Spicy Web Designers Interview with Dickson Fong

Dickson Fong is a web designer with a background in Visual design. He is based in Los Angeles, California and likes Waffles (just look at his website). With his background in visual design and an interest in HTML web design is one strong area of interest for him. He is focused on user-centered design and it shows in the work that he does.

1. How did you first get started in Web Design?

About ten years ago, I picked up an HTML book. At that time, I wasn’t so much interested in the design aspect as I was in the technical aspects of the language. I did this for several years until I went to college, at which point I dropped it to pursue other interests. As with all things in life, circumstances and interests changed, and I spent my final year of college studying human-computer interaction, which brought me back to the web.

2. How long have you been doing freelance web design?

I did freelance design for about one and a half years. I’m currently no longer doing freelance work, but it was a unique learning experience. The autonomy, freedom, and lifestyle of a freelancer definitely has its pros and cons.

3. On your website you talk about your process of design. How did you develop this understanding of your design work?

I don’t come from a traditional design background, which has been both a handicap and a blessing at the same time. My formal education revolved around cognitive science and user-centered design principles, and this fostered my rationalist approach to research methods and graphic design style. I think design is a tool we use to solve problems, and regardless of whether they are problems of usability, scalability, aesthetics, or cost, our decisions must answer to the objectives of the work. Every piece of the puzzle must contribute to a tighter, more cohesive experience.

4. You’ve done some very interesting web design projects from Saab to American Airlines. I am wondering how you became involved on this projects?

These were simply self-initiated projects, done for the sake of trying something new. It was a refreshing change of pace to design without the constraints of real business objectives, office politics, and contracts. Realistic? No. But it was fun.

5. Where did you go to school? How did it help you get to where you are today?

I studied Cognitive Science and Human-Computer Interaction at the University of California, San Diego. I spent the better half of my six years there studying engineering until I stubbornly realized I didn’t enjoy it at all. I dabbled in some other areas of study until I got hooked into user-centered design and user-experience design. My first reaction was that I had wasted four years of my time doing things I have no interest in, but, in retrospect, it  makes design all the more rewarding. Like the saying goes — can’t have the sweet without the bitter.

6. What are some web technologies that you couldn’t live without?

E-mail and RSS feeds. They help me stay in touch with the rest of the world.

7. How do you usually price your work?

I don’t have any set rules. Every client and project has different objectives and requirements.

8. Do you read design magazines (online or offline) and what are you favorites?

They’re not all magazines, but I’m particularly a fan of A List Apart (http://www.alistapart.com/). The info-vis geek in me likes Information Aesthetics (http://infosthetics.com/). Overall, I think the best resources are other designers’ blogs. People like John Boardley (http://ilovetypography.com/), Antonio Carusone (http://www.aisleone.net/), David Corti (http://www.septemberindustry.co.uk/blog/), and Jon Tan (http://jontangerine.com/), among others, have provided me endless sources of inspiration.

9. Do you like to listen to music when you design? If so, what is in your playlist now?

Currently listening to “Transformers: The Score” by Steve Jablonsky. Ulrich Schanuss or Steve Reich if I want something mellow. Boston just ‘cuz they’re awesome.