Question #1 How did you get into webdesign?

Answer: I've always been more artistic than academic. As the end of high school approached, it came time to make the decision of which direction my life would take next. I sort of made a list of all the careers I could see myself both enjoying and excelling at. First on my list was Interior Designer. In my teen years, while my girlfriends were watching MTV, I was watching HGTV. I always wanted to be an Interior Designer, but after a greater look into the feild, I saw that a large portion of the job profile was management; not exactly what I was looking for. I decided I could settle for re-decorating my own home to satisfy my lifelong desire. The only other carreer on my list was Graphic Artist. I had taken some courses in school and perfected my skill with my free time. So Graphis Artist it was. I looked into technical schools that would specialize in packing as much useful information into my education as possible. I decided on the multimedia program at ITT Tech. It was while I was there that I was introduced to, and fell in love with, webdesign and development. It's been a love-hate relationship ever since!

Question #2 Do you ever create any hidden meanings or messages in your work?

Answer: Working for my clients doesn't provide much opportunity to create hidden meanings or messages, unless of course requested. I have not created anything of the sort...yet...

Question #3 How do you get into the creative zone when you design websites for others?

Answer: I find that music most strongly stimulates my creativity. When I sit down to start creating a website, I settle on what the feel and look of the website should be and select appropriate music to "set the mood" in my mind. Different music puts me in different moods and mindsets. Wearing headphones or simply closing the door allows me to have uninterrupted creative streams, also helping my productivity. Just when you thought no one actually buys those "Lifescapes" CDs in Target, here I come!

Question #4 What is your favorite accomplishment?

Answer: My favorite accopmlishment is the Greenfeild wedding website, not necerssarily because it's my greatest masterpiece, but because of the way everything came together so beautifully. It was crucial to them that their website coincide with their wedding decor. The clients and I connected wholly on what they were looking for. Artistically, it was just what they imagined and functionally, it was everything they couldn't imagine. It was also the first time I was content with my styling of a form. The design blended in so well with the page, you looked at the page and thought "This is a nice website", not "Yup, that's an R.S.V.P. form".

Question #5 And lastly, do you think that you could, or would be able to teach others how to create their own websites?

Answer: I am very enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge. I'm not sure that I'd want the pressure of making a career out of teaching, but I love answering questions and helping others understand. Generally, I myself do not pick up things up easily. I have to come up with off-the-wall ways to remember information until I can connect it all and thoroughly understand. So it's fun for me to meet people who need the same thing and help them discover silly ways to understand.