In your numerous interviews you often mention that Jeffrey Zeldman is the one responsible for you getting involved into web standards ? Would you tell us the story behind it?
Actually, I discovered standards earlier, what Jeffrey got me involved with specifically is the Web Standards Project Jeffrey was stepping down from leading the Web Standards Project and wanted a few folks he felt had interest, influence and leadership potential. He invited several folks to join, myself included, and I eventually became group lead and served in that role until leaving WaSP myself last year.
You're the web standards advocate. Would you brief us on the advantages and disadvantages in designing by web standards?
Well, if you've been following my work this year, I've been taking a different stance and saying that there really is no such thing as web standards. What I mean by this is that we've evolved techniques and technologies, but interoperability is non-existent due in particular to Web browsers. The term “Web Standards” is a misnomer. Rather, we have specifications and recommendations from the W3C. When designers and developers use the term Web Standards, it is my opinion that they are referring not to actual standards but to a maturing awareness of best practices and conventions.
Web standards is a means or a goal?
Based on my current thinking on this, as indicated in the earlier question, I'd have to say it is a goal.
How do you promote web standards to your clients? If your client doesn't care about accessibility aspect of work, would that be an issue?
I don't promote anything to clients. Any work I personally do follows the best practices and conventions described above, unless there is a very specific issue or concern that has to be addressed and falls outside those practices, which is increasingly more rare. The mere idea that we have to “sell” specific methodologies is, to me, an indicator that we are not confident enough in our ability to create a great site that will work in the browser matrix of the client's audience.
Do you think web standards should become obligatory at some point instead of recommended ones for web designers and developers to adopt them faster?
First off, I don't think the problem is web designers and developers. Most people who enjoy their work, as most web folk do, care about quality and do their jobs to the best of their abilities and knowledge. The core problem is with getting all the browser companies becoming competitive only on top of well-implemented, timely specifications. But there are so many corporate agendas, patent and other intellectual property issues that these problems are not only persisting, but in my opinion fractioning the Web even further as products like Air and Silverlight come along.
Speaking about IE8, do you think it did or did not meet the web community expectations?
IE8 is still in beta, and I've done quite a bit of testing on it. It has greatly improved CSS support and some JavaScript fixes. The frightening thing about IE8 in the default standards mode is that it ruthlessly reveals crappy code! For example, if you have a table-based layout and have missed closing a table row, data, or table element, the layout will break considerably. Which I like, but is also the pain point for Microsoft as they move toward a more mature browser. We'll see how the beta goes, I expect some of these problems will be addressed, and of course there's an opt-out meta switch that will kick the browser back into the conventional IE mode.
Do you personally use IE8? Why/why not?
No. It's still a beta product for one. I use Firefox on Windows, and Camino on Mac. I also have a soft spot for the little known browser named Shiira, which I find cool. I adore many of Opera's features for all platforms, and use it for certain tasks, but really have never been fond of its interface. This, despite the fact that the greatest interface features in other browsers such as tabbed browsing originated with Opera. So I'm an Opera fan, if not a regular user. As for IE 7, I quite simply don't like the software, although I greatly appreciate the more mature CSS features that IE7 brought us.
Any current design trends you find intimidating? Why?
Intimidating? I'm a Jersey girl, you know. Tough to intimidate me. I, however, am bothered by “trends” anyway. Effective design is a far more complex and hopefully long-term process, especially for branding and consistency. Trends are just trends, and I think where we should see experimentation and trend-setting design is on blogs, or on sites specifically meant for design-related topics and design inspiration.
What is it you find most fascinating in your profession?
I get to travel the world and meet awesome, dedicated, passionate people.
What are your goals for 2008?
Professionally, to continue to travel and speak – particularly to a variety of other audiences than those specific to Web design, although I'll do a few of those as well. I'll also be working on educational materials and writing. Personally, I'd like to do spend more time at home with friends and family.
Where do you find inspiration?
People, places, things. Within nouns, you could say!
How does your design process flow? o you stimulate yourself with certain drinks/music/etc.? What kind?
Music definitely is a huge part of setting or enhancing my ability to focus on a given task or problem. But the aha! Moments always, always happen in the shower.
What web design magazines/sites/blogs do you check regularly?
Mostly social networking, friends, etc. I really prefer to be F2F with people, which is why I've made it a point to travel and get out and talk to folks.
What advice would you give to beginning web designers?
Embrace change, value life-long learning, allow your passions to show and if at any moment you are no longer having fun or gaining something personally important from doing this important work, step back for a bit and re-evaluate. Burnout in our industry is a significant problem, so work/life balance is recommended I imagine. I just never figured out what that really means ;)
Helen Walker
