louis is definitely a place you can explore most of in just a weekend, the simple, more hidden charms of this Midwestern town are worth the extended stay. The Saint Louis Zoo is free. Forest Park is one of the nation’s largest public parks. The Arch is one of the most iconic structures built to date. Our art museum is completely free, and we’ve got the Pulitzer Arts Foundation museum tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. We’ve recently got a ferris wheel and aquarium, as well.

If you’re a sports fan, Saint Louis is a phenomenal place. The Cardinals and the Blues never disappoint, and we’re even getting our own Major League Soccer stadium downtown. Lindenwood just went D1, not to mention the Saint Louis University basketball scene.

As someone who loves food, I’d take them around to the different neighborhoods of the city. The Hill has phenomenal Italian food, Olive Boulevard with the authentic Asian eats, and some hidden gems sprinkled everywhere in between. Cate Zone is usually packed, and is my favorite place for Chinese.

As for activities, we’ve got a lot of big-city staples. W Karaoke on the Delmar Loop is a high-class, luxurious experience that I think everyone and their friends should experience at least once, just singing your heart out with room service. Pin-Up Bowl, just down the street, offers cocktails, music, and bowling until usually around 3am.

As for dancing, we’ve got a few neighborhoods to hit on those weekend nights out. The Grove has a electic selection of bars and clubs that boast progressiveness and inclusivity. Downtown, there are some bigger clubs, featuring hip-hop, rap, EDM, and top 40 DJs playing every night. The Central West End has a salsa club, which I have only been brave enough to embarass myself at once. My favorites are the Crown Room, Wheelhouse, and Paddy O’s. However, my favorite nightclub in Saint Louis has to be Ryse, attached to the Ameristar Casino. A classy, intimate club booking the world’s top EDM DJs and producers – that’s my thing.

A laid back city where the food, drinks, and sightseeing are all cheap and unique – the charm of a relatively quiet city that offers everything I’d ever want, that’s why I love Saint Louis.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this Shoutout to Dane Prestininzi, the founder of The Glitch Lab. With his vision, energy, and knowledge, he’s been able to start his dream company and deliver exactly what we’ve set out to do. He works like mad, cares deeply about his customers and the systems he builds, and is an incredible business partner. Without him, I’d be stuck in a soul-sucking 9-5.

Website: https://www.glitchlab.net

Instagram: @thelqh

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thelqh/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glitchlab.net

Other: TikTok: @glitchlab.net Photography porfolio: https://lxhphoto.com