An Interview With Helen Harris

Name:
Helen Harris

Age:
25

Location:
Near Newcastle Upon Tyne

Your Website:
http://dizidesigns.co.uk (personal)

How long have you been designing/developing websites?
10 years, but only 3 years professionally.

How to do clients find you?
Mostly word of mouth, a little bit of advertising

Where do you go for inspiration?
Everywhere, I don’t think it is right to just have other websites as a source of inspiration, as I find that inspiration can come from anything or anyone.

What is your favourite CMS?
I don’t have one.

What programs/applications do you use when designing/developing a website?
Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, Dreamweaver or Notepad++, XAMPP

When starting a new project how do you start?
Try and get as much information as possible about the project, the client and their company. Research into the company’s competition and see how strong their online presence is. Then I doodle anything that comes into my head, normally these don’t make sense to anyone but me.

What do you feel are the most important skills for web designer/developer to have?
A willingness to always be a student of web design and that thrust for new knowledge. The web is always developing and if you don’t have that passion to keep learning new things then this isn’t the industry for you.

What skills are you currently developing?
Php and JavaScript

When you’re not working what are you 5 favourite things to do?
Spending time with my other half, watching movies, playing point and click adventure games, listening to music/audio books

Do you have any favorite websites for keeping up to date and interacting with others?
WebDesignerForum.co.uk, CSSplay, Smashing Magazine

Are you freelance or do you work for a company?
I work for a small design studio.

What other services do you offer? eg SEO, print design, copywriting, hosting etc
Print Design, Company Branding

What is your dream job, if you weren’t a web designer?
When I was young I wanted to be a coroner, so if I didn’t decide to go into design I would like to think that I would be on my way to becoming one (how morbid is that).

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