Spicy Web Designer Interview with Ilona Filipenkova of SoulDeepDesigns

Ilona Filipenkova is a web designer from London, England in the United Kingdom. She is originally from has been designing websites since 2000 when she was in high school but she only considers that she has been designing professionally for the past 3 years. She went to university at the London Metropolitan University for her Bachelors in Multimedia. Ilona currently runs a small freelance studio aptly named “SoulDeepDesigns”.

1. How long have you been designing websites?

Web design has been my full-time profession for almost 3 years. I’ve designed my first website at high school in my home town (2000) and at that time I didn’t even think It would become my full-time job one day. I simply enjoyed the interactivity of content, and without realizing it I used to spend long hours in Photoshop creating the website layout, playing around with colors and fonts.

2. Out of the web design, graphic design and flash development work that you do currently which to you enjoy the most?  Do you have a favorite?

Although I do not have an overall favorite, I do prefer one or the other at times. Recently, I spent a lot of hours in Photoshop and haven’t done much coding for a while. I wanted to concentrate on the visual side of creating websites and improve that area. However, when CodersCode website came along, I did not only all design, but coding work as well and enjoyed it a great deal. That was the time when I once again realized that I will always need a mixture of graphic design and coding work.

3. When it comes to flash development how do you deal with clients concerned about how Flash can affect their Search Engine Optimization?

I don’t bring the clients very good news when I tell them that flash websites are still invisible to the search engines. There are, of course ways of getting the website to the first place in search engines despite the fact they are all in flash (Hollywood movies’ websites are a good example) but I’m no master of these. Therefore I always recommend to my clients a good mixture of text content spiced up with flash parts.

4. Do you code the front-end of any of your web design projects?  If so, what is/are your language(s) of choice to use when coding the front-end of a web site?

I use transitional XHTML and CSS to code up the front-end and PHP and JavaScript to give it more interactivity and power. I love discovering new tools and technologies so I am always out there watching for some nice new tools to implement in my clients’ websites.

5. What are the biggest challenges that you face in web design currently?

The biggest challenges are of personal character rather than related to the general problems of web design industry. I find myself wanting to grasp understanding and practical knowledge of all possible disciplines which make me feel I never do or know enough. There are new technologies emerging every day and it is sad for me to realize that I can’t be a master of them all

6. How has your education in Multimedia from the London Metropolitan University helped you to become a better web designer?

The Multimedia degree from London Metropolitan University has helped me in many aspects. During the course I was introduced to probably all programs of Adobe Software package and also to other industry standard software tools. We had projects and assignments that needed to be completed using various multimedia software platforms that would create sound, video, code, 3D models and animation and then blend them all into one spectacular piece. I suppose this might be the reason why I find myself so comfortable with all aspects of web design and multimedia production. I think the first steps in any new field are the hardest and if you attend classes at a university and have someone to ask questions to, the journey is quite exciting.