SpicyWebDesigners.com by Luc Arnold

Editha Fuentes is a graphic and web designer who is originally from Chile now living in California in the United States.  Her first experience with the web and web design came in 2003 when she decided to do an internship at a graphic design studio and her curiosity grew from there.

Editha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia in Chile in 2004 from the University of Arts and Communications (UNIACC).  When she starts in on any design project Editha turns to pencil and paper to generate her ideas for a project.  She had the following to say when I asked her about her experiences in design and how she tackles projects.

Luc asks: How did you get started in web design?  How long have you been designing websites professionally?

Editha says: This is actually an interesting question. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t very interested in web design until I moved to the States. In Chile, while I was in college, I was more into print design and animation. Off course I had to create web sites for several courses but that was pretty much it. I had my first real experience in web design when I came to California for the first time in 2003 to do an internship at a graphic design studio in Costa Mesa. I was exposed to the web design boom in the U.S as web presence started becoming important for businesses; in Chile, there wasn’t a need for websites yet. When I came back in 2006, after receiving my degree, and already knowing the importance of web design and corporate identity, I started looking into the possibility of using my talent as a graphic designer in building effective websites for small businesses. That’s how it all got started. At first, I wanted to build all my websites in Flash, but soon my curiosity took me to find other options to offer my clients. For example, I got to an advanced level in XHTML and CSS.

Luc asks:  I see that you received your education in Graphic Design and Multimedia and I wanted to ask do you think that your education has helped you become a better web designer?  Please explain

Editha says: Yes, I received my degree in Graphic Design and Multimedia in Chile in 2004. Although there are some designers out there that are amazing and have never been to college, in my case, college was of invaluable help. College gave me the foundations for everything that I do today. For example, I had to take classes that perhaps didn’t have anything to do with graphic design let alone web design, but, ultimately, these classes had the purpose of opening my mind and making me think outside the box. They taught me how to use art to express different concepts or to communicate specific things. Also, being in a University inclined towards communications, I was required to take courses that had to do with installation art, photography, creating and editing TV commercials, etc. I use all the knowledge acquired at college, most likely unconsciously, in every project that I work on. Nonetheless, I regret the fact that I was not exposed to the business side of the graphic design industry. I truly think that designers should be prepared in college to manage a business, considering that it is a career where you can easily start doing projects on your own. Lastly, our career, specifically when it comes to web design, is continuously evolving as new trends take over and new technologies become available. It is crucial that we keep on learning on our own, either by taking courses or by teaching ourselves by reading articles or books, etc. Otherwise, you become a dinosaur.

Luc asks:  What tools and inspiration do you use when you first start designing a website project?

Editha says: Although it may sound simple, all my projects start with two basic tools: pencil and paper. This is crucial because it allows me to get involved hands-on and focus on the concept rather than spending hours on the computer without a specific direction. Once I’m done with this part and I have a clear idea of what I want to create, I either use Photoshop or Illustrator, depending on the project. To hand-code a website, I use Dreamweaver. Oh, and most definitely, I use a Mac. In regards to inspiration, I believe you’re always getting it from everything around you. But, my biggest inspiration is the web. I have hundreds of websites that I visit on a daily basis, many of them by very talented designers known worldwide. There are also many CSS showcase galleries out there where I keep up-to-date with the latest trends. Besides these, music is also a great source of inspiration.  I can’t create if I don’t have music playing.

Luc asks:  What is the hardest website project you’ve ever been involved in and why was it difficult?

Editha says: One of the biggest challenges I had on a project was the lack of communication with a client. This one client was extremely busy and did not have enough time to get fully involved with the development of his website. He did not respond to e-mails on time and did not return phone calls, sometimes even for weeks. Ultimately, the completion of the project was drastically delayed and it became very frustrating for me. I usually make an extra effort in establishing good communication with clients, especially due to the fact that English is not my first language and I have put a lot of effort in improving it quickly enough to the point where I can communicate fluently (and professionally) with them. Thus, this lack of communication was the hardest thing I had to deal with.

Luc asks:  What advice do you give clients looking for help with search engine optimization or is that something you don’t get involved with?

Editha says: I get involved in the way that I advise my clients regarding the best options out there. I try to do everything that is humanly possible when hand-coding in order to accomplish search engine optimization, but I inform the client about companies that specialize in this type of service. It is also important to talk to the client about creating good content for the website. Identifying target markets or defining goals that they want to accomplish with their site, for example, will help in the wording and in using keywords within the content. Hiring a copywriter might help.

Luc asks:  What are some things you want people to know about you as a creative professional?

Editha says: I take pride in delivering great customer service and in always developing strong relationship with my clients. I take the time to do research before starting a new project in order to get to know the business and its competitors with the objective of understanding what the client wants to communicate. I also work hard until the client is satisfied with the end result. I never over look details and I feel extremely passionate for what I do. It’s interesting that I always get the same question when people find out that I’m a graphic designer: “Oh, so you build websites?” – umm, yes, but that’s not the only thing I do. I would like to take this opportunity to say that clients will find, at Unuidesign, effective design solutions in any type of design project they might need: logos, business cards, brochures, menus, animations, etc., and of course, websites!

Ronnie San is a web designer from San Diego, California in the United States. He has worked with both smaller organizations up to fortune 500 companies. Ronnie has been practicing web design ever since about 1996 and by 2000 he was designing websites professionally. He was lucky enough to be selected into the inaugural year of the AIGA Link program and spent the next few years studying with the top names in graphic design industry.

1. How did you get started in web design?

My first exposure to the Web came in the mid 90s during the AOL era.  I had a 14.4kb modem and it usually took several minutes to download a “graphic intensive” website.  In 1996, my older brother bought a new computer with an HTML text editor pre-installed.  I wasn’t sure what HTML was so I ran through the included tutorial.  After a few minutes I had created my first “Hello, World” website.  I took advantage of the 2MB of free hosting space that came with AOL and posted my first website which consisted of a guestbook and about us page.  There wasn’t much design involved aside from a couple graphic headers and a tiled background image.

2. When did you start designing websites?

I started designing websites professionally in 2000 when I was hired on as web designer for Desgined Internet (www.designedinternet.com) in Chula Vista, CA.  Back then it was named DDS Technologies (Digital Design Solutions).  We were located in an office building filled with dentists and every now and then a random person would walk in asking to make a dental appointment.  I was able to acquire the job after showing off a small portfolio of some personal sites I created.  Most of our clients were SMBs or local governments.

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

I would say the biggest challenge by far is educating the client.  Many clients don’t understand the importance of a good website or the cost involved in creating one.  Aside from that, it’s always a challenge coming up with new ideas and concepts, but a challenge that drives innovation and progress both personally and throughout the design community.

4. Do you code any of the web sites that you design currently? If so, what language(s) do you code in?

I currently work at BusinessOnLine (www.businessol.com) in San Diego, CA.  I actually started there as a coder, but when the designer parted ways, I stepped in to fill the position.  Initially, I would code about 1 of every 4 sites I designed, but as the company grew, my focus narrowed to only design.  Whenever the work load lightens up, I help out the coding department and take on some of the more complex jobs involving database integration or custom scripting.  Away from work I code everything I design.  I think my knowledge of coding has helped me a great deal when designing websites because I understand the limitations and the possibilities.

While I was at Designed Internet, I was exposed to ASP 2.0 and what could be achieved using an Access Database.  I did some research and within a couple weeks had coded my first database-driven custom content management system for my church’s website.  When ASP.Net was introduced, it proved to be a challenge.  This is when I made the switch to PHP.  I prefer doing all my server-side code in a PHP with a MySQL database.  On the front end I use JavaScript with JQuery (www.jquery.com) and—on occasion—Mootools (www.mootools.net).  I also use Flash with ActionScript 2 or 3 every now and then, but never for a full website build.  My jquery file upload plugin, Uploadify (www.uploadify.com) is actually built using Actionscript 3.

5. I wanted to ask if and where you studied at college or university, what you studied and ask how has your education helped you become a better web design professional?  What other skills has it helped you to gain and what else has it taught you about design in general?

I attended a high school with a really good art program.  I honestly learned most of my skills from the 4-year program at that school.  The summer after high school, I was lucky enough to be selected to participate in the inaugural year of the AIGA Link program.  This program allowed me to take classes with some of the top names in the graphic design industry.  I had planned on attending an art school, but the funds were not there.  So I ended up taking two years of general education classes and a handful of design classes at a couple of local community colleges.  During those two years, I ended up getting my job at Designed Internet and never got around to finishing my degree.

In my experience, working in the field has been more helpful than what I was taught in school.  Every project is a learning experience and I’ve been improving my skills from day one.  The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that there is always more to learn.  You have to evolve with the industry if you want to get anywhere.  When you’re not working, spend time reading articles or visiting design galleries.  Another big lesson I’ve learned is that as a designer, you need to have confidence in your work.  Clients are hiring you because you’re the professional, so if you need to push back, do it.  Ultimately your client will have final say, but it never hurts to try.

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

I live and die by Photoshop.  I started using Photoshop before there were layers.  It has so many features that there’s always something new to learn about it.  Some of the other tools I like to use that help make simple tasks more efficient include SnagIt (www.techsmith.com/screen-capture.asp) for screen capturing and AdesClrPicker (www.adesclrpicker.com) for sampling screen colors.

7. Even though you design for both smaller clients and the likes of Fortune 500 organizations what rules do you live by when designing for any client no matter how big or how small?

A philosophy I recently started to follow is this: “Design it how I want it, then let the client dial it back down.”  A lot of clients don’t know the possibilities when it comes to website design.  The majority of the time, clients might think they know what they want, but they really have no idea.  Either the client will love it, or they’ll ask you to take another shot.  Either way, you’ll end up with an approved design.

8. Since I can see that you code and design your own work I wanted to ask do you prefer coding more for the web or designing for the web?  Please explain.

I’m completely middle-brained.  I love the creativity I get to express when designing and I love the logical challenges I can solve through coding.  I don’t think I could do just one or the other.  When I feel my creative juices running low, I can switch over to DreamWeaver and get my coding fix until my brain gets overloaded with code.

Joshua Mauldin is a web designer and photographer from Los Angeles, California in the United States. He first started designing for the web back in 2000 and started professionally in 2002. Joshua studied at the University of North Carolina Charlotte where he got his Bachelor of Arts degree. He uses his skills in photography to help him build better websites and this gives his work a very unique and different style.

1. How did you get started in web design?

I didn’t really think I’d ever find myself here. My first design goals were to design CD packages for bands, and that work proved really hard to find for such a new kid like myself. Instead, I kept finding more and more people needing websites. I saw there was a lot of potential on the web, so I went with it and started growing as a web designer.

2. When did you start designing websites?

The very first website I designed was back in 2000. It was a personal site where my logo was designed with WordArt! I still cringe when I think of it. My first real paid site was done back in 2002 and was an entirely Flash-based site.

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

I’ll go ahead and get this one of the way: cross-browser testing and making sure my sites behave well with a certain bratty browser. Thankfully there are some good solutions like Eric Meyer’s CSS Reset and other practices I’ve picked up along the way that have really helped.

The other is getting clients to see the value in doing it right versus doing it cheaply, and to help them see a good web presence as an investment. Sure someone’s buddy’s uncle’s kid’s niece’s cousin can do it for “way” less than my price, but bargain basement prices and a solid site that works for the client aren’t two things that often equate.

4. Where did you go to school and has it helped you become a better web designer/front-end developer?

I went to school at the University of North Carolina Charlotte and got a Bachelor of Arts degree. It did help me become a better web designer, but not in the sense you’d probably expect. My classes—except for one—didn’t even mention anything about the web. What did help me get better was the time I took outside of class working on freelance projects and exploring web design on my own.

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

Definitely for the better. We’re seeing lots of cool things being done with the information we’re sharing. It’s becoming more open, so it’s easier to share, repurpose, visualize and tweet. It’s opening up worlds of new possibilities.

We’ve also finally started to see the implementation and awareness of web standards on a more widespread level. More and more people are beginning to consider things like accessibility and how their sites are indexed by search engines, which is great.

I’m also really happy to see things like little bits of JavaScript doing cool things that we once thought only Flash could handle. Now if I want a fun little audio player or slick way of navigating a site, I can just use a little jQuery and be done with it.

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

favorite tools?

Fireworks, Photoshop, TextMate and CSSEdit are some of my favorites. Fireworks makes designing for the web so much easier.  Photoshop has a place here too, because there are just something it can do better with images than Fireworks. I love to hand code as much as I can, so I use TextMate and CSSEdit. Both can ensure my code is well-formed and valid, which is a really big thing for me. Plus, I find writing code a little relaxing.

7. How have your interests in photography helped you in your web design career?

I keep finding more and more ways that it’s helped me, actually. That’s how I first learned about the use of grids in a design. Some other benefits are that I’m able to offer something more unique to my clients by using photos I shoot. As a result, it also helps me connect more with the work I produce.

Justin Meyers is a web designer and art director from Southern California in the United States. He started designing websites back in 2000 when he was playing in indie bands. From there he went to Mt. Sierra College in Pasadena where he focused on print design and branding. Later on he was hired by an interactive agency in Los Angeles where he learned CSS, basic SEO and web standards.

1. How did you get started in web design?

I got into web design and design in general through playing in indie bands. For press purposes, there wasn’t a chance we would get signed if we didn’t have some type of presence, so we individually buckled down and begin to learn web design, screen printing, vinyl cutting and DIY packaging. After my stint in music, I decided to go to a design school in Pasadena, California. During my 2nd year of college, I was hired at an interactive agency in Los Angeles that specialized in the real estate industry. During this time I learned CSS, web standards, basic SEO, etc.

2. When did you start designing websites?

I started in 2000.

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

Keeping up with web standards while utilizing new technologies.

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?

I code a decent amount of the websites I design. I would definitely consider myself a front-end coder. I am only fluent in CSS and XHTML. I have had no success in my efforts of learning languages like PHP or Java Script.

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

I went to Mt. Sierra College, which is a design school in Pasadena, California. My focus in college was directed at print design and branding, so in abstract I would say it definitely helped me in the world of web, but only in abstract.

6. What advantage has studying Art and Design in University/College given you as a web designer?

I feel that traditional design principles are often timeless and easily translated into other mediums. So my time studying at a design school was good preparation for projecting my education into new opportunities.

7. I see that you also do a great deal of print design? How has print design influenced the web design that you do?

I honestly feel that print layout and web layout are relatively the same in theory. Both share the same typographic usability principles. In other instances, I feel that I am less afraid to incorporate illustration elements into a website than maybe other designers are.

Curtis Henson is a web designer and developer from Stockton, California in the United States. He started designing websites back in 1997 using geocities and angelfire accounts while in high school. Later he when to Bluefield State College where he received an associate degree in technical communications and East Tennessee State University where he took some art classes as well as web classes and he’s been pushing the boundaries of web design and development ever since. Curtis runs Grunt Design which is a one man freelance operation and he also runs a personal blog where he can experiment, write about his web design experiences and showcase his skills.  He has recently designed a number of WordPress themes including “Splice”, “Checkmate” and “Solid” which are available at Grunt Labs.

1. How did you first get started in web design?

I got started in high school with geocities and anglefire accounts, my first site linked to South Park episodes online, complete with animated email GIF. I used to write HTML on my desk at school while I was learning; I was obsessed from the very beginning.  Luckily I quickly grew out of the animated GIF and blinking headers stage and started creating websites for bands and friends.

2. How long have you been designing websites?

Well I guess the first real website I made was in 1997, so about 12 years now.

3. Your web design operation “Grunt Design” has a section called “Grunt Labs”.  Where did your idea for this come from?

The Grunt Labs idea actually came from Bryan Veloso’s Revvyver Labs. At first I wanted a place I could put all my projects, experiments, and downloads. But it has actually turned into more of a place to experiment with different techniques. For instance I wanted to learn more about animation with jQuery, so the current version of Grunt Labs is the result of that. It will probably be an ever changing place I can practice using the latest technologies, and see how things work on a live website.

4. Did you go to College or University?  If so, where did you go to school?  How has it helped you to become a better web designer and developer?

I went to Bluefield State College and East Tennessee State University. I got an associate from BSC in technical communications, which pretty much went over everything from programming to marketing to design. It gave me a good base in just about everything.  At ETSU I took some art classes, which were fun, and some web classes, which were a joke. From my experience most Universities can’t keep up with the technology and are teaching coding techniques that are far behind the industry.  For me just designing and coding were the best ways to learn, and I try to always push my boundaries.

5. Is Grunt Design a one-man operation or do you work with other designers and/or developers?

Grunt has been a one man show so far, but if a project called for it I have a few freelancers to call on for help.

6. What is the biggest challenge that you face designing websites?

The biggest challenge for me is working without content. I feel websites should be designed around the content, to serve up the information on a silver platter with an ornately decorated trim. Another challenge is designing for the future, things on the web change fast, and clients don’t want an outdated website within a year.

7. What technologies do you enjoy using in your web design projects?

Well every website I code is CSS/XHTML, and usually a bit of JavaScript. I like to use libraries like jQuery and frameworks like Blueprint to speed up the process and not be rewriting base code for every project. I’ve loved using WordPress for quite a while now and will continue to use it. But I’ve branched out to Ruby on Rails and have started to get a grip on writing my own backend code.