designdebris

THOUGHTS
I think a lot, I can't help it. You'll find out soon enough.
(normally when doing something mundane)

The Design League interview
Interview completed 19/10/01 @ 23.50

Do you have any formal training in art?
No

How did you get into webdesign?
Bought a cheap PC and knew that there was money to be made in programming... so I sat in Waterstones reading bookks until I found HTML.

How many years experience?
3 years.

Is webdesign the only media you design for? If not, what other forms?
Print Ads, T-shirts/stickers and sweets (that's right ... sweets) and any company branded merchanise.

What media do you prefer to design for and why?
Web - because of all the interactivity involved.

Favorite Program?
Photoshop

Favorite Site?
www.orisinal.com

Why do you design for the web?
Because it's easy to learn, there's many different levels to it - coding, writing, graphics, animation, sound, movies etc.

There are obviously two forms of webdesign, information and design. Is it possible to balance the two?
Depends on your skills, though like the sites, people tend to fall into 1 of 2 categories... those who can do both to a high standard... strike gold.

Which genre of design do you prefer? Realistic or Abstract? Any particular reason(s)?
Whilst at work I have to be realistic... though my personal choice is abstract... creativity without boundries after all, is what most of us are after.

Do you believe that both abstract and realism can relay the same messege if done correctly?
yes.

Is webdesign art?
damn right it is... though part of me feels if you are screwing around with filters and plugins to produce stuff then that's cheating... but at the end of the day if it has colour and shape and created with passion and emotion... then surely it's art?

Do you think that webdesign will ever be widely recognized as art?
Sure, but first the artists will have to be recognised somehow.... though I'm not sure if a professional middle aged sculpturer would be prepared to stand next to a 17 yr old kid and say they are one and the same.

Are there any particular steps you take before you work on a design or do you just dive in?
Lots of planning for big projects.. more the merrier.. it saves so much time later on know exactly how everything is going to piece together.. but on personal projects... I just start with a blank canvas and see what happens... if it starts to take some good form... then maybe I'll plan further stages in order to keep it looking good.

What inspires you to design?
Anything and everything... From cobble stones in a high street to a TV advert to Music to a potted plant in the shed. Though the best place that inspires is other peoples work and simply what's inside my head.

How do you see webdesign in the future?
I don't know... some people will tell you web TV.. or it will be overrun by 1000's of new students coming out of design schools around the world. But I think realistically, it'll just stay the same but more of it.

Do you believe that design styles have reached the end or do you believe more styles will be invented? Why?
More will be invented because there's for a long time to come, i'm sure.... but obviously it will level out and then loop around on itself until the next big software package come out.

Do you think 'copying' other designers styles is more of a learning experience or lack of creativity?
We all copy, because we are all influenced by what we see, copying can help learn the fundamental skills but in the long run, if there's no creativity, you'll die... financially or otherwise.

Do you find someone stealing your actual images flattering?
It can depend what it's used for.. if it's printed off and labelled "the best image i've ever seen in my life" then sure it's flattering... by otherwise no never... it's theft.

Do you prefer simple navigation or 'hidden/interactive' navigation?
Depends if i want to buy something or find inspiration/pass the time

Is there a point with 'hidden/interactive' navigation becomes to confusing?
yep.. when it's too intelligent for you and you can't advance through the site.

Is it just me or does it seem some of the 'Elite' have bad attitudes?
Ahh no... it's not just you.. they are just Dinosaurs you see. They all learned to do sites 2 million years ago, when there was no such thing as computers and they had to plan it all in their heads and hold on to it for the next couple of thousand milleniums and never sharing any of their secrets with other designers, so they would get all the money and earn international recognition and claim global domination. Now apparently if so much as touch a GUI interface to produce a site... it's cheating and you should die. Bad attitudes?... yes.

Why arent there more women in this industry?
Because men are sad lonely geeks and have nothing better to do than spend forever in a darkened room lit only by a 17in monitor and cigarette. Women on the other hand have real friends and have no need for ICQ.

Do you believe women in webdesign arent more recognized just because they are women?
I'm sure they would be recognised if more of them did it... the internet has already broken down all age/financial/class barriers, sex shouldn't be any different... I only know of a couple of female designers, and they seem to get one hell of a lot of attention from the opposite sex. (unsurprisingly)

Thank you mark for taking part in this interview.