An interview with freelance web designer Sam Brown

Sam Brown a freelance web designer and blogger has kindly given up a few minutes of his time to answer a few questions about web design and freelancing.

He talks about how he got his first freelance job to what his favorite color and font is. If you are a designer wishing to enter the freelance world, Sam offers a great insight into becoming a freelance web designer.

Let’s begin

Who are you Sam?

My name is Sam Brown, I am a freelance interface designer and web standards developer from Edinburgh Scotland.

When did you first become interested in design?

It was the mid ’90′s and I was just starting high school, my father brought home a HTML book from I don’t know where and I started tinkering with web sites in Notepad on my Win 95 machine. This was where it all started for me, I then took a Multimedia Design course at a Technology High School then moving on to Computer Graphics College and Uni before leaving to pursue my freelance career.

How did you teach yourself how to design?

Trial and error initially, the few years I spent at Uni helped me learn the fundamentals of design but for me it was all about actually getting out there, doing it and progressing my skills over time.

When and how did you get your first client?

My first real client that wasn’t a site of my own or a family friend had posted a message on my Uni noticeboard wanting a site design for his property business. I called, met and landed the job that same day. This was around 2003, I am still working with this client to date.

Would you rather have a full-time job or freelance?

Freelance, without a shadow of doubt. I worked at a boutique web design agency after leaving Uni in Sydney Australia for a year and while I enjoyed the experience and my time there it left me in doubt that I wanted to continue working as a freelancer thereafter. The flexibility and power of choice I have running my own business means I probably couldn’t go back to working for someone else.

How do you tackle design briefs?

By tearing them apart, I usually print them and end up scribbling notes all over them. Discussing them with the client after receiving them is always the best approach, making sure that we are both on the exact same page and that nothing is misinterpreted.

Do you feel qualifications are more important than experience?

Absolutely not, I completed high school and went to Uni for two years only to leave to do actual work. I had taught myself design and development from an early age and I spent two years at University learning the same things and worse still, not the right way – there is nothing better than actually getting out there and doing what you love to do. Experience over qualifications every time.

How has writing a blog affected your freelance career?

Perhaps by bolstering my name on the web, I started and continue to write my blog the way I want to write it – I never started it to gain new clients or reputation, simply as a place to write my thoughts and opinions. Lately however I do seem to get just as many requests for work through my personal blog as I do my actual portfolio site so in essence it has helped.

Where do you find inspiration?

Everywhere and anywhere that isn’t another web site – I fear to many people rely on gallery sites for inspiration, it’s magazines, books, architecture and physical design that inspires me most.

Is there anyone you look up to in the design community?

Everybody. It doesn’t matter if it’s a big name, or someone straight out of school. I admire everyone in our community, there is a serious wealth of talent out there. People are doing wonderful and amazing things and pushing our industry all the time, no-one should be overlooked.

Favorite colour and font/typeface?

Blue and FF DIN.

What are your top five favorite website designs?

That’s really tough. I absolutely love Simon Collison’s redesign , the new Panic blog is equally nice and the one site I wish I could steal the design of is Wilson Miner.

What’s your favorite style of website design and why?

Clean and simple aesthetics appeal to me most, it is my particular style of choice and I enjoy coming across other sites that pull off this minimalistic style well.

Are there any books or websites you’d recommend for designers?

Dan Cederholm’s new Handcrafted CSS is a real treat, and if you are in need of some inspiring images definitely check out FFFFound.

Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

I’m not sure where I would like to be in 5 months time, never mind 5 years. I’m all about here and now, I’ll worry about 5 years time in 5 years time!

Any last words for the aspiring designers trying to follow in your footsteps?

Work hard, never stop learning, stay on top of all the latest techniques and partake in the community you aspire to.

Thank you very much for taking the time to answer these questions Sam. If you have any questions for Sam, I am sure he would be more than willing to reply to them in the comment section.

  

Written by Liam McCabe

The almighty creator of CreativityDen. Loves every bit of design as well as going out with friends, playing golf and enjoying life!