How I Ended up on the Front-End
It was only relatively recently that I came to the realisation that my real passion and skill is in front-end design and development for the web. I enjoy, and am capable, doing other design work but it seems that i really hit my stride working on web designs in photoshop and hand coding html, css and javascript to bring them to life.
Let’s go back to the beginning. My background actually started out in traditional print design - I worked at a couple of places including an architect firm where I was responsible for document and presentation layouts, and a publisher where I did page layout and prepress work on a bunch of children’s magazines. Working in print was great - it set a firm foundation for my design sensibilities and there is a lot to be said about the thrill of being able to hold in your hands something that you made.
When I got married, my new wife and I honeymooned in Christchurch, NZ and fell in love with it. 12 months later we packed up everything we owned and moved countries. In New Zealand most of the print design work at the time took place in Wellington, rather than Christchurch - so after a little while of job searching I ended up getting a job with Cabbage Tree Creative, a web agency.
I had a little bit of experience with the web - having taught myself html and css whilst studying, and working at the print design jobs. But this was a whole other level. My TAFE course had covered interface design, and some aspects of site architecture and usability, but this was a crash course in everything web-based. Over the 2 years I spent there, I went from a web novice to an expert - feeling well on top of everything and loving the challenge of taking a gorgeous design and bringing it to life.
Jordesign was started (well kind of) on return to Sydney - doing contract work for a couple of clients I had lined up in advance. As time has gone by my workload has gone almost entirely web based - a sign of where my skills lie, but also the type of work there is demand for. Working for myself - I was the one responsible for keeping on top of trends and best practices, and it is something I still love to this day.
These days my best work is done on the front end. I love designing websites that are clean, elegant and communicate clearly. What I love even more is the challenge of getting my ideas to work in the real world - for anyone, on any device. The technology and possibilities on the web continue to change and accelerate at an alarming rate. Specialising in doing front-end work allows me to keep abreast of it, and deliver the best website possible - for both clients AND the end user.
How did YOU end up where you are now?
I’ve just started to write something similar, I find it really interesting to put a name and story behind everything especially people.
I know a lot of web designers that have come from a print/graphic design background and it’s interesting to see the transition. Myself, maybe because computers and the internet have been part of my life from the start, haven’t done and don’t particularly feel comfortable doing professional print design.
21/11/11 at 8:28 am