Alang from the Digital Point forums conducted a brief but precise Interview from one of the best Graphics and Website's designer Zeb a.k.a Agent47 in the Digital Point Forums and the designer of www.eonte.com, http://www.dirjournal.com/, http://www.web-designers-directory.org/ and http://www.argusvision.net/ etc , Interview is as follows.
1. Could you please tell us brief description about you?
I hold honors degree in Information technology with over 5-6 years of web design/development experience. I was introduced to the internet in mid 2000 and since then I am addicted to this wonderful virtual world. I run a couple of directories and a few websites as a side business. I spend most of my time over the internet and play computer games with friends on weekends.
2. How long you involve in web designing?
I believe that was somewhere in the late 2001 when I stumbled upon a book on Adobe Photoshop 5.5 in my university’s library. I had a quick read of its first few chapters and installed the software included with the book on my PC. I started with photo retouching and creating optical illusions for fun and figured out later that it is not just a photo editing tool but something that I can start my career with.
3. Do you design web directory only?
Not exactly! In fact I have a very limited number of directory design projects under my belt. I’ve designed and developed numerous websites for various international companies. I do print media work, web design projects, e-commerce websites and coding in PHP. TemplatesFactory is my recent web design/development project.
4. What were the challenges in designing web directories?
With basic or intermediate knowledge of XHTML or dreamweaver one can find it easy to code a template. Designing the layout in Photoshop is another story. You need to come up with something that is unique, professional and exactly what your client expects you to deliver and that is the challenging part.
5. What is your first directory design and how many directories that you have designed so far? (provide a list)
As mentioned earlier, I did a limited number of directory designs because of my busy schedule and being selective in picking up clients. SkyBlue Template was my first directory design that I released and distributed for free and was the very first free template for phpLD that got popular among directory owners and is still used by many directories that I am aware of. Peppermint template is also in the list of my popular phpLD templates that was released right after SkyBlue and DomzStyle template. Directory Journal, Eonte Directory, ArgusVision and LinksFactory are some of the custom directories I’ve designed. I also designed and coded DaVinci template that was sold earlier. I don’t know where it is currently uploaded by the buyer but here is a demo.
6. What are your favorite directory design? (One by you and another one by other designer)
Like most of the designers I am a big fan of my own work but that doesn’t prove me the best designer out there. There is still a lot more to learn and is always room for improvement. If I have to pick one of my favorite directory designs then I would choose “Directory Journal” since it was launched with a different idea and unique concept and not to mention, is in safe hands.
My favorite directories that were designed by other designers aren’t many. There are several good directory designers and most of them are good friends but I’ll be honest here. There isn’t a single directory design that can make me say “wow!..!” and it really doesn’t mean that there is a shortage of quality work. I have seen so many directories with good design lately and I see a lot of progress in this area. Marko, Aspidov and other designers have some nice designs in their portfolio and I have a high regard for their work. Gii.in caught my attention because of its clean and uncluttered look. I think I also voted for Edgelevel and Aviva Directory in phpLD site of the month contest.
7. What is your advice for directory owner on how to choose directory designer?
The Directory business is growing fast and we see tons of directories popping up every day. Some of them stay in business and some get vanished. There are many factors involved in the success and quality of a web directory but I will give more value to the design since it represents your identity and is the first impression that counts. I see most of the directory owners ignore this factor. Some may choose a free template that looks exactly the same like hundreds of directories out there. You should always bear in mind that design of your directory must be distinctive and professional that can symbolize your business and do justice with your identity.
Choosing a right designer simply depends on your requirements and budget. Always make sure you know your spending constraints before you begin negotiating with any designer. You can get a template designed and coded for half the price but you don’t get the results you are looking for. When it comes down to making a choice, choose one who can clearly understand your requirements and turn your thoughts into something that can enhance your site credibility and can provide good return on your investment. Paying a little extra for a better solution is worth if it sells. Having a unique and well designed internet image tells your visitor about how much serious you are in your business and will eventually increase the chances of sales. In addition to design, you should also consider the content of directory. Clean formatting of the content, consistent look of the inner pages, site load time, user friendly navigation, SE optimized and valid XHTML code, clear separation of content from site graphics, cross-browser compatibility and accessibility are all important aspects.
P.S: Zeb also designed Alive Directory and DBuzzer General Directory
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