SpicyWebDesigners.com by Luc Arnold

Les Reynolds from Burlington, Ontario in Canada is web designer who currently runs, L Squared Design, a full service web design and development studio. Les received his first taste of web design while working for an electrical contracting company while learning to design an email newsletter. He credits his experiences before he got into web design as part of his success where he learned the ins and outs of operations, marketing, purchasing and business in general. Les has been designing professionally for the past 3 years and when I asked him about his experiences to date he had this to say…

Luc @ SWD: How did you originally get started designing websites?

Les says: I was working for an electrical contracting company, and they wanted to send out an email newsletter. So I taught myself HTML using articles and tutorials I found on the web. Once the newsletter was done, I couldn’t stop, and the more I learned the more I realized that this is what I wanted to do as a career.

Luc @ SWD: What are some of the benefits of working with platforms like WordPress, Textpattern and others?

Les says: The biggest reason I use a CMS is so clients can update a site themselves. However, it makes updates easier for almost any type of site. Another bonus is being able to change repeating content like footer or navigation in only one place, similar to using PHP includes. I haven’t used WordPress, but I love the flexibility that Textpattern offers. With the built in features and rich suite of plug-ins, it is suitable for a very wide range of sites.

Luc @ SWD: Les, you’ve been designing website professionally for the past 3 years.  How have you continued to stay up to date since you first started?

Les says: The speed that things change in the world of web design/development means that if you stop paying attention, you’ll be passed by. RSS feeds from people like Jeffery Zeldman, Dan Cedarholm, Cameron Moll, Jon Hicks, Andy Rutledge, Dave Shea, Jonathan Snook, Jason Santa Maria and other has helped me to stay up to date, and learn so much. And recently Twitter has been a great way to keep in touch with changes as well.

Luc @ SWD: Where did you go to school and what did you study in college/university? How has it helped you with web design?

Les says: When I started getting into web design, I did some research and found that most college/university web design & development programs have trouble keeping up with the fast pace of the web world. I think that is beginning to change, but at the time I decided that I’d be better off going the self-taught route.

Books like Designing with Web Standards, CSS Mastery, Bulletproof Web Design, and Transcending CSS have served as my curriculum, as well as articles on A List Apart and the blogs listed above.

I’ve actually thought about taking some courses in graphic design at the local college. I think graphic design and marketing are both areas of education that would be useful.

The other things that I think has helped me are the jobs I had before web design. The experience in management, sales, operations, marketing, purchasing, accounting, etc has been very valuable.

Luc @ SWD: What are your favorite tools to use on a web design project?

Les says: I started using Photoshop, but a light went on once I opened up Fireworks. It has done a great job of merging vector and bitmap editing, in a way that works really well for the web. However, as I’ve looked at upgrading, tales of buggy, bloated software have made me think twice. There is lots of complaining about Adobe’s apps, and i think it’s time we moved on. I’m currently trying out Acorn and DrawIt. I actually wrote a post about it, and plan to follow up with some comparisons.

For coding, there is lots to love about Espresso, although there is still refining to be done. FTP is handled by the wonderful Transmit, debugging CSS with Safari’s web inspector.  I find small tools like Pipette, Free Ruler, Skitch, and Little Snapper quite helpful for various tasks. Somewhat unrelated, The Hit List for todos, Notational Velocity for notes, Dropbox for file access, SuperDuper for backup, and Tweetie for Twitter are all invaluable.

Michelle Holden is a web designer from Etobicoke (just outside of Toronto), Ontario in Canada. She recently graduated from Humber College from the Multimedia Design program and also studied 3D Multimedia Animation. She uses video blogging to showcase some of her skills on her website currently and even though she is a relatively new web designer she is very skilled.

1. How did you get started in web design?

I took a program at Humber College called Multimedia Design and Production Technician. My mother was the one who got me into it because since I have a 3D Animation background she thought I would be interested in web design.

2. When did you start designing websites?

When I first got into this program I knew nothing about creating websites, nor did I know how to use to program Dreamweaver.

Eventually I became just as strong as everyone else is out there. To answer your question, I started designing websites the minute I took this course.

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

I really don’t have a problem with web design, but I do have challenges in my life. For example, I’m fresh out of my program I just graduated from a 2 year program. I find it very difficult to find a job in my field because my experience isn’t as intermediate as others. So that’s a disadvantage with me. I have all this talent and it takes me much longer to get a job.

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

Yes, I code all my websites. Even when I interned at Rogers Publishing, I coded micro sites for them as well.

It depends on assignments I usually code HTML, CSS. Sometimes I code PHP, Java Script, and ActionScript 3.0.

5. Did you study design at school or are you self-taught?  If you went to school, 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 studied at Humber College. The education has helped me a lot because I learned new things everyday that I never knew about.

It was a lot to consume in 2 years but it was worth it.  In terms of design, I would say that was more “self-taught”, because we did learn design in my program, however nothing too advanced. But I’ve always had a love and passion for Photoshop, so I think my drive to design websites was all based around me fooling around in Photoshop. I am taking a part time course in Illustrator to strengthen my skills in that program. Like I said before, I have never used any coding programs before so that was very new to me and to learn that all in this program was definitely worth it. I can now go out there and show the world I have what it takes to design and code.

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?

I think that the web industry has changed a lot. Everything you see around us is basically web based, it’s like art, what would the world be like without art? We just have to realize that this industry changes drastically as generations go by. I think the only downside to this industry is the whole recession period…but that doesn’t change the fact that employees won’t get hired.

I love how everything is becoming so popular, social networks such as facebook have become really successful.

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

I generally design my websites starting with Photoshop. My favorite tools, hmm that’s a hard one, I like all of them!

All these tools help me design my websites that are now being aired. I can’t live without any of them.

Marie Poulin is a web designer from Toronto, Ontario in Canada. She recently graduated (in 2005) from the Graphic Design program offered jointly through York University and Sheridan College in Ontario. Marie runs a workshop for designers looking to learn about creating a portfolio using a combination of TextPattern, HTML and CSS called “PrettyInPixels”. She has been designing websites since 2000 and recently left her position as a Lead Web Designer & Developer with ThinkHouse Design and has been working full time freelancer since March of 2009.

1. How did you get started in web design?

While in university I had taken a few courses, but had never considered it as something that would be part of my career. After graduating, I got my first job after graduating at Thinkhouse Design. I was the only one that had any knowledge of the web and HTML/CSS, and my boss was kind enough to allow me to learn during my 9-5 hours. I began stumbling upon sites like alistapart.com, stylegala.com, bestwebgallery.com and smashingmagazine.com, seeking out tutorials and articles. Once I saw what was possible with the web, I was hooked, and began learning as much as I could.

2. When did you start designing websites?

I made my first geocities web page in 2000, which I used mostly for photo galleries. I bought my first domain and server space in 2002, but I didn’t start building professional, standards-based websites until 2005.

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

There are a few that I have been experiencing lately. One is that people do not understand the time it takes to put a website together. Everything from determining the purpose of the site and the target audience, to designing and coding it. People want tight deadlines, but they don’t want to pay for the skills and talent it takes to build them properly.

Clients tend to want their websites designed and coded before they have final content, which makes the entire process take infinitely longer.

I am often approached my other designers asking me to fulfill the developer role on their projects.  While I don’t mind doing this once in a while, it’s not something that I am interested in doing all of the time. I am a designer and strategist first, and a developer second. I prefer being part of the whole process of a project, and I think I have a lot to offer in the initial planning and design stages because of my experience with how the site gets constructed.

4. Do you ever refer to yourself as a Front-end developer or a web designer? Do you code any of the web sites that you design currently? If so, what language(s) do you code in?

Lately, I have avoided calling myself a front-end developer. It can be difficult to find the right term for what I do. When you say “web designer” or “Front-end developer,” people make certain assumptions about your capabilities, and I want to be recognized not only for my standards-based code, but for my strategic abilities as well. At the moment I consider myself an interactive designer/developer, until I can find the right term for it!

I do code all of my own websites using XHTML, CSS, and JQuery.

5. Why do you enjoy coding your web projects using web standards?

Not only because it produces quality work, but clients also appreciate that you stand for quality work. This way you are also ensuring that your website reaches as wide an audience as possible, it just makes sense. And as always, I love a good challenge.

6. I read on your site that you graduated with honors from the York University/Sheridan College Program in design. Has it helped you become a better web design professional? If so, how?

It has absolutely helped me become a better design professional, without a doubt. I learned conceptual thinking, quality execution, typography, and business practices. Did I learn about web standards, designing for the web, usability, HTML and CSS? Not really, no. I am sure the program has evolved since I graduated, but when I attended, the interactive side of design was very much in a fledgling state. However, the program equipped me in so many other ways; I don’t believe I would be able to be a full-time freelancer without my experience there.

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

As social networking becomes more important, websites are becoming less static. Clients are recognizing the need for having their sites built on content management systems. Websites are becoming living, breathing things, and must be nurtured and maintained over time, whether it be by the web designer/developer or by someone on the client-side. Website owners are beginning to realize that their audiences are getting more and more web-savvy, and they can no longer get away with bombarding them visually. The web is now a place for communities and relationships. I’m excited to be part of that evolution.

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

I use Textpattern as my CMS of choice for all of my websites. I find it logical, incredibly powerful yet versatile, and it’s open-source with a great community behind its development. I hand-code my XHTML and CSS in Dreamweaver (using it mostly as a text-editor) – It helps me develop my CSS quickly, and I use it for its FTP as well. I also use Photoshop and Illustrator for designing my web layouts. I develop on Firefox, and use Firebug for testing/development. It’s a great way to make non-permanent edits and see them in real time for testing.

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.

Patty Ho is a web designer from Toronto, Ontario in Canada. She studied at OCAD (The Ontario College of Arts & Design) for Editorial Graphic Design and then she decided to go to Sheridan College for their Interactive Design program. She first designed for websites in 2003 after finishing schools and most recently she has been working for Torstar Digital which owns the Toronto Star Newspaper and Toronto.com among a collection of other web properties.

1. When did you first start designing websites?

I first started designing websites professionally in 2003. I was hired by a small web design studio right after I finished my Interactive Multimedia program in Sheridan College.

2. What types of web design projects are you working on right now?

Currently, I work for Torstar Digital. The company owns thestar.com, toronto.com, yourhome.ca, parentcentral.ca…etc. I mostly do the front end maintenance work for them. That work could range from designing a new micro site to designing ad banners.

For my personal freelance web design in terms of projects, I did a lot of front end design. The majority of clients want my web design template and their own in house developer to build the website. There are also a few clients that I do the full website design from front to back.

3. What challenges do you face when designing a project for the web?

Oh, definitely client’s requests. Sometimes clients will have million changes, and I always have to work it out with the clients to minimize the changes.  Most challenging part is when design a full website, I have to educate clients to deliver a strategy upon content delivery. After all, website is about delivering key information in an interactive and a user friendly way.

4. I see that you’ve done a lot of work for Canadian media (Chum TV, Much Music, etc.)  How have you found working with companies like these?

Chum (now is called CTV) is a very fast paced company. You get a various range of projects all the time.  I was there mostly creating TV micro sites and sales websites for various channel brands. The creative is set by either the client or the creative department. So most of the website I did is to follow the creative guidelines and make it an interactive piece.  I left Chum after 3 years because I was tired of being a production person that takes orders. Websites for Chum or any TV channels are part of the marketing package, and they never going to be the first to set the creative guideline.  Therefore I went to Torstar for a senior web designer position which I can be the creative lead for most of the projects.

5. I also see that you are a graduate of OCAD majoring in Editorial Graphic Design and Sheridan College’s Interactive Multimedia program where you learned about front-end coding.  Which do you prefer more, Front-end coding or the graphic design of a project?

I personally like the “design” part of the project, mostly because I hate debugging between browsers. lol

However, because of Sheridan, I gained a strong front end coding skill. This favors me when I am designing a website. I will design “around” the cross-browser problem that most people would encounter when building website.  Therefore I can deliver the website in the shortest amount of time and increase flexibility for site expansion in the future.

6. What are some of your favorite tools when designing for the web?

Photoshop, illustrator and Dreamweaver.

7. What do you hope to accomplish in your career next?  And, what drives you to achieve this?

Again, I always have a passion getting myself into a creative lead. I like to deliver the creative concept of a project instead of a production person. If I am going to work half of my life, then I might as well push myself towards a job position that can excite me while I am at it.