Hi, Adelle! How are you and what have you been up to recently?

Hi! I'm doing well! My days (and nights!) have been pretty crazy and packed full of interesting things having to do with Fuel Brand Group. I'm very excited for all of these projects to be completed and introduced to the world.

How did you get into web design?

I have no formal training in web design, actually. I started out in print design, but I got really interested in web design about 3 years ago. I'm not a coder, but I'm broadening my knowledge of it and love putting what I've learned into action.

You received BFA in graphic design. Do you consider formal design education necessary for someone planning to be a web designer?

No, I don't think it's necessary. I think nowadays most of what you need to get into web design is on the internet and there are a lot of people in the design community that are willing to share their knowledge of the subject. It's a good thing to have it comes to being on the job market, though.

How did you come up with the idea of Fuel Your Creativity?

It started because my bookmark folders were getting way too full and I was having a hard time keeping everything organized. I wanted to have a central location where I could go and have everything at my fingertips. I also love having the chance to trade ideas with other designers so I thought this would be a great way to do that and spread the information around the community.

Why is Fuel Your Creativity unique?

I have a featured interview that gets posted occasionally written by Michelle Krasniak of inherwritemind.com. It's in a different, more feature-type style than these question-answer interviews and we've gotten a great response from them. My viewers enjoy the in-depth look into the lives of their fellow designers.

What do you have in store for the project? Any specific goals?

I've added to the FYC team and I'm opening it up to feature more guest authors and in the next month or so I'm going to be adding some new features (sorry...no peeking!) but I can say that one goal we have is to include other creatives such as writers more in the site and content.

To you web design is more of an art, science or technique? Why?

I think web design is more of an art but the coding behind the scenes is definitely more of a science. Web design is an art for me because a lot of my designs take longer than normal because I will work and rework it until it "feels right."

I know that Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are your hearted tools. In your interview back in October you said you couldn't wail for the Photoshop CS4 to come put. Well, now that it's out there and is supposedly at your disposal already, what could you say about it? Has it met your expectations? What are the advantages and disadvantages.

You're right! I couldn't wait for it and now I can't wait to afford it :)

Tell us how your design process flows.

I usually start out with sketches and I'll create a wireframe of the structure. Then I go right into Photoshop/Illustrator and I just start playing around with the concept and if I get stuck then I move onto another task and then come back to the original one.

What could make you walk away from a web design project?

A difficult client or a nice Merlot. :)

What projects are you working on now and could tell us about?

Fuel Brand Group and the Fuel Brand Network of sites is a huge project that I am lucky to be a part of. These ideas have been in development for months and we are getting very close to launching them. We don't have a specific launch date yet but everything is right on schedule so keep an eye out for these exciting, unique additions to the Fuel family. You can check out a sneak peak of what's to come from the partners of FUEL at Fuel Brand Network. Another great opportunity I'm involved in is Fresh ID. This company focuses on brand identity and helping companies achieve that.

If you had one thing to change in web design industry, what would it be and why?

I am sometimes uncomfortable with the level of imitation that can happen in this industry. It sometimes seems as if you should guard you ideas more closely that you may want to for fear of them showing up one someone else site. It's great to get feedback from your peers but I think you sometimes have to be careful with whom you associate.

What is it you most like and dislike about being a web designer?

I love the freedom to be as creative as possible and how I can change things as much as I want, meaning I can tweak as often as I need to. I dislike clients who don't have a clear picture of what they want so they make it up as they go along and constantly change things. This makes a lot more work for all of the people involved.

What web-related books/blogs/articles would you suggest reading in order to broaden one's knowledge?

I suggest picking up .NET magazine or checking out one of Envato's tutorial sites, PSDtuts, NETtuts, VectorTuts. I also recommend CSSTricks.

What advice would you give to beginning web designers?

Try different creative activities that you haven't tried before such as photography or painting. You never know what you will be good at and you may pick up some really unique design ideas and methods you've never thought of before that you can apply to your work.

Helen Walker

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