A: I prefer a more classic look. What I mean by that is that I try to stay away from real trendy design elements. Do you remember bevels? I haven’t seen a beveled menu button in years. Guess what? Everyone with that trend had to do their website over again. Being trendy can cost money. It does have its pluses but I try to look out for the client.
Q: What do you think is your major strength in terms of design?
A: I would have to say that I am really good at looking at other designs and appreciating them. In my more immature days (when I was very green), I would try to go out on my own and try to blaze my own trail right away. Really bad design came as a result. Now, I look to other designs as inspiration and as a template for my work. In the end, my designs look good and end up being completely original.
Q: What is your major weakness?
A: I work way too hard and I like to be very precise. And I’m always punctual, never late. I am too kind to my co-workers. I’m kidding! That’s the answer everyone wants to give. Seriously, I would have to say sometimes, I can lose focus on what I am doing and go in several different directions at once. It can be frustrating. But when that happens, I always tell myself to keep focus and do only ONE thing at a time, even it seems it will take a long time to hammer it out. It’s about getting your priorities straight.
Q: Any favorite graphics programs you like to work with?
A: I like to work in Photoshop because it allows me to “push the paint” sort of speak. I heard that phrase used some time ago in describing a Hollywood matte artist. That’s the way I feel about working in Photoshop. I feel more fluid. I think 3D Studio is great for the projects that require 3D renderings, but 3D Studio and many other 3D programs are more about trial and error. You model something and then you render it. It feels somewhat mechanical. Although it is a lot more fluid today than when I started with 3D Studio R4, that’s the DOS version, before the MAX incarnation.
I like Flash but Flash means different things to different people. When people think of a Flash Designer, they may think of some massive coder. I know code and I like to work the systems in Flash, but I am more of a designer and animator. I was formally trained in [Macromedia] Director, so using Flash had some familiarity to me when I started. Flash definitely improved upon the weaknesses of other programs like Director. I use Flash more as a tool for developing multimedia, rather than animating vector graphics (which was its original purpose). I don’t think too many people know that; I also use Flash to create animated headers and advertising banners.
Q: What kind of work environment do you like to work in?
A: That’s a tough one. As far as an office environment, I like to work where I can learn something from other designers and where there is not a lot of petty competition. I like challenging myself against other designers, but I don’t like the jealously aspect of some people. I guess you find that everywhere. A far as design, most times it is a very personal thing and when I work on the computer I could sit there for hours without getting up or even moving my legs for that matter. Sometimes it gets so bad that I can’t feel my legs.
Q: What is your managerial style?
A: I prefer to understand my designer’s strengths and weakness. It is a waste of time to get a Flash Designer to do Action Script. Well that’s obvious. But it is also a waste of time to get a print and collateral designer to do web design. Many companies think they can hire one designer to do all of their design work. That’s a troubled road. I believe in specializing. I’ve worked on some good companies where they understood this. You have your Photoshop guys, your Illustrator guys, your 2D designers, your 3D designers, and so on.
I also recently worked for a company where they totally missed the boat on this one. The managers would assign projects to different designers based on the designer’s availability, not whether they were schooled in that kind of design. That was a sinking ship and I’m glad I got out when I did.
Q: One final question. You really have a lot of photos of yourself on this website.
A: Is that a question or a comment?
Q: Both.
A: To be honest, I like to give people a three dimensional view of me. A lot of people post one flat photo of themselves taken ten years prior. When you see them in person you are totally taken off guard. You are not sure if they are the right person. It’s like, “How did you gain forty seven pounds and go bald since the creation of your website last year?” I’m not getting it.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Ash 
