Spicy Web Designer Interview with Rose Calis from Toko Rose

Rose Calis is a web designer from the Amsterdam area in the Netherlands. She has been designing for the web since 2006 and originally got started learning using online courses and tutorials that she found. Three years later, Rose runs her own web-design company called “Toko Rose”. When I asked why she used the image of the high heels in her current portfolio she said “The reason why I used the sexy legs and shoes in my design is because it tells everything about me: I love high heels, I’m a real woman in every sense of the word, and as you can tell by seeing the legs, I love to design.”. Outside of her web design skills she also does high quality image retouching, manipulation and correction work.

1. How did you get started in web design?

As from 2006 I have been caught up in the art of web design. During this period I followed a lot of online courses and tutorials.

2. When did you start designing websites?

After nearly three years, since June this year, I have been running my own web-design company, named Toko Rose.

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

‘Learning, discovering, and particularly, being brash enough to try new things. Web design covers a very wide field.

In my leisure time I’m engaged in web design for most of the time, and, consequently, it keeps me on my toes and up-to-date too.

I mainly aim for web standards and, of course, the graphic part. Appearances also count!

Into every assignment I put my heart and soul.

If you don’t have a passion for the job, you’d better stop doing it right away.

4. Do you code any of the web sites that you design currently? If so, what language(s) do you code in?

I code all of my websites according to the web standards with Clean coding (XHTML and CSS). Admittedly, there are quite some more coding languages that I don’t fully master, such as PHP and flash. But I’m a real perfectionist, an ambitious achiever who is very eager to learn. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time before I will be able to work with them.

5. I wanted to ask if and where you studied at college or university, what you studied and ask how has your education helped you become a better web design professional? What other skills has it helped you to gain and what else has it taught you about design in general?

Unlike my colleagues, I didn’t take any courses in IT, nor did I study at an art academy.

I’ve had to go through and find out a lot of things myself. But this holds true for many web designers. After all, when have you finished with the learning process?

I’m constantly increasing my in-depth knowledge of CSS, and in my spare time I experiment with Photoshop a lot. My aim is to stand out in the crowd. That isn’t always as easy as it may seem because there are many talented graphic designers nowadays.

I always try to be my own person, whatever the trend may be. I’m not saying that I don’t keep close track of my competitors, because I know I can learn a lot from them as well.

6. What are your favourite tools to use when designing a web project? Why are they your favourite tools?

In my opinion, Photoshop is an amazing program that offers infinite possibilities.

Further, I’m very keen on designing HTML in CSS.

Once I’ve started in Dreamweaver, CSS is highly addictive to me.

7. Rose, what is the typical process you use when you begin a design for a website for one of your clients?

First thing I do is find out more about the client’s business and what kind of person the client is.

I frequently listen to intense dance music. For me this is very relaxing and calming, although I can understand this may sound rather strange.

I’m usually inspired very early on in the process.

I got some things down and draw up sketches on a scratch-pad, before I start out with the actual design in Photoshop or Illustrator, which I then convert into an active XHTML and CSS valid website.