How did you get into web design?

I have a history of art and cartoon illustration from my younger days. In fact my mother was my Art teacher for most of my grade school years. But I got in to web design because I simply wanted to make money with a skill I hadn't yet developed, but saw the potential. I saw the opportunity and challenge as well as the internet take off in the late 1990's and wanted to start my own thing, if you will.

Do you remember the very first site you designed?

Yes, the first site I did was my first grantmx site - which I never finished - and simultaneously a Christian campus ministry, gocm.org , that I was involved in. As a matter of fact, they contracted me to redesign their site, not from my first design, just recently.

What other projects are you involved in?

In addition to my web design business, I work a 9-5 for an internet multimedia company called Multicast Media Networks, doing the same thing.

Where do you get your art for these webpages?

Most stuff now a days from istockphoto. The rest from hand or my personal photos.

What will be the next big development in webpage design?

Probably CSS frameworks and the enhancement of the video stream quality and interaction.

What do you think about Flash technology?

Unlike most of my CSS/XHTML colleges, I think Flash is great, if used sparingly, cleanly and with accessibility standards in mind.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using Flash?

Advantage: Flash video by far, and the ease if use in my opinion. Flash is just icing on the cake. I don't believe if you are developing a commercial site you should make it the cake; Just the icing. Disadvantage: Making it accessible is kind of tedious - you have to do quiet a bit of Actionscript; SEO issues - if developing a whole site in Flash, and load time if not don't correctly. That's why I believe it should be used sparingly.

What are your sources of inspiration?

I try to take some of my personality and apply it to my designs. I also like some of the top CSS design guys and gals out there. Veerly, Cameron Moll, Dan Cederholm, and Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain to name a few.

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

I had a lady that wanted me to do EVERYTHING for her, even write the content without knowing what she wanted. I am not a writer and hate writing content. She then flaked out on me - and dropped the project, but I kept the down payment for the work I did up to that point.

What are your interests and dislikes in webpage design?

I take web design as a giant challenge. Each of my projects I try a new bit of technology or design concept I have never tried before: Ajax, a new CSS technique, PHP. I do this to challenge myself to become a better designer and make my skill set well rounded.

Thank you, Marshall, DI wishes you continued success and challenges.

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