Web Designer

I was always really into art and computers. My mind didn't seem to easily follow the more academic path. I remember when I was about 16 or 17 my father decided to buy a new computer; we went together and picked it out. I made sure it had all the things I needed. I would be on there for hours into the night figuring out programs I wanted to learn.

When the Internet wasn't so easily accessed and fast, the thing to use for us were the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). The first thing I wanted to do was learn how to run one, and customise it. Soon I found myself logging onto other BBS systems and offering my help to customise them. It really was nothing like the quality of a website today, but it still provided the pride in seeing something I made being used by people on a regular basis. Seeing something that looked so different than the default installation, or had a slightly adjusted look, like so many BBS systems.

It was an easy, yet accidental transition into web design. I decided I would make my own website to showcase my graphic and computer skills. Soon thereafter, I would get calls asking for price quotes on websites. I managed to design and/or develop small-to-medium size websites for about two years before taking a job at an advertising agency and I haven't looked back. I'm still always trying to make uniquely designed sites that everyone can enjoy.

When I started out, there were many people who still thought the Internet wasn't going to be this 'forever growing' electronic presence. I mostly relied on books, online tutorials and old-fashioned mistakes. I was working on my personal website constantly, testing any new idea, or technology I thought was cool.

Later on, new client requests, new programs for both the creative side and technical side provided a split in the road. There were many directions you could pour focus into, design, usability, coding, or multimedia. I really just try to work hard and keep the knowledge up to date on each of the others I enjoy.

The way I look at it is everyone in the field with talent mentors each other. There are plenty of sites out there, which showcase unique designers, or individual modules, which they have developed. There are three to four sites I log onto weekly to see the 'Top 10' sites. They provide a great resource and motivation to make each site better than the last, or at least different.

I don't think it was difficult all around, but there are definitely difficult moments. For example if I am designing a site, and I wanted to make something act in an uncommon way, this can cause complications. Usually it ends up that time is your largest investment, but well worth it when you see the end result working as intended.

While Sheridan Collage has a stellar program for young people wanting to dive into a web design field, I have always felt its best to read up on each school and the courses that provide. Pick the one which best suits your personality and your needs to advance towards the role you want to fill in your future career.

At the end of the day, your future job is going to be in a performance-based industry. Make sure you move forward the right way, at the right speed and never look back. If this industry is for you, people will recognize that and hopefully honour it with a position at their company.

Most of the challenges that I had to face are not really an issue anymore. I started out when the field was very unsaturated. Right now it seems there are so many schools with programs, or online courses. My main challenge today is finding the perfect candidate to fill the past Rob's shoes. Separating the talented, career driven up-comers from someone who thinks the field is interesting, or feel 'that looks like a good job'.

Working through them? Making sure we look for the right person, with the right personality to fit our agency. The personality really shows in the work ethic and the design. Good personalities help the agency grow just as much as the experience we provide helps grow their skill.

I am sure I have learned a lot, however more than anything I've learned that it's a part of my life I couldn't easily give up. I enjoy the conceptual portion so much that I feel I need to see every project through to the production level. I feel like I have become an all-or-nothing type of person. When I have an idea for something I need to fully dive in, and either prove myself right, or wrong, but the effort had to be there.

Once in a while someone will talk about a site, and I realize that I was a part of it. It's always refreshing and good to see people enjoy it.

My favourite aspect is definitely the people. It never fails to amaze me how you can be inspired on a daily basis from people in and around the office, whether it is another Designer or someone outside of the department. I think it's safe to say everyone in my office uses the Internet and it really helps getting their ideas into the works. Working in this type of environment is very fast paced and the people really push you through it.

Since I am always looking forward, I have always disliked working on the browsers compatibility testing. Making a newly designed website work for an old browser like Internet Explorer 6 sometimes presents several speed bumps in a launch. While I have always understood that providing a site to reach maximum exposure is both common and best practice, at times you can spend a large block of time integrating patches to allow old browsers to work with a site.

Absolutely! I love it, but it's not for everyone. It's hard work and can be frustrating at times. Then again, I can't think of too many jobs where you don't face those challenges.