For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?…

I’m a web designer based in Thessaloniki, Greece and have been working on the web since 1998. I started my career in the UK after I took my MA in Computing. Having a background in History of Art, my first degree, somehow helped me to get involved with design and combine the two disciplines. At first, I worked for a printer, the Invicta Press in Kent, for 4 years and then I came back to Greece to continue what I was doing. I got involved with web standards and CSS/XHTML development in 2004. and realized I had to attend a college to follow the latest trends, which I managed to do a year later. On July 2007. I started working as a freelancer and since then I am busier than ever. I never thought I was ever going to do so well and get so much work over the internet.

When did you start designing, and what was the main reason for that?

I started designing in 1997. during my Master’s degree. The degree was focused on creating a language teaching software (the course also covered some Internet based technologies). I found myself working mostly on the design of the project rather than the project itself :P. A few months later I found a job as a web designer, before even handing in my dissertation, and ever since I’m totally devoted to it.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

I now work for quite a few projects, a couple of them are the front-end design of web 2.0 applications, for which I had to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement, so I cannot say much. The others are mostly Wordpress based websites for individual companies & advertising programs, which I suspect you will see them at my portfolio soon.

Which part of your career or project would you call “the best of me”?

This is definitely, by far, the best part of my career as I have the chance to work with very talented people around the World and learn even more on my field. Being a freelancer gives me the freedom to plan my time according to my schedule. I have more time to relax, study and play with my designs. Going solo has helped me advance my skills to the direction I want.

What do you think about women in web design in general?

It seems like we are a minority in the web design industry and we don’t see us as often as our male counterparts. I haven’t come across many female web designers throughout my career either. I do believe that there are more women in web design that we are currently aware of. This is a great place to find them!

Do you have your favorite female colleague or a designer whose work you admire?

Molly E. Holzschlag is my heroine!

When did you launched your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with it?

I launched my website on September 2007. just to showcase my work. I felt the need to redesign it 3 months ago as I also wanted to turn it into a blog. I managed to get some really good projects through it.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

I like Stylegala and A list apart for daily reads, but I can’t deny that I find myself poking my friends on facebook during my breaks…

What are the most interesting things that your readers and visitors don’t know about you?

I’m a party animal!!

What is your main inspiration?

Inspiration is everywhere, if you look closely!

Who is your favorite artist?

I like impressionism and especially Manet in his early years for his technique on using the black color too much.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

Nope! I love my job. And the more I learn on how to handle any hick ups, the more I fall in love with it!

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

I love cooking… I practice this hobby every day! I also like driving… Sometimes, while I’m on a job, I drop it all, get into my small Ford Ka and drive to my grandparents’ place or down the beach. I pick up from where I left and get it all done faster.

What kind of music do you prefer?

Depends on the mood! Bet you’ve heard this before but it is so true. I can listen to any mambo jumbo you can think of, if I’m in that mood.

What is your favorite travel destination?

I visit the UK once or twice a year and I travel around Greece a lot. The country is rich in landscapes I haven’t seen yet..

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

Yes! Be prepared to keep learning and follow the latest technologies as you grow up. Try to turn bad criticism into constructive criticism for your own personal and professional development. Don’t let yourself get discouraged by anything or anyone! If you like it, then go for it!

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

What I really liked about this website, is that you bring on the surface the women that work in this industry and this is something we all need to see.

For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?…

I live in New York since the mid 90’s, and currently work as a user interface consultant for a consulting firm in Manhattan. My job sends me all over the tri-state area for all kinds of projects big and small, with clients including New York Stock Exchange, IEEE, and Teach For America.

When did you start designing, and what was the main reason for that?

My love affair with graphic design began in high school. I remember using MS Paint, then graduating to Photoshop, diving into HTML, CSS, and Flash, and never looking back. I did it for fun and loved it. Currently, I’m growing into more of a user-experience position, acting as a bridge between users and developers.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

I am in the middle of a very large and dynamic project. The client is a non-profit national organization involved in creating an online portal for its members. What makes this project so challenging is striving for the usability standards set by Google, Netflix, and Facebook - as if they came together to create this portal.

Which part of your career or project would you call “the best of me”?

It’s definitely the current project that I’m working on. I’m growing a lot, both personally and professionally, by taking on new and unfamiliar roles. And while I have been on some fast-paced projects, the pace of this one sets a new standard in my book.

What do you think about women in web design in general?

I’ve had the unusual experience of working with more women than men designers, although I have worked with both equally well. There are various reasons speculated for the gender gap in the industry, and you can read more about my take on the topic here. But I don’t think gender stands in the way of good design – it’s all based on vision, abilities, and passion for what you do.

When did you launched your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with it?

I launched my portfolio in December 2006, and the thing that makes me happiest is the number of emails I get in which people tell me how they find inspirations in my design, and how useful they find my collection of favorite websites.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

Most of these are collected on my website, tanyamerone.com - drop by, take a peek!

What are the most interesting things that your readers and visitors don’t know about you?

I did not extensively study Graphic Design in school – I’m a self-taught designer. I actually majored in the Computer Science field :)

What is your main inspiration?

The great outdoors.

Who is your favorite artist?

I am not sure if I could single out one artist whose work I enjoy more than others, but that title would probably go to Salvador Dali for his surreal style and the melting clocks.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

My job is a desk job, and I would rather not sit for long periods of time. If only I could hike and design at the same time ;)

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

Spare time is a luxury for me. :) Whatever spare time I have, I spend with my family and friends. I also love jogging, traveling, and taking photos.

What kind of music do you prefer?

I have been listening to a lot of different things, but really enjoy dance music while jogging.

What is your favorite travel destination?

I love Hawaii – it’s both peaceful and cultural, it has beaches, hiking and beautiful landscapes. Too bad it’s a ten hour flight from New York.

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

You have to love what you do (which by the way also applies to any other career). Without passion, it’s harder to find your way to be great at it. There are a lot of setbacks, such as lack of inspiration, lack of time, late hours and deadlines, but if you truly love what you do, it’s easier to focus and have fun while you’re at it.

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

It’s not just any other CSS showcase. It’s great that it targets female designers and promotes the female community online. Besides, it’s very cute!

For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?…

I grew up in Jacksonville, FL for most of my life but my family immigrated from Taiwan. My first computer was an Apple IIGs with an Imagewriter printer. I loved that machine and I’ve been an Apple lover ever since. I worked at AOL in Dulles, VA for almost 9 years which in dog years is a lifetime ;). I recently joined Nclud.com (a web design firm in DC but I’m based in San Francisco) as an Art Director/ Consultant/Partner. I drove cross country this past year from Virginia when I moved to San Francisco in my VW Beetle.

When did you start designing, and what was the main reason for that?

I started “designing” in high school. I wanted a career in art and entered contests in high school to test myself. I was always good at drawing and I knew I could do something with that ability. My family tried to convince me to be a pharmacist at one point and that was the last thing I wanted to do with my life.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

Hmm, tricky one because I’ve had to sign a lot of paperwork (non-disclosure documents) I can’t talk about those ;) I’ve been feeling like a design spy agent or I’ve been watching too many Alias episodes. Although I have been having fun working on illustrations for ma.gnolia.com’s logo.

Which part of your career or project would you call “the best of me”?

Well the most personal would be my blog. I worked for AOL most of my career, it was always very corporate. My site allowed me to play with the colors of the rainbow and my only requirements were my own.

What do you think about women in web design in general?

I think we still have a long way to go to make a name for ourselves. We’re getting there but the men still seem to be the focus of most conferences I’ve attended.

Do you have your favorite female colleague or a designer whose work you admire?

That would be Veerle Pieters, she’s one of my best friends and she’s been a great encouragement to me.

When did you launched your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with it?

I launched my site in June 2006. I gave myself the deadline to be before @media 2006 in London. My original blog (designrabbit.com) was filled with all my live blogging of SXSW interactive conference in 2006. During the redesign I switched the blogging to cindyli.com and moved my portfolio to designrabbit.com. My redesign gave me a way to showcase my personality.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

Faves are flickr.com and twitter.com - i find about the world and everything worth knowing about from the tweets of my friends.

What are the most interesting things that your readers and visitors don’t know about you?

I had a dark period in my life a few years ago where I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I wasn’t inspired and exhausted but I went to the 2005 SXSW interactive conference in Austin, TX to see if I could find something that could help; that event opened many doors for me. My most popular blog post is how to change out my VW Beetle headlights and I keep getting emails asking me how to change out hoses, and diagnose other car ailments; something i can promise i know nothing about.

What is your main inspiration?

Life and just experiencing as much as I can. A trait of being a good designer is placing yourself into someone else’s point of view. Researching, experiencing life is the best source of inspiration.

Who is your favorite artist?

Growing up I would have told you Claude Monet, a painting I did in college ended up in a textbook because of my love for impressionism.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

Making friends all over the world is great but the downside is not being able to ring them and have dinner that night.

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

I like to take photos, LOTS of photos. You can find me on flickr most of the time either posting or checking up on what is going on in my friends’ lives. I love to travel and help out at conferences/geek events.
I love having friends over for Hello Kitty waffles (brunch) and just catching up with them.

What kind of music do you prefer?

Depends on what kind of mood I am in. Silly danceable songs, 80s music. I love Big Band and that’s because of my swing dancing (I haven’t done that lately though).

What is your favorite travel destination?

Anywhere my friends and family are. I moved to San Francisco last year and the time zone difference hit me a bit harder than I expected.

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

It takes time. Dedication to your career or what you are passionate about will always get you far. Things do not happen overnight although sometimes via the internet it seems that way. Some sacrifices may be made (i.e. free time) but only you can decide what is worth it. Give back to the community when you can, there is always someone else that can use your help. Surround yourself with things you love that will inspire you. Stay positive and believe in yourself, and yes I know that sounds really cheesy.

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

Its a great place to feature the female community, keep it up.

For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?

I work with the most talented and passionate people at AgencyNet. I’m a senior Art Director surrounded by talent which inspires me every day. I am thankful for collaboration and being surrounded by people whom I admire. It is extremely rewarding to shape online experiences for some of the world’s most recognized brands. I also have a blog which serves as showcase for my artwork, photos and personal ramblings at LarissaMeek.com.

When did you start designing, and what was the main reason for that?

I’ve had an interest in art for as long as I can remember and Adobe Flash was a natural transition from my background in 3D animation. I fell into interactive design when I realized the opportunities it held. I first started designing in 2001 where the motivation was personal. The web presented a means to showcase my artworks, 3D animations and modeling portfolio all in one place. I’m a self-taught designer and now specialize in standards and usability.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

I can’t disclose specific details of projects we are working on at the moment but I can say I’m looking forward to some exciting launches in 2008! One of AgencyNet’s most recent projects was RoxyHunter.com created to promote an original movie series by Dolphin Entertainment which airs on Nickelodeon. I’m also in the processes of refreshing LarissaMeek.com with plans for a complete redesign in early 2008.

Which part of your career or project would you call “the best of me”?

OwnYourC.com - I was able to break away from the computer and get back to my roots of traditional arts by getting dirty with glue, paint and chicken wire. It was the best of me because it allowed me to utilize many aspects of my creativity from traditional arts to CSS and HTML.

What do you think about women in web design in general?

Web design tends to be a very male dominated field. However, I strongly disagree that it is a field where women are discriminated against. It just happens that fewer women are web designers probably because of the technical requirements. It simply takes hard work, passion and motivation.

Do you have your favorite female colleague or a designer whose work you admire?

I read Dooce on a daily basis and admire her for great writing and being a pioneer in terms of the blogging. I also admire Veerle Pieters who had a huge impact on designing with standards.

When did you launch your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with it?

I’ve been playing on the web since 2001. The most important thing I have accomplished with my blog is learning by failing in obscurity. Way back in 2001. I worked solely in Flash and I was a mediocre flash designer. I used my website to promote my art, 3D animation and modeling portfolio. In 2004 I made a transition to HTML after I realized how much bandwidth my site was eating and finally understanding the audience. So, I started a blog after being on reality TV. It was my method of talking with fans and expressing my side of the reality TV journey. This is when I fell in love with WordPress.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

I use NetVibes to scour my favorite reads. They range from FaceBook, Twitter, CSS Galleries, Felt Toys on Flickr and Hollywood gossip blogs. I read a lot of everything via RSS feeds.

What are the most interesting things that your readers and visitors don’t know about you?

I hate to drive. It stresses me out. Maybe it’s because I feel like Florida drivers are extremely rude and are very unpredictable.

What is your main inspiration?

My AgencNet friends inspire me more than anyone I know. There are a multitude of styles and disciplines that each person brings something special to the table. I thrive on collaboration. We spend a lot of time throwing ideas around at work.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

Deadlines, budgets and subjective opinions are the least fun aspect of design. The biggest challenge is producing top notch work in a short time frame. But even then, the good parts outweigh the bad.

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

In my spare time I love crafts such as painting custom Munnys. I’ve also recently purchased an SLR camera and plan on trying my hand at photography. Otherwise, I spend free time on my computer, doodling on paper or enjoying the company of my dogs Lucy a beagle and Wicket a Yorkie.

What kind of music do you prefer?

I love all types of music. I don’t have a particular style which I love the most – I simply enjoy variety. I might listen to Nora Jones one minute and Fat Boy Slim the next. It really just depends on what mood I’m in.

What is your favorite travel destination?

Germany is my favorite place. I have family there and many wonderful memories from childhood visits. There’s nothing better than laughing with the family.

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

Never stop learning. This industry moves so fast that there is always something new around the corner. Try to stay on top of the trends. You also don’t have to know how to do everything. It’s difficult to be great at just one thing if you are trying to be great at everything.

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

CSS Princess is a great resource for promoting females in the industry and showcasing great sites. I regularly visit the site for inspiration and design trends.

For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?…

I have been making websites since I was 13 years old, in 1996. I am currently working for “Rotary International”, a great non-profit organization that has over a million members across the world. This organization has contributed a great deal to the global polio eradication effort, and I just finished working on the redesign of their website.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

Right now I have two social networking site design projects. These are challenging projects because unlike static websites, these websites must support a constantly changing and evolving content as well as a community of people that have vastly different opinions and design tastes.

Which part of your career or project would you call “the best of me”?

Since I am constantly trying to improve my design skills, I hesitate to call anything my “best.” My favorite project so far is probably the entry “Dark Rose” I made for CSS Zen Garden, which became an official design.

What do you think about women in web design in general?

At my last job with a major Chicago design agency, all of the web designers were female. They were extremely talented, but they aren’t well-known despite having worked on websites for Motorola, Bluetooth, and Oprah. I think there are many amazingly talented female web designers whose talents far outshine their fame.

Do you have your favorite female colleague or a designer whose work you admire?

There are simply tons of female web designers out there that I love! If I had to name just one, it would probably be Veerle Pieters, because vector illustration is my weak spot, and she is so amazing and talented at it.

When did you launched your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with it?

My current website was launched in 2005. It mainly serves as a portfolio of my past works. I deliberately kept the amount of personal information on my website to a minimum. When I was younger I kept an online journal that got me in quite a bit of trouble, so I no longer write about my personal life online.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

I read the news daily at www.reddit.com, the BBC, and The New York Times. I also frequently visit design showcase sites like CSS Remix, CSS Mania, CSS Import, and Web Creme.

What is your main inspiration?

My main inspiration are the websites that people use frequently but do not pay so much attention to their designs - the kind of design that helps people access information easily and quickly, but stays out of the user’s way most of the time. Websites that seem so natural and effortless to navigate can actually take the longest time to design, and I really admire the designers that pull it off.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

I love designing and coding websites, and I like playing around in the back-end with databases and content management systems. However, because I freelance in my spare time, sometimes I find it frustrating to work with clients who are not very knowledgeable about the web or do not specify their needs up front, leaving a lot of guesswork.

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

Admittedly, I’m a complete computer geek. I used to chat on IRC back in the days of dial-up Internet, and I’ve been playing PC games since I was a little girl. I play role-playing and strategy games often, and I have an extensive list of MMORPGs that I’ve played. I also like to watch anime, read manga, and dig into science fiction and fantasy novels.

What kind of music do you prefer?

I listen to music when I design websites and play games. It’s often different depending on my mood, but most of the time I listen to alternative rock, punk rock, and trance. I’m a sucker for anything with piano, violin or guitar sounds, especially acoustic guitar.

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

Web design is not just about the visual beauty of a website, although that can be a large part of it. Usability, information architecture, clean code and speed are as important as the design itself. Always be user-centric, and never let your design get in the user’s way. Approach the art of making websites with a craftsman’s mindset, and don’t be afraid to put your own flair and style into it.

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

I think it’s a wonderful way to showcase all the great female web designers out there, and there is no other site quite like it.

Personal website: http://veerle.duoh.com/

For start of this interview - can you tell us more about yourself - career, life, news, other stuff?…

I’m a web/print designer based in Belgium and have been working for the web since 1996. My background is in print design because the web didn’t exist in my school days. Hell, even Photoshop and Illustrator didn’t exist back then. March 2006 was a turning point in my life because of the relaunch of my blog. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect all the attention. Since then it’s been a wild ride and it kept me very busy.

What is the most interesting thing that you work on, in this moment?

I am working on a big project that requires a lot of thought towards IA and wire-framing. Can’t tell anything more because I signed an NDA :) When it is launched I am pretty sure you’ll read about it on my blog ;)

Which part of your career or project would you call "the best of me"?

Without a doubt the relaunch of my blog. Not sure if it is the best of me, that will only become clear if I can’t top it :)

What do you think about women in web design in general?

Hmmm, to be honest I don’t think in gender terms when it comes down to web design. But to answer your question it’s getting better, but there still aren’t enough women in technology. All I can say is that the nerdy stereotype isn’t true and that it can be exciting.

Do you have your favorite female colleague or a designer whose work you admire?

I have a few female illustrators that I really admire and it’s a bit of a coincidence that both of them are from Spain. I’m talking about Catalina Estrada and Monica Calvo.

When did you launch your website/blog and what is the most important thing that you accomplished with him?

My blog was launched in March 2006 and it gave my global recognition as a designer. That’s something that I’ve never dreamed of happening ever.

What are your daily reads and favorite bookmarks?

I’m not reading anything anymore due to time restraints. All my time goes into working so I can’t remember when I last checked my feed reader. Favorite bookmarks are Flickr and also Twitter for pure pleasure and to see what my friends are up to. As for learning I would say A List Apart is high on my list. As for design inspiration, I like CP Luv (http://www.cpluv.com/) and NetDiver (http://www.netdiver.net)

What are the most interesting things that your readers and visitors don’t know about you?

I don’t know if I would call myself interesting, I’m just a regular girl.

What is your main inspiration?

My inspiration doesn’t come from one source it’s many things. It can be a book of contemporary furniture or something I spotted while riding my bike. Inspiration is hard to put into words. One thing that really helps is music.

Is there anything that you don’t like about your job?

I love what I do but sometimes I could do without the stress and the paper and administration work that comes with it.

Can you tell us something about your hobbies and things that you do in you spare time?

I love riding my bike to clear my head and a good book now and then. I also try to get back to drawing when I get a chance.

What kind of music do you prefer?

My favorite music is without a doubt soulful house, chill-out.

What is your favorite travel destination?

I really like Ibiza, but to say it’s my favorite is a bit off stretch since I have many more places that I like to see before making my mind up :)

Do you have any message for people at the beginning of their career in designing?

Keep being passionate in what you do and don’t give up when things don’t turn out right. It’s never easy to start something new and unfamiliar. In fact the learning never stops so you’ll have to keep the hunger for more, because just that makes you a better designer in my humble opinion.

What do you think about cssprincess.com?

Very pink and soft was my first reaction. I think it’s lovely and a nice idea.