Spicy Web Designer Interview with Brent Lafreniere

Brent Lafreniere is web designer from Calgary, Alberta in Canada. He has been designing websites since 2002 and by 2006 he started doing web design professionally. Brent studied at Assiniboine Community College for Web Design. He has always had an interest in coding and design ever since he was given an old IBM computer in the early 1990’s and learned qbasic which first got he introduced to computers and programming.

1. How did you get started in web design?

In the early 90’s I was given an old IBM computer it was massive and it no software on it except some desktop publishing software, and qbasic. I played around with qbasic basically learning it from the help section making games, which initially sparked my interest in programming.

When I finally got the internet around 1999, I started making sites using geocities and a couple of other free website hosting companies out at the time. I learned some basic html and used FrontPage, and ms paint, used frames and animated gifs, to make horrible looking sites. However, it really peaked my interest in web design, and when I realized I could make a living doing this I was sold.

2. When did you start designing websites?

I started designing sites around 2002 just for personal projects; it was not until 2006 while still a student that I started doing it professionally.

3. What are the biggest challenges that you face in web design currently?

Besides Internet Explorer, I find educating clients as to what you can and should do versus what you can’t and shouldn’t do a really challenge, I don’t know how many times I’ve had to talk a someone out of an animated flash splash page.

Another challenge is time management. I commonly finish the work I like first, the work I do not as that much usually gets finished last.

4. Do you ever refer to yourself as a Front-end developer or a web designer? Do you code any of the web sites that you design currently? If so, what language(s) do you code in?

I don’t think I can place myself under Front-end developer or a web designer, I seriously go through phases where all I want to do is design, then other times I’d rather sit and code. As for languages xhtml, css, xml, PHP, mysql, JavaScript, ActionScript.

5. Where did you go to school and has it helped you become a better web design professional?

I had been out of high school for about 9 years before I decided to go back, I was very scared to go back because my record of accomplishment in high school was less than spectacular. However, when you find something you are truly passionate about it makes it all the more worthwhile.

I went to Assiniboine Community College (http://assiniboine.net/) in Brandon, Manitoba Canada. It’s a small school that offers a 2-year web design course covering everything from Art History to Motion Graphics to Project Management to Web Application Development, check out everything else they offer at http://newwebdesigners.com/student_resource.html. The teachers they had there were excellent and each brought their own personal experience for students to draw from.

It most definitely helped me become a better web designer, not only did it teach me a wide variety of skills related to web design it taught me how to be resourceful and to think outside of the box when it comes to solutions.

6. Since you first started how has the web design industry changed? Has it changed for the better? If so, how? If not, please explain?

The biggest things I have noticed since I have started is how flash specifically for web design it dying out. Sure flash it great for things like games and some applications, but unless you are Coke or Nike the average client will not really benefit from flash. Searchable sites are just too important now days.

7. What are your favorite tools to use when designing a web project? Why are they your favorite tools?

Favorite tools, as far as software goes Photoshop. I can’t live without it. When coding I use, http://www.phpformatter.com/ http://www.styleneat.com/ http://www.cleancss.com/ I love my code to nicely formatted.

8. I see on your portfolio website that you list e-commerce as a skill that you have and I want to know what e-commerce technologies have you used on web design projects?

Open Cart, and Zen cart mostly as well as working with third party hospitality reservation systems.

9. When a client asks you about “Search Engine Optimization” what do you usually talk to them about?  What steps do you take to make sure you understand there business’ web strategy as it relates to their online business?

I tell them you can have the best-looking site “visually” on the internet but if no one can find it how effective is it going to be?

The best time for the client to think about SEO is before they even consider redesigning or launching a new site. That way, they can ensure that their site is designed to be search engine-friendly from the bottom up.

Then it is a matter of understanding that their target audience is who their competition is, what their products strengths are, their weaknesses, what opportunities are available to them and then working out a strategy from the information gathered.

While SEO is not a one-time fix, the costs associated with the initial work and maintenance pales in comparison to media or paid search.