23 Questions!

Whilst most of us can be frequently confuse our front end from our back end, our latest A List has made a career out of developing them... for the web! Take a moment to get to know Tom.

What sparked your passion for design?
I can’t really pin point it, I’ve always had an in interest in art, design & photography and it has just grown from there. My Art teacher at school definitely helped develop my love of the creative world.

How creative were you as a youngster?
I always loved doodling and had an active imagination. I used to love pottery and working with my hands in art class and also getting into the dark room was always amazing.

Do you come from a creative family? Were they supportive of your desire to be a designer?
My dad has always worked with his hands being a landscape gardener and my mum’s side of the family are all artistic, one being an art teacher and her father being an artist and musician so yeah you could say my family is creative. They’ve always been behind whatever path I’ve chosen which has been a great help.

What sort of education and training have you had?
I studied French, Art, Media Studies and Photography at college and went on to complete a Foundation in Art & Design.

Who did you want to work for when you first entered the industry?
Living where I did I was never fully aware of all the amazing agencies out there, so I would AKQA was always one I would like to be a part of.

Tell us about your first project and what do you feel about it now?
My first commercial project was a real learning curve for me a pushed me a huge amount. Looking back at it now, it’s not something I’m proud of but it was the stepping stone to where I am now.

What is your preferred software to work with and what has been the greatest advancement in technology over the past 5 years? Preferred is a difficult one, I use Dreamweaver day in day out, but would like to explore Aptana or similar packages. As far as Web Development goes, the prevalent use of new technologies such as AJAX and sleek, efficient Javascript frameworks. Also there has been a real drive to raise awareness as to the importance of semantic code, usability and accessibility.

What are the various mediums that you¹ve worked with and is there any that you would like to explore? I love working with anything that does the job well and efficiently, for that reason I’ve put a lot into learning and exploring jQuery and would love to explore it further along with some of the PHP frameworks out there.

Is digital technology going to eliminate the need for print?
I certainly hope not, digital will never be able to replace the feel and aesthetic pleasure you get from print.

Whose work do you really admire and why?
The freedom and pure expression of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s work has always been an inspiration. I’ve spent long periods of time starring at Rothko’s murals at the Tate, I love his use of colour an vast canvases.

Who has been the greatest person that you¹ve ever had the pleasure of working with and what have they taught you? That would have to be Jay, the Production Director at my last Agency in the UK. He was a great mentor and gave me the space and time to find the path I wanted to follow.

What has been your greatest achievement so far?
So far I would say the Video Ezy website build whilst in Sydney.

How would you describe your work?
Clean, efficient and well written.

What are your plans for the future?
I'd like to see myself working within a tight team that share my passion for moving forward and sharing ideas and knowledge.

What sort of company would you like to work with next?
A forward thinking agency that strives to be different, where knowledge and ideas are shared and taken on board.

What is your opinion of Australian design?
I haven’t been here long enough or seen enough to form an opinion. I think there are some brilliant creative forces in Australia as there are all over the world and some not so brilliant.

What is the best/worst thing about being a designer in Australia?
Having not been here long enough, I’d have to say the heat at times?!

In your opinion, what is the greatest challenge the Australian design industry has to face in the near future? In terms of technology, access to the internet really has to get better and move with the rest of the world, uncapped and cheaper.

What is your creative outlet outside of design?
Sharing what I find interesting and inspiring on my blog; www.maketimetodesign.com, cooking, photography and doodling!

What is the best designed bar in Melbourne?
Having only been here for 2 weeks you will have to come back to me on that one! Black pearl and Polly on Brunswick St have a lovely vibe and great staff.

What are your top 5 websites at the moment?
– i love the intuitive nature and detail in which Facebook works, more often than not without you even realising.
www.printsociety.com – i love having a browse and seeing what’s on there!
www.rumplo.com – you can never have enough t-shirts.
www.ffffound.com – awesome site with so much inspiration
www.flickr.com - again another intuitive site with great use of modern technologies and a great toolset.

What CD are you currently listening to and is it any good?
Miike Snow/Miike Snow – It’s an absolutely amazing album, everyone should have a copy!!

If I was a font, I’d be...?
Can I really say Helvetica..?! The worlds most used typeface, but for a reason!


Do you need an A-List Artisan like Tom in your studio? Would you like to know more? Contact Karen NOW!