Interview: Larissa Meek

Personal website: http://larissameek.com/

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.