JESSE YOUNG of JesseYoung.comApril 25, 2007, Category: Web design |
How did you get into web design?
Like a lot of people, I kind of fell into web site design by accident. I was working in the office of a small business about 9 years ago and started fiddling around with one of the low-end 'make your own web site tools'. I created a web site which turned out to be quite beneficial for this business. Gradually, I started learning HTML and some other technologies. Suddenly, without even promoting myself, other small businesses were hiring me to do their own sites. After a few years of doing web design on the side, I quit the job to take it on full time. I've done pretty well since then and have rarely been in need of clients.
Do you remember the very first site you designed?
Definitely. It was for the business I mentioned above. Looking back now, it was a mess... I didn't know even the most basic stuff of html, monitor sizes, etc. But it must have been fairly decent because before I knew it people were hiring me.
You are doing a lot of small business sites. Is this a specialization for you?
Yes. I've established myself quite well locally with the small to medium size business. And I like the fact that there's a lot of variety. If I got stuck on one large project for a year I would hate that. Although it does take a lot of juggling to manage all of these small business clients, many of whom are not very literate when it comes to things like this.
What will be the next big development in webpage design?
I'm honestly not sure. There are always more and more 'do-it-yourself' template options for customers, but those are always limiting. So I think there will always be a need for someone to do custom design and building the way that I do now.
Have you ever worked with website templates?
No. But I've looked at some of them from time to time to get inspiration. Most of them are much too cookie-cutter for my taste. And I seem to attract clients who prefer my clean, easy-to-navigate style, rather than the too-busy look of most templates.
What do you think about Flash technology?
I think Flash has its place, but I'm currently not using it. I just don't seem to have the time to invest in really learning it well. And even if I did, I would use it sparingly. There are a lot of very cool Flash-based sites out there... but so often being cool is what the designer had in mind, rather than designing a site that is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Flash?
One obvious disadvantage is that Flash sites limit search engine readability. And, from what I've seen, they can be difficult to update. Advantages are that a designer can do very cool, impressive designs. But as I mentioned previously, sometimes the cool designs override usability issues. I hear repeatedly from clients that they can't stand having to sit through the 'loading, please wait' screens . . . when all they want to find is the phone number or location of the company.
What are your sources of inspiration?
Other web sites, of course. But I also get ideas from magazine layouts, billboards, or a number of other things. Sometimes when I'm meeting with a client for the first time I start getting ideas right on the spot and go back to my office and do some quick scribbles. Other times it's more difficult, especially if the client doesn't have a clear idea of who they are.
What are your favorite website designs that you did and did NOT design yourself?
Some favorite sites I didn't design:
- http://onepica.com/op/home.jsp
Some favorites that I created:
- http://www.tallcedarsacademy.com
- and my own photography site http://www.jesseyoungphoto.com
What was the toughest project or customer situation you've encountered?
The worst situation happened just a few months ago. I was working with a marketing consultant doing a very large project for a local construction company. The layout and design were completed, so our plan at the beginning of the month was to add content and get the site online by the end of the month. The 'completion date' came and went but we still had no content from the client. So they set a new goal for the following month and insisted they would follow through on their end. Well, this went on repeatedly for four solid months, with the client insisting each month that 'Now we've REALLY got to get it going because we have to be online by Date X!' I was under the constant stress of trying to fit them into my schedule, only to have them flake out yet again.
Eventually those higher up in the client's company made it clear that the site needed to be online right away. I was finally given content for this HUGE site about 1 week before it had to be online. By this time my schedule was packed with other projects. So I worked day and night, cursing this client the entire time, to get this thing finished. I learned a lot from that experience about setting boundaries and not allowing myself to get jacked all over the place.
What are your interests and dislikes in webpage design?
Initially I started web design because I liked the creative part... of designing a layout and being able to show it to the world. I still love that part, but as I've gotten busier through the years I've found that it's difficult to juggle running a business and also finding time to sit down and get in that creative space. Surprisingly, I've also grown to like many of the technical aspects of building a web site... of figuring out the best way to code something for a particular scenario. The part I dislike the most is trying to get clients to make clear decisions. Since they're not literate on these things they sometimes get intimated and procrastinate on following through. So what should be a quick process can sometimes take weeks to resolve. It's a lot of loose ends to juggle around.
Thank you, Jesse, for the insights and experiences.
Helen WalkerLook for me on:
- VIRB
Get in touch with Helen: helen.walker4@gmail.com
As a Seattle web site designer, Jesse Young specializes in creating affordable, high-quality web designs that will promote your small business with simplicity and style. His focus is on a creative, tasteful approach to web site design that will enhance your company?s visibility on the web, rather than scare your visitors away. "Sometimes when I?m meeting with a client for the first time I start getting ideas right on the spot and go back to my office and do some quick scribbles."
