Spicy Web Designer Interview with Jon Packman

Jon Packman is a web designer from London, England in the United Kingdom. He has been designing websites for the past 2 and a half years since he first started learning about web design originally back in university. Jon created his web design studio, Satellite7, 2 years ago to solve the problem of getting a decent website at a reasonable price and since then Jon has been doing just that, building great websites.

1. How many people currently work for Satellite7?

It’s just myself at the moment.

2. When was Satellite7 formed and what problem do you solve for your clients?

About two years ago. Most of my clients are small businesses or individuals, so I aim to solve the problem of getting a decent website for a reasonable price. Before moving to web design I worked in sales and editorial positions in print publishing, and this gives me a useful set of skills to draw upon. It allows me to offer a broad service, so if need be, my clients get a designer, developer, editor and copywriter all in one.

3. Jon, how did you get started in web design? When did you start designing websites?

I studied the Internet for a few months as part of a university course ten years ago. I suppose that’s when I first decided I liked web design, but I didn’t touch it again for years after that. Then around two and a half years ago I was asked to build a small site, realized I enjoyed it more than my current job as a freelance journalist, and six months later I decided to go for it full time. That was a scary move, but I’m glad I did it.

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

It can be a real challenge getting a client to see their site how I’m visualizing it at the beginning of a project, especially if they don’t know much about the web or a website’s potential. The pace of change is another – there’s always some new technique or technology popping up. You have to keep your eyes open, decide what applies to your work, and learn how to use it. But that’s also one of the reasons I like web design.

Then there’s the constant challenge of building better and better websites. There are some incredible web designers out there, you see their sites all the time, and you realize how far there is to go to match them.

I’m also not that well established yet, so while things are moving in the right direction and I’m happy how it’s all going, it’s still hard work finding clients.

5. Do you ever refer to yourself as a Front-end developer or a web designer? Do you code any of the web sites that you design currently? If so, what language(s) do you code in?

I design and code all my sites, so I guess I’m both. Usually I say I’m a web designer so people’s eyes don’t glaze over so much. Code-wise, I’m pretty good with css and html, and I’ve also been using PHP and jQuery a lot recently. About a year ago I discovered WordPress, and that opened up a world of new possibilities. Most of my recent sites use it for a cms or blog, or both. It’s bloody fantastic. Whenever I download it I feel like I’ve been given a DIY kit to build a spaceship.

6. Where did you go to school and has it helped you become a better web design professional?

Learning a bit of html ten years ago got me interested in web design, but everything I know now is self-taught from the internet and books. I don’t think you need to do a course – it might help in some ways, but a good portfolio is more important than a qualification. Some schools will teach a syllabus that was developed a year or two previously, and web design moves faster than that. I think the best place to learn is on the net.

7. Since you first started how has the web design industry changed? Has it changed for the better? If so, how? If not, please explain?

It’s always changing, and I think mostly for the better. The web is becoming part of everyday life, and there are more reasons to have a website, so that has got to be good for the industry. On the technical side, the web standards and accessibility movements are getting stronger, and open source is proving its worth. Things look pretty good for the future but I wish someone would throw IE6 over a cliff.