Jason Robb

Wow, so many sad and depressing comments on Khoi Vinh’s web site. Where is the hope people? How can you even compare iconic print designs to the ever changing web? What’s the point anyways?

I’m a one man show. That guy in the middle that does it all (as hard as he can). I’m the designer, developer, project manager, information architect, user experience evangelist, usability and accessibility person all wrapped into one freelancer. I completely agree that there aren’t many people who will try to run a business and wear so many hats. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one that’s going through this kind of hardship. It’s a very lonely and depressing feeling, like nobody understands you, and nobody wants to help you.

The people I work for aren’t huge corporations, they’re startups and mom n’ pop stores. They’re people living in the suburbs or in smaller cities that would have a crappy site made by their “nephew” who has a ripped copy of DreamWeaver. But I get a hold of them, and educate them, and show them how deep the rabbit hole actually goes. The fact of the matter is, I used to be that nephew! But I went back to school for design, and continued to grow in every way I could.

There is a lot more thought and strategy that goes into web sites than what goes into print designs. The quality is on the surface of print design, but with the web it extends beyond that, into the hearts of people who use the sites. Print is static, how could you compare that to something that can grow and morph to provide more quality?

Web sites can be boring, but creating them is anything BUT boring. To anyone that thinks they’re job is boring: why not stop being curmudgeons and do something exciting with your life?

Specialization is for insects.