How did you get into web design?

I?ve always been into design. I ended up studying journalism at university because I couldn?t really draw. When I found myself making websites for fun on weekends I figured I should probably be doing this instead of working as a journalist. So I ended up doing a Masters degree in Internet Communication. I built this funny little website selling myself as part of my application. By the time I graduated I?d built a few cool sites and got an offer to freelance from a local firm. I ended up getting thrown a few clients they didn?t want to deal with and went from there.

Tell us what it took to found Digitalmash.

Not much really. At the moment at least, Digitalmash is really just a title that sounds better than 'Rob Morris Design' or whatever. But most of the time, I'm an army of one here.

To me, a web design business is just a bunch of promises which are backed up (or not) by a portfolio, so I guess the reason I do OK at this is because people like the work I do. That?s the hard part, not registering a business name and getting some cards printed up ?

What does web accessibility mean to you?

To me it means using the web to its full potential. By that I mean reaching the largest audience possible.

Do you think accessibility limits the artistic freedom of a web designer?

Sometimes definitely. But on the whole, most good web designers know that some level of accessibility is important, so it makes it even more of a work of art if you can make something that looks great and is accessible.

Is accessibility a priority for you in designing a web page?

It is, but most of the time it?s not up to me. My first priority is my client and making sure they get what they want. But I try to make sure they?re educated. Most of the time they know there?s a trade-off. I think this is one of the big balancing acts in web design.

Would you sacrifice ideal web design that properly conveys the brand for the sake of accessibility?

Usually you don't have to. There's always more than one way to convey a message. As I said, it?s a trade-off. You need to know your audience and be confident that you?ll be able to reach them.

It also depends very much on the nature of the site. If it?s for government or some organization that people really count on (a bank, for example), then you?re going to have accessibility as a much more important factor. Whereas if you?re a jeans company wanting to launch a new line, you're going to care more about the eyecandy-factor than anything else. The visually impaired don?t care about fashion do they!? ;) Always a trade-off.

Where do you draw the line for accessibility? When does a web accessible site become unusable and vice versa?

That's a really hard question. I think this line is moving all the time, so it?s hard to say definitively one way or another. A year or two ago, people would have said you really shouldn?t be designing for anything larger than 800×600 and that you should be catering for IE5 and up or whatever. This has since moved and now you?re seeing more and more 1024×768 designs floating round. Browser versions and internet connections are improving all the time. At the same time, I think an increasing number of older people are using the web, so it?s a constantly evolving thing.

It also depends on the site ? its purpose, audience, goals etc. But as a simple rule I?d say I draw the line when it?s likely you?re not going to reach the number of people you aimed to for the sake of appearance. Similarly, if your site is super accessible but no longer conveys the right messages about your brand, you?ve gone too far in the other direction. But every case is different depending on the site.

In your case, who has the authority in designing process ? you as a designer or a client that comes to you?

I think this varies from designer to designer, but because it?s usually just me working as a consultant, I'm able to develop a level of trust where the client will take my advice pretty seriously. In the end though, they?re paying for a service so it has to be their call. Some really cool clients will give me a lot of freedom (which usually results in the best work imo), while others sort of hold on too tight, which can throttle the life out of the project.

Name three things it takes for a successful project.

Using the power of alliteration I?d say: Flexibility, Faith and Fun.

Looking back at the time when you were a beginning web designer, what advice was or would have been rather helpful for you?

OK, here go my 5 key points:

1. Learn to sell yourself, you cyber-whore, you

2. Get the work you like to do ? life?s too short

3. Try to approach every new project like a potential portfolio piece no matter how mundane they appear

4. Under-promise, over-delivered

5. Keep learning

Who is your favourite web designer?

So many good designers. I?m digging the work of Ryan Simms and Jesse Bennett-Chamberlain at the moment.

What do you see as the next big development in web design industry?

Well I think the introduction of the iphone is going to increase the push toward catering for mobile devices in ways we haven?t even thought of yet. Having an online pseudo-computer anywhere and everywhere is going to create a whole new market for web apps.

What web design books/magazines/blogs are you reading?

To be honest, I?ve had little time in the last few months for such luxuries (which really sucks). Here are a few: