Spicy Web Designer Interview with Simona Buzatu

Simona Buzatu is a web designer from Bucharest in Romania. She built her first website back in 2005 and since then she seems to put a little of her illustration into most web design project she works on. Simona studied at the Fine Arts University called “Nicolae Grigorescu” in the Department of Graphic Design. She has 7 years of professional design experience focused in graphic and web design.

1. How did you get started in web design?

That is a long story.

Ever since I was a child I have been attracted by the artistic nature of things and this is what sent me to art school and college. I started working on the computer in 2000 when I had a new computer as a gift from my father. I was fascinated with what I could do and with the function “undo” which I still like. Curiosity led me in many directions. I learnt print, 3d, animation, special effects and I worked in television as Art Director and Creative Director. The web design is a recent discovery, and I started doing this out of need, trying to put together my portfolio, once I chose to become a freelancer. Since then I realized that web designing was all I was looking for actually.

2. When did you start designing websites?

I started my first website in 2005. It was a personal minimal and artistic portfolio done in Flash.

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

I believe that the greatest challenge is the ongoing research in this fascinating field, learning new techniques and keeping up with what happens. It is a serious battle for the first rows where the best are.

4. 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 refer to myself as both because I like to create a project head to tail. I do code all the websites I design using XHTML 1.0 Transitional and CSS 2.1. written by hand, sometimes I use JavaScript and jQuery. In the future I want to focus on virtual stores and Content Management System.

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

I attended the secondary school and high school “Nicolae Tonitza” in Bucharest.

Then followed The Fine Arts University “Nicolae Grigorescu” in Bucharest, Department of Graphic Design.

Surely the 15 years of study were a great help. Studies matter a lot but they are just the first brick in the making of a web designer or a graphic designer.

When I create something I want to do my best and for this reason I don’t think that the learning process ever stops.

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

There has been evident progress, all the work has become more complex and flexible.CSS and the design standards, such as W3C changed the way the web is made. The growing demand for web designing is clear proof of change for the better. Especially in my country where things are radically different. Even now when we are faced with the global economic crisis, online media are extremely cost efficient, compared to print or TV advertising. How did it change? I believe that people changed, and they made progress possible. The web market is dynamic and we go with it.

7. What are your favorite tools to use when designing a web project? Why are they your favorite tools?

Certainly my favorite tool remains the pencil or the graphic pad because they help me put my ideas into practice faster.

In creating the layouts I use Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator, and I write the code CSS/XHTML in Notepad and Adobe Dreamweaver.

Occasionally I use Flash for banner animation, photo galleries or “eye candy” elements.

8. How has your passion for graphic design and illustration helped you in web design projects?

I like very much to integrate original elements in my web projects, whether they are illustrations made by hand or on the computer, 3d elements, photography collages or matte painting. My passion for graphic design helps me a lot because I do everything for pleasure and not as a constraint. Not many people can say that they love their job. For me design in general is a pleasure, a joy, an obsession, I enjoy doing what I do whether it is web design, compositing, 3d, video or print.