About
I design and build web sites and applications, can’t think of a better job! I also still love a bit of print design, though to be honest it’s a tiny proportion of my work these days.
I studied art and design in college. At the time the web was in its infancy and although we did graphic design as a module, web design wasn’t considered. As a result I taught myself using the principles of print design and a copy of cyberstudio.
I quickly realised that designing for the web is not quite the same. With print design you have to concern yourself with paper types, finishes and colour. You always know your layout will look as you designed it though. Web design is much more complex. You need to think about which browser an end user is viewing your site in as well as the type of device they are using. There are standards but unfortunately most users tend to use Internet explorer, the least standards compliant browser.
As a result a whole lot of my time is spent testing and ensuring compatability. In order to ensure my design is consistent I’ve delved under the hood and am proficient in hand coding using HTML, css, php, vbscript, JavaScript and recently c#.
Design isn’t just what you see. A well designed site must function as well as it looks. This doesn’t mean you have to be jack of all trades and master of none – I know my limits and work with other experts in their field. What is required though is an understanding as well as enthusiasm for all the underlying technologies that the web is based on. I have that enthusiasm by the bucket loads!
I’ve worked for Silverink for the past ten years. We are based in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
It’s not all about design though, I enjoy taking photos, going to gigs and spending time with people I like. If you are really interested in more about me than what’s above then check out my twitter ramblings or email me.
