Good Flash Design
You seem to have covered a wide range of media and
applications, what do you find has the most scope?
As a medium it's definitely the web...simply because it can
handle anything and is a true free global broadcast medium,
for media it's probably Flash again because of it's ability
to do almost anything, though Final Cut is my application of
choice these days.
What is the biggest
challenge you have encountered so far?
I think it's keeping up. keeping up with new technologies,
new techniques, and continuing to grow as a designer. One of
the hardest things for me these days is the early stages of
any project, because I've done this for so long now that I
know what is ahead of me at the start of a gig...many revs
of mediocre work, the back and forth between the client and
I, going home at the end of a day feeling hopeless because I
haven't hit the design yet...then finally, through all of
that, locking down a decent design. I never go into a job
and just nail it first couple of comps...it's always a long
process...and one I can't help but take personally simply
because what I do is so much a part of my self-esteem. So
maybe that's the most challenging thing.
What have been your
most enjoyable projects?
I've had a great time recently with Fox Searchlight...great
creative client and really good collaborative experience.
I've also enjoyed moving more into video...the work I've
done with the band Girls Against boys has been rewarding.
Did you
ever think that Flash would take off in the way it has? Is
this a good or a bad thing?
It's great. What's not to like? I know the big complaint is
that there's a lot of "bad" flash design...but that can be
said about any type of design. Flash took off fast because
it's a great product.
Where do you see the
future of Flash and the web going?
I have no idea...seriously...I learned a long time ago not
to answer these questions because you're always wrong...that
said, I can't help but say interactive video.
What/who are your
sources of inspiration?
They're so varied really...I'm pretty into Tupac right now,
and then there's the subversive thrillers of the
mid-seventies; "Three days of the condor", "Network",
"Marathon Man"... which are so great to watch especially now
because they were the "blockbusters" of the time and they
dealt with exposing the underbelly of our political and
social systems. And I've gotten back into the work of
designer Neville Brody recently.
What other programs
are you avidly interested in besides Flash?
The Apple video tools; FCP, Shake, DVDstudio pro and any
tool that deals with compression of video for the web.
If there is
something about Flash you could change, what would it be?
I would have it come with an ActionScript programmer
robot... that also made coffee.
To what extent has
the downturn in technology spending affected designers such
as yourself?
I work harder for less money and have to hustle a bit more
to land the jobs. I have also taken on smaller jobs than I'm
used to...but companies still have to get their messages out
and many are actually turning away from traditional media
and investigating the new media...so it's not all a bad
thing.
If you were given
the chance to meet one person, past or present, who would it
be and why?
My maternal grandfather...I'm named after him.
Thanks to
Hillman Curtis (hillmancurtis.com) for agreeing to answer the questions
the moderators and I had for him. Thanks to the moderators
kitiara, jubba, lostinbeta, and the rest who helped provide the questions
for this interview.
