Kha, please tell us when and why you decided to become a web designer. Were you successful from the very start?

I have always been drawn to digital media, where art and technology coexist. I remember as a child, being given a Commodore 64 and trying to draw a circle with code. In design school, I was an early adopter of the web and using digital publishing tools, which led to freelancing in my senior years, and then working full-time for agencies.

Have you done any other forms of design? Why do you prefer web design?

I have done some print work, but I love web design because it's the perfect combination of form and function. Sometimes you are given a huge amount of content to work with, so you have to convey information to a user in steps that make sense, but also do it in a visually appealing way.

Did working for a design agency contribute to your professional growth as a designer? How?

In my case, working for agencies was a perfect match. I was able to learn about the business and marketing side of design, how to manage projects with limited resources, and collaborate with creatives from different disciplines. In other words, knowledge that was impossible to teach in a traditional classroom.

Who is responsible for the technical aspects of your projects?

I have enough coding skills to create front-end HTML, CSS and some jQuery. I work with back-end engineers to do the rest.

How do you find your clients? Or rather, how do they find you?

Speaking from an agency's point of view, I would say half of the clients come from word of mouth, and the other half were actively engaged by the marketing team. Also, it's very important to establish a lasting relationship with your client, it's about solving problems.

Your portfolio is a picture of cleanliness and minimalism. Is it your favorite style? Why?

Ultimately, I want to communicate clearly with maximum clarity and minimum waste. I want to express every detail with context and purpose. I'm drawn to minimalist design in many forms.

What colors do you usually find the most effective?

Depending on the project, colors are usually drawn from existing brand guidelines. Personally, my favorite colors are blue and green.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in other forms of art and design, such as architecture, photography, and fashion. I love looking at layouts in print and editorials. For research, I also spend time looking at design gallery websites.

What would you recommend to beginning designers?

The most important thing for beginners is to develop an awareness and appreciation of all forms of design. Look all around you, signage, posters, furniture, packaging, magazines, clothing, etc. Then start asking questions, what is it trying to communicate? how effective is it? and does it make sense?

Lillian Wells

Lillian Wells has worked on the web for a while but has only recently discovered the joys of blogging. She combines her teaching career with what gives her the most satisfaction - following web trends and taking interviews from outstanding professionals. Her inbox is always open for comments and suggestions. You can also follow her on Twitter.

Get in touch with Lillian: designinterviews@gmail.com