Think - Act - Don't think - Act. Don't stop 'till you love it yourself.

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

Born in 1974 in the south of the Netherlands and still living there. Did graphic design and art school (interaction design), founded Fluid.nl in 2000 and became a dad almost two years ago.

  What do you do for inspiration?

It’s a combination of a zillion things together, but the medium itself is definitely an inspiration to mention.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

Google

Wikipedia

Newstoday

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Being self-employed since 2000

  What software couldn't you live without?

An operating system, Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator and email

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

A series of online games for a Dutch brand, a Flash Content Management System I’m building with Thomas from Deluxe a dynamic interface environment for design student’s portfolio work and an animation and site for a new range of Philips products.

And, I’ve just launched a site with Folkert Gorter for the Art Directors Club of the Netherlands containing a Flash interface to access rewarded advertising projects which is the beginning of a national archive of advertising history in the Netherlands.

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

I don’t think I have a list of that.

  What effect on traffic do your new designs have?

The Fluid design implementation effects department is currently not available.

  Who is your target audience?

From a project point of view it can be anybody basically because that depends on the project or brand.

My clients are companies, agencies and organisations in the commercial and cultural field.

  What area of web design lacks the most?

Functional playful behaviors and applied generative design.

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

It was a Macromedia Director site, made somewhere around 1996. I skipped HTML immediately. I’m still surprised it’s here in the form we know it now.

I don’t know why exactly but the site looked retro, pink, white and purple with a metal booming hard in the center. I actually won a prize with it, it stated something like ‘this is really ‘not-done’, but it’s nice’. Damn too bad I can’t find it anymore.

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

No, and yes I would love to do a book someday.

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

If it really gets tough, I change the design (don’t tell anybody)

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

Absolutely, Macromedia did a great job with Flash 8, it’s really becoming the ultimate tool for me and many others, designers and developers.

It’s funny to see this update when you worked with Director years ago when Flash didn’t even exist.

The performance upgrade and new features like programming on pixel level and motion tracking are all coming from Director actually.

  What are your views on design/graphic school. Do you think someone can get into the field without educational experience in a school environment?

Yes, but it depends on the person. And the internet is the greatest thing for it of course.

I mean, it’s all out there, knowledge, people, inspiration.

  When your company was just getting started, what did you find was most effective for getting new clients?

The Fluid website. Without Fluid.nl v1 I wouldn’t be where I am at the moment.

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

Think - Act - Don’t think - Act. Don’t stop ‘till you love it yourself.

Oh yeah, and reality checks are okay from time to time – not too often though.

  What is the most expensive thing you've bought in the last week?

Snowboard shoes

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

I believe I wear label stuff here and there, but I’m not really aware of it.

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Create your own wisdom.

  It's been a privilege, Remon, thanks very much.

My pleasure.