How did you get into web design?

I got into web-design in 2000. I was pretty confused about what I wanted to do for a living. I was making films, music, design, 3d, animation, painting, graffiti anything creative, and never really became good at anything because I tried to do everything . Then I discovered Flash! It was made for me. I could integrate all my hobbies and use my computer science education, so that was just perfect! Today I?m thinking - How will I ever get out of webdesign! It?s about a year ago now I started Konstellation with my great partner Nicolai Elmqvist! This is where I put all my time and energy, so today webdesign has become a lifestyle to me.

Do you remember the very first site you designed?

Yes, but I?ve been doing my best to forget it! It really sucked, but I hope that I can look back in a few years and think the same about what I?m doing today. It?s a good sign, because that means that you have developed yourself! But it?s also nice to make some ?personal classics?, that you always like, and even get to like more over time.

You are doing a lot of Flash design is this a specialization for you?

Yes! Due to my technical background and my hunger for creativity. I would say that my specialty is boosting the technical parts of Flash in the most creative way, and spice it up with good business. Anyway that is what I?m aiming at. Besides, www.konstellation.dk I have started up www.pagegangster.com which is a project where technology, design and good business goes hand in hand.

Where do you get your art for these webpages?

From my life. You have to get away from the screen to get truly inspired. Many designers like to divide art and design strictly. I like cocktails.

What will be the next big development in webpage design?

The users. The users are developing extremely fast. Many people use the web many hours a day, and they are becoming extremely demanding! So the next big thing is you! To be more specific I?m looking forward to see some cool work with Papervision, but so far I haven?t seen anything cool done with that. But soon we will see some mind-blowing stuff with that as soon as the designers get into it.

What do you think about Flash technology?

It?s fantastic. But it has to be treated with great respect! With great powers comes great responsibility. With as3 it has become a mature technology.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Flash?

The only disadvantage I see is, that it takes so much time to overcome the disadvantages, eg. Google indexing.

What are your sources of inspiration?

People! And surfing. I?m addicted to just surf around. Getting inspired! The cool thing about web design is that the inspiration is only few clicks away. But that is also very dangerous! You see many designs that are so alike! Originality is a matter of the amount of sources!

What are your favorite website designs that you did and did NOT design yourself?

www.neostream.com really inspired me some years ago. That was a truly fantastic site!

What was the toughest project or customer situation you?ve encountered?

I did a website for my mum.

What are your interests and dislikes in webpage design?

I love to start up, and I hate to close the project. Due to that fact that teamwork is another big interest.

Thank you, Thomas, for your interesting comments on design.

Helen Walker

Helen Walker graduated with a degree in Mass Communications and Sociology. She worked as a newspaper journalist for two years after that. Having always been interested in cyberculture and its impact on society, Helen switched to online journalism and joined Design Interviews blog in July, 2007. Ever since she's been interviewing web designers and administrating the blog. Helen is a keen movie-goer and she is also a panda lover.


Look for me on:
- Twitter
- VIRB
- Facebook

Get in touch with Helen: helen.walker4@gmail.com