Spicy Web Designers Interview with Tony Grgurevic

Tony Grgurevic is a web designer from Geelong just outside of Victoria, Australia. He is inspired by other web designers that push the boundaries of what is possible on the web using his passion in everything design from architecture to animation. He is a pretty modest web designer but his work is definitely worth a look. Most of what he has learned in his skills to become a great web designer have been learned from “on the job” experience even though he attended the Victorian University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia which gave him the tools to succeed.

1. I find that every web designer that I meet has their own style and influences, can you tell us what are your styles and what influences you when you are designing a website?

I think I don’t have a style of my own… It’s hard to when I am not creating art but trying to communicate on behalf of a client. I am influenced by many web-designers out there – way too many to mention.

2. Do you find that you have a lot of competition designing websites for clients?

No not really, most of my business finds me so the competition is not really there…

3. How did you first start in your career as a web designer? Did another artist, designer or creative person influence you in any way to start?

I got into web-design after completing graphic design diploma and found interactive media more attractive, exciting and evolving fast… my brief experience with print based graphic design involved industry people who believed they were curing cancer…found out quickly this was not for me! (hope I have not offended anybody)

I have not had any one influence made take this rocky road. But started out of high school a creative type person, interested in many different forms of art & design, architecture, sculpture, animation, information and design in general.

4. How do you price your web design projects? Do you have a standard way of pricing or is every client unique requiring a different amount of analysis before quoting a customer?

Understanding the type of person you are dealing with is key… if your customer is fastidious and detail driven then your quote needs to be accurate, but if their requests are general your quote can be too… but remembering to keep them informed when budgets or quotes need to be altered. I usually just ‘guess-timate’ how long a job might take me and multiply by an hourly rate I am happy to work to… or ask the customer the project budget (if they “um & ah” I start throwing figures at them until they give me an indication) and then telling what they get for that is sometimes much easier!

5. Have you ever worked with other talented web designers on a project? If so, care to name any?

I have only worked with a few other web-designers…but not in any major capacity.

6. Is see that you’ve done design work for agencies on the Cowan Design Website project you have in your portfolio. Do you normally use agencies to get the big projects?

I have worked for design employment agencies and found them to be more trouble than they are worth. I have had the most success finding work the old fashioned way – replying to job ads and sending out portfolio links!

7. What approach do you use to create a “user-centric” website design?

Define what the intended user would be looking for or what service the website is spruiking … then ensure the user has the least amount of obstacles to get the required information or service and move on… Avoid self-indulgence… which is easier said than done when other parties are involved.

8. Do you accept work from international clients or do you try to stay local to the businesses you help with web design?

I have done some work for an overseas client once but had trouble getting paid so I would probably not rush out to do it again.

9. Where did you go to University / College? Has it helped you become a better web designer?

I went to Victorian University of technology in Melbourne’s lovely western suburbs, enjoyed it and it showed me the tools of the trade but most of my interactive media skills have been picked up on the job!