Spicy Web Designer Interview with Mike Robinson

Mike Robinson is a web designer from Toronto, Ontario in Canada. He began designing websites using Microsoft Front Page and HTML for school projects in high school back in 1997. He didn’t begin to freelance until 2003 while at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario when he was studying Computer Science and later on he decided to study Web Development at Humber College. Because of his experiences in programming and design he feels this makes him a force to be reckoned with when it comes to the overall design of a website and the front-end coding needed to give it solid functionality.

1. How did you get started in web design?

In high school, I always did well in Computer Science courses and enjoyed graphic design as a hobby.  I tooled around with Microsoft Front Page and some rudimentary HTML and started making simple websites for school projects.  I got started in the industry during university with my first freelance gig.

2. When did you start designing websites?

If you count the tooling around in Front Page, that would’ve been around 1997.  My first professional freelance gig would’ve been in 2003.

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

This response is probably pretty common place but, I have to say developing for Internet Explorer.  Not only due to the difficulty in developing a cross-browser compatible interface, but more particularly because of its way of limiting the potential of a design and a richer user experience due to its shortcomings and its unfortunately large user base.

4. Do you code on any of your web design projects? And if so, do you consider yourself a “Front-End Coder”? Why or Why Not?

Since I come from a Computer Science background I’m more naturally a programmer than a designer.  I like to pride myself on being a rare case of a programmer with an eye for design.  I can and do develop for server side, but I’ve always enjoyed working with front end technologies most; creating XHTML and CSS based layouts, enhancing interfaces with some JavaScript and AJAX.  As of late those have been my particular responsibilities in my day job.

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

After high school I went to the University of Western Ontario for Computer Science, and then to Humber College for Web Development specifically.  Both schools were more particularly geared to programming, but there was an element of design in the Humber course.  Where Humber really helped was the co-op placement at the end of the program.  My co-op position turned into a paying job afterwards and I’ve been in the industry ever since.

6. I like the fact that you do the creative as well as the coding.  Which are you stronger at?

Considering my background I’m stronger in the coding, but I definitely thank my interest in the artistic side of things while I was growing up. I was always playing around with programs like Photoshop or 3D Studio.  Web design was the perfect way for me to merge the things I did well at in school with my personal hobbies.

7. Do you currently work full-time and do freelancing on the side?  Does freelance work allow you do learn outside your current position and why do you enjoy doing freelance web design (outside of the money of course)?

I’m currently working full time at a web and interactive agency in Toronto, and do the odd freelance gig on the side.  Freelancing is great for giving me the chance to work on and improve my skills in the business end of things in this industry that I don’t often get the opportunity to do at my day job.