• What’s the skinny on you? Tell us your story.
My name is David Link. I'm a Web Designer and Front-End Developer at a small, 6-man studio in Baton Rouge, LA, where I've been for almost 3 years.
• What is it that drew you to a life of graphic design?
I've been interested in art since I was a little boy, always loved to draw and cut things up and glue them back together. And since I grew up around computers, loved 'em, and eventually discovered that I could draw and cut things up there too. When I was about 11 or 12 (1995/6) I started to become very interested in the internet, and making websites (a concept that was only a few years old at the time). Eventually, I combined my 3 loves and dedicated myself to become a web designer.
• Where did you collect your design education?
I graduated in 2007 from Louisiana State University with a BFA in Graphic Design. But most of what I know and use today is self-taught. The result of lots of reading, trying, and occasionally failing.
• Are you a team player, or are you a solo creative?
That's a tough question. I do like working with my team, I love to give and take critique (part of my Art School background, I suppose), and definitely love to help them learn something new whenever I can. However, I'd consider myself my best when I'm just left on my own to do my work. When it's just me and the problem at hand, is when I really thrive.
• Are there any qualities you wish for in a project, or, describe your dream job?
My favorite jobs are working with start-ups. I love to be there with people at the ground floor as they're developing their business, helping them make decisions that will directly and greatly affect their future. It's a lot more rewarding to get people excited about their brand new venture than it is to go in and try to topple years of tradition at a more developed business.
• What primes your creative pump? Where do you find your best inspiration?
The thought of doing something new, or helping to create something really useful is very motivational for me. I can derive inspiration from just about anything, but mostly its by seeing other people's work. Seeing others' concepts that are truly creative can really get the wheels turning.
• We have all had projects that didn’t go well or were quite the challenge. What have you learned from these scenarios?
Most of the struggles I've had, both and school and work, were related to time. I've learned that things never take as much time as you think... they usually take much more. It's difficult to plan ahead for problems you didn't know existed, so one of the things I've learned is to build in some "buffer" time, and do your best not to squander it.
• If you happened upon enough cash flow to retire today, what would you do?
If you would've asked me 5-10 years ago, I'd say "Sit at home and play video games"... and trust me, if I retired today, there'd still be plenty of gaming going on in my free time. But more recently I've dreamed of moving out somewhere and doing some organic farming. Just next to the farm, I'd build a restaurant that would use the fresh produce from the farm as a part of its menu.
But there's no way I'd retire completely from the web, I love it too much. I'd find things to work on, other things to create. It's a part of me now.
• Any advice you care to divulge to students who are currently in training?
Yes, absolutely. The things you're learning from your teachers is NOT ENOUGH to make you the best designer you can be. Teach yourself as much as you can. Learn constantly, learn as much as you can about anything you can. If there's one thing that can separate you from the rest of your peers, it's knowing how to do all kinds of shit. Seriously.
• Last chance, is there anything we missed you’d like to impart?
If you want to be a web designer, Photoshop isn't enough. Learn to write good HTML/CSS.
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