How did you get into web design?

I fell into Web design entirely by accident. As a nerd in middle school and high school I loved computers, video games, and the Web. At that time I was more interested in programming games than designing Web sites, but I dabbled. That was around 1999-2000 ? in retrospect, everything I created back then was laughably bad. I got into web standards around 2002 through a web forum ? the now defunct DHTML Central. There were a ton of really smart folks who posted regularly I learned quite a bit and got some helpful doses of humility by following some very talented people. I didn't get into design full-swing until college. I was always more interested in the technical side of things, but in college I hung out with some really creative people ? maybe a bit rubbed off. I started doing freelance work and seeking out design internships, and everything?s worked out pretty well so far.

Do you remember the very first site you designed? Was it already an interactive design?

I don?t recall my first site offhand. I'm sure it was a complete disaster.

How is interactive web design different from other types of design?

Many of the objectives of interactive design are common across other disciplines solving problems, communicating effectively, etc. Interactive designers focus on the entire experience beyond visuals and graphic design. Great interactive designers (myself certainly not included) produce work that's not just concerned with aesthetics, but functionality, accessibility and usability as well.

Are there any design tricks or unique knowledge one should possess in order to become a successful interactive web designer?

Not really. I think it's more important to find an understanding of the medium in your own way. Other than that, itis important to be self-critical and to value and seek-out the opinions of others.

What are some general factors one should consider in interactive design?

I think audience is the most important factor in any design work.

Do you agree with Jacob Nielsen that dependence on Flash, animation and graphics is unnecessary to web design and one should keep it simple? Why/why not?

Again, it's all about what's appropriate to the audience. It would be silly to avoid using Flash and fancy graphics if that's what brings the experience you want to your audience best.

What is your favorite design technology? Why?

Photoshop. It's my crutch.

What inspires you the most?

I get a lot out of design ideas from art. I'm a big Rothko fan.

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

I really admire Khoi Vinh's Subtraction. He puts a lot of thought and logic into his work that reflects a deep understanding of fundamental design aesthetics.

You are specializing in web standards and accessibility. How is designing a web accessible web page different from designing a usual one? Do you design web accessible pages for all of your clients or only for those who ask for it?

Writing good, semantic markup is a good first step. Beyond that, I test in text-only browsers, check contrast ratios, ensure text scales properly, use clear and simple site navigation, and ensure everything works with scripting disabled. I take some basic approaches that ensure a good degree of accessibility in all of my work, but I?ll go deeper for clients that specifically mention accessibility as a concern.

You are the first Newsvine user to be hired. What preceded that?

I'm a junior and was looking for an internship for the summer. I emailed Mike Davidson, Newsvine's designer and CEO, and we set the internship up. Working at Newsvine has been a fantastic and humbling experience. I'm working with some of the nicest and most talented people on the Web.

What are your responsibilities at Newsvine now?

I?m working on several projects at Newsvine ? both design work and programming. One of the coolest things I've worked on is an election application for Facebook. The idea came up on the Friday after Facebook opened their API to developers. After a quick AIM conversation with Mike, I designed and built it over the weekend, launched it on Monday, and now we?ve got over 100,000 Facebookers using it.

Do you think design determines success? For instance, MySpace design is poor - yet the project itself is extremely successful.

It really depends on the project. For a company like Apple absolutely. But ideas like MySpace can catch on even if good design isn't there.

In your opinion or by your observation, what will be the next big development in webpage design after Web 2.0.?

I don?t think "Web 2.0" is that much of an innovation ? especially in a design sense. While the term is pretty nebulous, a lot of designers and on-lookers have gone crazy over rounded corners and pastel gradients chasing the 'Web 2.0' fad. Hopefully the next big design fad is bringing a notion of context and appropriateness to one?s work, but I doubt such a level-headed approach will catch on.

Is there a way to quickly popularize you project? If yes, what are the steps?

There's only one step - find a project you're really passionate about. If you love what you do it shows in the work, and good work sells itself.

Thank you, Rob, for sharing your experience with us.

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