Shut down that damn image box, forget about the net, get your dog and go out for a long walk.

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

Tomasz Jankowski. Polish designer / photographer, currently lives in city of Kalisz (there's a special prize for the first one, who'll find it on the maps).

Four years ago I quit my work in an ad agency and started my freelance project – mondo.

For last three years I have been exploring web design and animation. My work is focused on designing corporate web sites using flash technology (see on-line portfolio at mondo). At the same time I'm working on non-commercial projects, whose purpose is to search for dependencies between vector animation, video and sound.

  What do you do for inspiration?

Mostly, I read and listen to music. I often go out and watch nature, people, city life and absorb the sounds and movement they generate. Then, I go back and read more, while listening to more music.

  What software couldn't you live without?

The almighty trinity, I worship is: Flash, Photoshop and Freehand.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

I don't have any favorites, but I visit more often than others:

- www.PrayStation.com for overall weirdness,

- www.Newstoday.com for information,

- www.2advanced.com for pixel perfectionism.

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

Well, as in normal everyday work. I have some long-term clientele, so I'm working for them. Sometimes I receive a call and discuss the ideas of a new project. If it's interesting enough, I'll put it in my schedule.

The permanent "sub-pipeline" project is my own web site.

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

I think, becoming a part of Flashforward community. At FF 2000 in San Francisco I was a finalist in the "Best Design" category. Then, at FF 2000 in London I won the "Best Sound" category. An FF 2001 in San Francisco I had my own session about mondo web design.

All those events changed my views on design entirely and gave me pretty vast recognition worldwide.

  Who do you rate as being the top 3 design companies?

Everything depends on human resources - for now: 2advanced, Ultra16, WeWorkForThem.

  What effect on traffic do your new designs have?

I'm not into e-business, so I don't care about traffic much.

  Who is your target audience?

Commercially - my clientele's target audience. Non-commercially - everyone who wants to slow down a bit, find a spare hour and dive into my on-line realms. Everyone who's interested in personal broadcast in the form of animation and sound.

  What did your very first site look like? Is it still online?

It looked like crap. I think there's some screen captures of it on my web site.

  What area of web design lacks the most?

Individuality. Today, one designer's idea is the next 1000 designer's "inspiration". So, 90% of web design is a bunch of trendy sites, with all that hype type, lines, pixels and blinking logos. People should look for inspiration outside of the net, they should focus more on themselves than on some other designer's work.

  Have you written any books, if not do you plan to?

I've written a chapter for the first edition of "New Masters of Flash" by FriendsOfED. There are some plans for other stuff...we're talking.

  What was the toughest thing you ever did with Flash? How long did you spend on it?

The toughest thing was my first ever TellTarget script :) It took me one whole day to figure out Instance names :)

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

Considering the direction of development and user acceptance, it will stay forever.

  How have you learned so many Flash/design skills and techniques and can you offer any advice for newbies?

I don't consider myself as a flash wizard, I'm still learning. So my advice for newbies would be: learn.

  What type of overcoat do you wear when Flashing, basically are you a labels man?

Rather not. But I always wear very comfortable stuff, good fabric, well crafted. Considering that, there's few labels meeting that criteria.

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Shut down that damn image box, forget about the net, get your dog and go out for a long walk.

  It's been a privilege, Tomasz, thanks very much!

My pleasure, thanks.