What do you think the distinct characters of web design compared with other design genre?

Any distinct characteristics change as the tools for developing the media and viewing the work change. The characteristics of web sites five years ago would be very different from today. One would have to compare images reduced to a few colours and rough animated gifs to the sophistication that greater bandwidth, more powerful development applications and better display tools capable of greater colour depths and resolutions. Good web design should deliver a good experience. This experience should engage the viewer/user and deliver the information they desire. This is as true of traditional sites, experimantal sites or any other.

We prefer to think of our industry as interactive design rather than just web design. When you think of it like that the differences between traditional media, linear media and new media as they stand today becomes very clear. Interactive media is time-based, you can travel backwards and forwards and sideways in real time along the theoretical timeline like no other medium. Mix this principle with images, audio, text, video and it starts to get interesting. It seems that nobody right now is managing to achieve all that is possible right now so imagine what it will be like in 10 years time. We can only begin to imagine what we’ll be seeing then. One thing’s for sure, the boundaries between mediums will have been broken down and people playing in the digital arena will create some really challenging things. It will be interesting to see what the next generation of people (who have grown up with multimedia) produce, and where they push the whole thing. We will probably be all out of a job by then.

What is the most important things creating web site?

That it works. A good web site’s form and function should be invisible to the user. When you watch a good film you are immersed in the story and don’t think that’s great camerawork or the acting is good – you might do later, but not at the time. In the same way a web site should deliver it’s content or message without the user thinking that’s a good design element or clever programming. It should draw the user in, bit by bit, and make them want to come back or tell their friends, and when they do come back they should find new things the didn’t discover before, unlock new areas and content. Keep the users engaged, and don’t break the spell by letting anything like bugs spoil the experience.

What advice do you give others who wish to go into web design?

Do it because you enjoy it. If you want to get a job working in the industry it’s essential that you create your own web space where you can experiment and learn. We don’t even consider someone for employment without their own space on their web – it implys they’re not passionate about the medium. We know people can be busy, but even the smallest online presence can make a difference. Don’t do what everyone else is doing, unless you want to know how they did it, but once you know that turn it upside down and do your own thing with what you have learnt. Don’t follow trends because they will always come and go, the best way to forge a niche for yourself is to develop a reputation for high quality work, however simple, and to be patient. You’re time will come…

Let me know your personal plans to develop your careers, your ultimate goal as a web design company?

To not “just” to be a web design agency. The skills we have reach far beyond the web and the prospect of developing complete solutions and creative strategy’s across various media is the ultimate goal for us.

What about your life-style in London? Are there something special to influence your inspiration and creativity.

Phil- London as a whole inspires me. its things outside the medium. The places I go. The people I meet. The things I see. I love stuff on walls, stencils, posters and graffiti, stuff that isn’t there the next time you pass it. This is why I love the web as a medium, the way stuff can be there one minute and gone the next. The transience of the medium is what keeps it fresh.

Favorite quotes or preloaded’s slogan?

Keep it simple.
Nothing can go wrong.
It’s in the details.
It’s finished, but…
Oh, I found another bug.

What is preloaded plans in the future?

We intend to produce more broadband projects, more video based works and take advantage of the faster connection speeds of the internet and greater capabilities of the latest hardware platforms, technology is moving on – we got to keep abreast of it!

Preloaded Ltd,
Address: Unit A6, 8-9 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7684 3505
https://www.preloaded.com