Spicy Web Designer Interview with Derek Balmer

Derek Balmer is a web designer and creative director from Denver Colorado in the United States. He designed his first website as a school project and learned more from there including the markup and styles associated to a web design project. He studied Graphic Design at the University of Northern Colorado and then transferred to Platt College for Web Design which gave him a great base and background.

1. How did you get started in web design?

I guess it all started when I was in school. I was studying graphic design at the time and took on a few introductory web courses. This was back when Flash was really starting to get popular and HTML sites consisted of  slapping chunky image slices together with a sea of nested tables. At the time I was really intrigued with Flash and had aspired to be a “tween ninja”. It makes me laugh a bit now when I think of myself back in those days. It’s kind of like looking at yourself in a Junior High yearbook, and feeling embarrassed by the silly fads you were caught up in.

2. When did you start designing websites?

My first site was a school project. I had just started a motocross clothing company with a few racing buddies called Relentless and I made a crude HTML site showcasing a few of our shirts. I designed it in Photoshop, exported a ton of clunky images and slapped them together in the aforementioned sea of nested tables. It was absolutely horrible, but at the time I was really proud of it.

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

I guess my biggest challenges with web design these days is not so much finding clever techniques to achieve browser compatibility or anything like that, but more so establishing clear objectives with clients and finding the best solution for their needs. Websites are able to do so much more these days in regards to functionality and device compatibility. There are a lot more things to consider with every new project and my biggest challenge is reigning in the features to meet budgetary constraints.

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?

Yes, I write all the markup and styles and if the project calls for a CMS I will do that as well. I try and use ExpressionEngine for CMS whenever possible. I do collaborate with friends on certain projects and in those situations will just do the visual design, or front-end, or CMS, etc.

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

I studied Graphic Design at the University of Northern Colorado and then transferred to Platt College for web design. Both schools helped me in basic design education and introduced me to the basics of Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. I feel I received a great foundation for graphic design, but when it comes to web design I attribute everything to reading books, blogs and online magazines like A List Apart.

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?

When I first started websites were a bit of an oddity and no one seemed to really put much tangible value into them. Today individuals and organizations alike consider websites as a viable channel to interact with their audience. I think the web has become the dominant global media channel and it places much more responsibility on a web designer. To be a competent web designer today, you not only have to have a solid understanding of visual design and web standards, but also a decent knowledge of programming, information architecture, social media and web-accessible handsets and devices. I definitely feel things have changed for the better, but there are so many new considerations it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times.

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

I could not live without Illustrator, TextMate, CSSEdit and Transmit. They are the bees knees and that is why I love them.

8. How have your experiences as a Creative Director helped you in the area of web design?

Being able to juggle a million things and keep focused on the finish line is a big part of any Creative Director’s duties. I feel the experience I received serving as a Creative Director has been invaluable in all of my day to day functions running my own studio.