Image from daughterstoo.com designed by Verlie Hutchens.
While compiling the initial directory, and looking at some of the numbers, I noticed Verlie Hutchens, who listed her years in business as 30 - a bit long for even the first generation Web developer, so I sent her email to confirm her numbers.
"That's 30 years of design, not necessarily website design," says Verlie. " This medium is new to me, but design certainly isn't. I got a BFA in 1972 in metalsmithing and crafts, after majoring in sculpture for a couple of years. I designed custom jewelry for people in my store in Rochester NY for several years, making affordable artwork to wear from precious metals. I've designed clothing, houses, gardens, tatting patterns, fixtures for use in a tool and die shop, stuffed animals, graphics, polymer clay jewelry, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something. Web site design is such an exciting new medium for me. I call myself an 'actualizer of visions', and am loving actualizing them in this extremely fluid form for the web."
So I had to follow up with a few more questions.
|
Image from daughterstoo.com designed by Verlie Hutchens. |
"Web sites move in any number of directions at once, leading down different alleys and winding back on themselves in infinite patterns." |
How did you move from more traditional design to designing Web sites?
I've always enjoyed exploring new media and learning new things. I'm also fascinated by the cyber-realm. My mind loves nothing better than tackling some new way of constructing, and this form is like no other I've ever used. I initially took a class in HTML from Virtual University in order to display my own polymer clay work (among other things), and to connect with other people with similar interests to my own. However, I got so distracted by the process of website development itself that I have yet to finish putting up the content in my own home site.
Right now I'm in the middle of tackling the complexities of interactive marketing and personalization for each customer on the Daughterstoo.com site, working with software that will create each item page from an extensive database. I'm also entranced by the non-linear aspects of the Web. Books have a beginning, middle, and end. Art work generally is all of one piece to be encountered as one whole in the moment. Web sites move in any number of directions at once, leading down different alleys and winding back on themselves in infinite patterns. I've found myself wanting to write fiction specifically for the web, where the story would be different every time one read it, depending on the turns one chose to take each time.
Is Web design now your primary source of business?
Primary, yes, but not exclusive.
Does traditional training in design transfer well to the Web, and if so why, and if not, why not?
Absolutely. I can spot someone with a good design background immediately on the web, and can also spot someone who hasn't a clue. A good solid art and design background translates into all media, and is a required foundation for doing attractive work of any kind. There are principles that have carried on for centuries that are still totally true and relevant now. One also needs the technical tools in order to do good work here, and there are many limitations and challenges in designing for the web, but a good design background only makes it all easier and more rewarding.
What were your own greatest challenges in learning to develop Web sites?
My greatest challenge now is always whatever the current thing on my 'learning edge' is. And next month the thing that is driving me crazy now will be old hat, I will have forgotten that this one was so difficult for a while, and there will be a whole new challenge occupying my attention. So far this process seems to be endless. There's always more to learn, and the technological development keeps moving along, growing and changing, so there always will be more to learn here.
That's what I love most about this medium. There's always a challenge. What fun would life be without them?
What words of wisdom would you offer to those trying to develop a unique style in a field such as this?
The thing that comes to mind first is, follow your vision. Take some time to meditate, ponder, or whatever, to allow a clear vision of what you're trying to communicate clarify in your mind before you ever begin a site. The other vitally important thing in the design process itself, is never to include anything that doesn't address the purpose of the page. Only use sound or animation if there is a specific purpose for it, something that can only be communicated that way. Otherwise such things are only annoyances.
I did a site for a lodge in the woods and wanted to create the feel of the forest and the lake. For this I used a rippling water applet and bird sounds to really bring the viewer into the image. On the bookstore site, or the site about herbs for mental health and wellbeing, these would clearly be inappropriate. I think designers sometimes think that they need to use all the tricks they know to impress viewers with their knowledge, but in my personal opinion, the simpler the better in most cases, but not so simple as to be flat out boring.
You have all these wonderful ways to communicate in this medium. You can use words, shapes, colors, textures, page formatting, graphics, sounds, movement... all to evoke a feeling, and to let someone know what your site is about. Use them, but be sure they're all on target.
What types of features and services would you like to see on designshops.com?
The service that is missing on the web right now, is some kind of mentoring forum, bulletin board, or what have you for people who are beyond basic html, but are not yet programming software for e-commerce and beyond. We 'betweeners' need tech support, I think. There's a ton of it for beginners, and some for the top of the heap, but none for us in the middle that I have found. I'd also like to see some kind of support in the design realm. Otherwise, I'm sure you've thought of all manner of good things to provide already. I guess my main point is interactivity.
Learn more about Verlie's Design Shop
FunStuff by Verlie, Actualizer of Visions
Verlie's website designs reflect her good solid design and artistic abilities, and her enthusiasm about this new medium. Her simple straight forward designs are beautiful, easy to navigate, and communicate clearly. No cumbersome frames, irritating sounds, or flashing distractions.
Bob Kaehms profiled Verlie in December, 1998.
A 30 year-old company, FunStuff by Verlie, Actualizer of Visions employs 1 .
FunStuff by Verlie, Actualizer of Visions
PO Box 1084
Easthampton , MA 01027
Phone: 1-413-527-2312
Email: Verlie@concentric.net
Contact: Verlie - Actualizer of Visions