Lidia Gana is a freelance web designer from Santiago, Chile. She started designing websites back in 2000 when working as the head of the design department and since then she’s been hooked. She keeps a free design download area on her website that is completely worth checking out.

1. When was the first time that you became interested in developing and designing websites?

The first time I became really interested in website design when I was head of the design department in Harseim companies (Chile) back in year 2000, we had all kinds of marketing materials and graphics, but we did not have a website. Then we hired a website programmer and I had to transmit what is what we needed, which was a bit difficult… then I started to become interested in the topic, I began to learn HTML with a coworker programmer and did a short Macromedia course, then over time I learned a lot and become more experienced in (X)HTML, CSS, handling basic PHP and Java, etc. This cycle never ends, and every day I learn something new .

2. Is there a big freelance web design community in Chile?

I’m not sure; at least I do not belong to any.

3. Where do you find your clients? I know that some of the web designers I’ve interviewed work with agencies while others do it from word of mouth or advertising.

I can proudly say that most of my clients are result of a word of mouth referrals. I really enjoy designing and I think that’s transmitted to potential customers. I think my success as a freelance has been a sum of important factors, professional work, low prices, responsibility where as a result I get a happy customer, who wants to continue working with me and tells his peers about my work.

Besides, as you can see on my website, I created a free design downloads area (icons, web layouts and more). I think that’s what my visitors most like, and it has been like a magnet for a new customers. They visit my website, download free icons, use them and then they want more, personalized and unique design. One of the things that is most attractive to visitors are my icons in a Photoshop (PSD) format, since it allows the users to transform the icon to the format they want.

4. One interesting service that I see you offer is User Interface Design, is that something that you strive for in all your designs? And, what does great user interface design consist of from your experience?

No, not all designs require user interface, there are some designs that only need to be informative, attractive and entertaining.

Although in a web design there is always some kind of user interface, it depends greatly on the type of website and what it needs to achieve.

Good user interface consists in creating a design intuitive and easy to use, the one that will keep the visitor focused on the site and not let him walk away or get bored. Design should be clear, reflecting in the first instance what the company and website is about, where the visitor can immediately recognize important navigational elements and site areas and basically make visitors feel comfortable and attracted by the website.

Design of user interface for desktop applications is different, it has to be more structured and there are more restrictions, whether because of the platform, space requirements or something else. In a desktop application design the focus should always be to make it user friendly first, then to make it beautiful.

5. A lot of web designers don’t list pricing on their website but I see that you do. Why do you show your pricing for all to see? How do potential clients respond to your pricing? And how does it affect how you quote a web design project?

I made my pricing public for various reasons: when I go shopping I love stores that have prices in sight , I think it is very important to be transparent from the beginning with the potential client, and also for him to have an idea of what could be the cost of the design he needs. Time is also important, if my potential client sees that my prices are too high for his budget, he’ll simply go and search for a less expensive one, which will save us all some time in writing and responding emails with the same result. People today are accustomed to obtain initial information much faster than before.

So far my clients are very satisfied with my prices and I think that prices are quite attractive. Of course, from time to time there are potential customers who do not agree with pricing and want design for much less money, but they are really minority.

I have fixed prices and price per hour. For a web layout the price is fixed, but for a web HTML / CSS price varies according to the requirements, in which case I give customer an estimate working time, price and delivery date so the customer knows from the beginning what will be the cost of his project.

In general, I divide projects in phases. That way the customer has more control over expenses and stages of the project and at the same time customer can terminate project at any given stage. This is something that everyone likes because customer does not feel compelled to complete the project with me, however all my clients have completed projects with me so far.

More info about Web Designer

URL: Ganato.com

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