You're a web designer and developer, web architect, web master, author, speaker and blogger. Which would you call your primal field of work? Why?

I would consider myself a web architect, which encompasses the skills and expertise of designer, developer, web master, speaker and author. I create code, write documentation, craft information architecture and design interfaces; I also interface with our clients on a regular basis and conduct training. All of the facets of what I love to do (except blogging!) are called upon when I step into the role of the web architect at Asbury College.

What got you so passionate about WordPress at a certain period of your life?

Two things really. The community of users and developers, and the idea of personal publishing. I have a passion for publishing and for helping as many people as possible get their voice out there to be heard. WordPress offered me that chance, and the community welcomed me with open arms. You can't beat that.

You are a geek head and a writer. When did your love for technology started?

When I was around 10 years old, an uncle bought me one of the knock off laser tag toys. It had a gun and a base station that you could use to practice. It sent out infrared blasts randomly, and had a receiver to register when you hit it. I was entranced by it for exactly 5 days. Then I moved onto something cooler.

I am a pack rat by nature, so I shoved it in my closet and forgot about it. A couple of years later I was grounded, as was usually the case, and I found the toys and took them apart. That was really the beginning of my love affair with technology. I started making new things with the components that I found in the base station and blaster. It hasn't stopped since.

How did you first get involved with Open Source Software development? What were your reasons for leaving WordPress for Habari Project?

WordPress was really my first foray into OSS. Later I was introduced to the

"Apache Way" via my friendship with Rich Bowen, and began speaking at ApacheCon. After hanging around with the smartest people on the face of the earth, I came to two realizations very quickly:

1. I am no where near as smart as I fancied myself. I was monkey compared to the people around me.

2. That the flavor of OSS development that was being used by WP no longer satisfied me. I wanted to explore the meritocracy model that was advocated by Apache. Around the same time I was coming to these realizations, I met with Scott Merrill, Owen Winkler and Rich at Ohio Linux Fest, and found that we shared some of the same goals and desires. Habari was born.

It is important to point out, again, that the decision to leave WP was not motivated by hatred for Matt, or because I wasn't hired by Automattic, or any of the other 50 reasons people have put forth. I wanted to do something different, and I wanted to create something new. Matt and I didn't always agree on things, but we worked together to make WP better. He as project leader and I as community advocate, IRC support, plugin developer and sometimes core code contributor.

How does OSS development relate to a designer's activities?

Now that is a hard question. Designing doesn't translate as well to an OSS model as easily as programming, but I think that there are definitely things there for designers to benefit from. The spirit of collaboration is probably the most important lesson to take away, and the hardest to come to terms with as an artist I would think.

For an artist, giving up some of our control, or rather allowing others to help shape our creative vision can be frustrating, and painful. But what you will find at the end of the day is that what you created in cooperation with others is usually far superior to what you could have accomplished on your own. I know it sounds absurd, but trust me it happens. I know from experience.

How did you know Matt Mullenweg? How has your experience been in working with him?

I met Matt in the #wordpress irc room. I used to hang out there every M - F from 8 - 5 est and help out new users as much as I could. We began to chat when we both had time, and eventually I started contributing code to the project via him. We always kept a friendly tone between us, as we do to this day.

Matt is an exceptionally focused, driven guy. The things that he has been able to accomplish in a very short time are truly amazing. He was patient and encouraging when I was committing code way back when. I haven't always agreed with his decisions, and I am worried about some of the altercations that have been happening in the WP community of late, but I have nothing but respect for Matt.

You're a webmaster at asbury.edu. As far as I'm concerned, a webmaster is someone responsible for many things at once, such as designing, developing, marketing, maintaining, etc., and therefore is supposed to have a lot of different skills, yet not advanced ones. What's your situation? What are your responsibilities at asbury.edu? What are the advantages and disadvantages of working as a webmaster?

One of the problems with the field of webmastering today is the fact that there isn't really a clear definition of what a webmaster really is. Some places you go to have someone listed as a webmaster, when all they really do is web design; some places you see an individual listed as a web designer, when they are actually doing overseeing, management and design. Things are still pretty fast and loose.

I have come to prefer the title Web Architect for jobs such as mine that encompass information architecture, design and development. I am lucky that I work with another programmer who is spectacularly talented, and a core group of people who make up our 'web team'; a group that is tasked with ensuring that the web presence of the college full fills the mandate of the college. These people searched for a person who had advanced skills in design, development and management, not just general levels of competency. Thankfully they didn't find someone before I turned up.

I am tasked with the visual aspects of the site, as well as some of the back end coding and content management. I am lucky to have a talented programmer as my partner in crime here, so we are able to share some of the responsibility of producing the code that will power the site. We have transitioned to a user driven content model, which means we have empowered our end users to make changes to the areas of our site that they are associated with. While the has actually gone extremely well, I still have to keep an eye on the content of the site so that information doesn't become outdated.

The advantage for me as the web architect of Asbury College, is that I am able to work in all the areas that interest me. I love to code, I love to design and I love to teach. Asbury has afforded me the chance to do all of these things. I have never been in a job that allowed so much freedom. The disadvantages are that I get to code, design and teach. There comes a time when you can spread yourself to thin, and your work starts to suffer? as do your nerves.

I am constantly walking the very thin line of doing just enough, and doing too much.

How did you become a proud member of 9rules community? How does it help you to develop as a web designer?

I knew Colin Devroe from ?round the nets and when I heard that he was on board for 9rules, I decided to give it a shot and submit my site. I didn't think I would get in, but my site had fairly high traffic, and I thought at the least it would help get the word out. I was very surprised when I made it in.

I wouldn't say that being a part of 9rules has helped me in my design or development, but it helped me meet new people in the field, and that is really the most important thing.

How and why did you get about writing for Blog Design Solutions?

Luck of Herculean proportions. My good friend and co-hort in K2 crime Michael Heilemann was slated to write the chapter on WordPress, and found he didn't have the time to finish. He offered me up as an inadequate by willing replacement, and that as they say was that.

You've worked with many people. What makes for a good web team?

First and foremost respect. If you can't respect each other, then there isn't anyway that you can function as a cohesive whole. Secondly you must have a willingness to share responsibilities, even if it is your favoritest thing in the whole wide world, and to allow other people to shine. You can't do it on your own, no matter how hard you try, trust me I have.

What do you think about the future of the Web?

Ooh, loaded question. I think that right now the web is in trouble. Between the 'Net Neutrality' movement, and the unconstitutional bits of the Patriot Act (for us Americans) we are seeing attacks against this medium that has the potential to change the way we see each other, and how we interact. I am worried but hopeful.

What advice would you give to beginning web designers?

Study Fine Art. Learn the rules of balance, color and space. These above all else will set you apart from your competition. Take a website, print it out in toto, place it on the wall and critique it as if it were a painting. Don't be afraid to look into other disciplines to find your inspiration.

From your experience, what makes it for successful website?

Passion, and energy. Passion for a subject and the energy to keep finding things to say about that subject. This is important if your site is a personal blog, or a corporate online presence. If you don't convey with passion what you are trying to sell (yourself, your product, an idea) then people aren't going to be sticking around very long.

People like to talk about SEO and hooks and all that rot, but what it comes down to is engaging the reader. If you can't engage them, and make them come back you have lost. Period.

Thank you, Chris!

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.


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