Dean Oakley from the Gold Coast doesn’t take designing website for granted

Dean Oakley found web design a refreshing change after finishing his information Technology degree at Griffith University back in 2004. He took his time building his confidence and his portfolio of web design work. Dean has been designing websites for the last 4 years professionally relying on a combination of HTML/CSS, PHP and JavaScript. Lately, he has been doing more and more design work and getting away from the hardcore programming of his college days. From his personal headquarters in Brisbane on the Gold Coast in Australia he has his sights set on developing his passion for the web into a full-time business and here is what he has to say about his journey in becoming a web designer.

1. How did you get into web design considering your concentration in university was in Information Technology?

We did a few web projects at the end of my course but actually studied very little Web related subjects. I just started by making sites for friends and family.  People seemed to like them and design was a nice change after years of programming. I moved to London to get more experience. I started working for a little web design / coffee shop that was running out of a disused petrol station in Shepards bush. It was really nice when you got sick of coding and making coffee you could watch the homeless alcoholics have street fights outside.

2. When did you think to yourself “Hey, I can be a web designer?”

I think it was once I had a portfolio. It takes a while to build up enough work to feel confident and it’s tricky to get job with no proof of your experience. Also there was so many bad sites around when I started it wasn’t too hard to know I could do better.

3. How did your education from Griffith University help you to become a better web designer and developer?

I did some pretty fun subjects at Griffith. But I think the software engineering subjects, although they put me off programming a little, stopped from being such a dirty hacker. If I could only get the years I wasted on Macromedia director back.

4. What are your favorite tools to use when designer websites?

All I really use to build sites are Dreamweaver, Firefox and Photoshop. I love WordPress as a basic CMS at the moment.

5. How long have you been designing professionally and what advice would you give to someone just starting out as a web designer?

About 4 years. I guess don’t take your work for granted. Try to do things well and get paid for ALL the hours you work. It’s easy to do things for free when you are excited about web design but that is when you do your best work.

6. You also say that you are a web developer.  What languages do you script and code in and do you consider yourself a stronger designer or coder?

Well I have been doing more and more design. But I’m pretty good with PHP, JavaScript and of course HTML and CSS.

7. What are your plans in the next five years with respect to your career in web design and development?

I would like to create my own profitable web based business.