Brains are way more powerful than _even_ photostudio version 54.7 ultra beta professional (advanced edition).

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

Creative Director for Mindflood, in Orange County, CA.

I began learning stuff when I got fired from a bartending job for “stealing.” (They never proved anything.)

I stumbled upon some design books, fell in love, and found my passion.

In the part of Pennsylvania I’m from, my options were limited to blue-collar work, or crime (which didn’t work out for me so well… see above.) So, I got out of there and came to the west coast.

I found a few cool jobs along the way, and eventually met some really talented, like-minded folks and started Mindflood with about 12 bucks, 2 computers and a mouse pad.

  What do you do for inspiration?

Drink. Smoke. Play basketball. Read. Think. Rinse. Repeat.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

Google.com; Dictionary.com; Mapquest.com

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Going back to that restaurant I got fired from and looking into the sad faces of the people I used to work with who are still bartenders.

  What software couldn't you live without?

They’re just tools… Brains are way more powerful than _even_ photostudio version 54.7 ultra beta professional (advanced edition).

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

Quite a few exciting things. We’re starting to do more video and motion graphics work, which is very exciting for the direction of our company.

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

There’s waaaayyy too many to limit it to just 3. Let’s just say, the competition out there is scary.

  What effect on traffic do your new designs have?

Traffic blows here in Southern California. Despite all of our design efforts, the commute still sucks.

  Who is your target audience?

Personally, me. Professionally, the client.

  What area of web design lacks the most?

Concept. There’s a ton of quality designers around, but at a certain point, what makes something special is the concept.

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

I think it was for my dog, Goat. It might still be online, I’ll ask her.

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

No, I haven’t. But, yes, I’d love to write my memoirs.

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

Hm, I wouldn’t say I do many tough things with Flash. I’m more of a timeline guy, but I’m always amazed at what our bad-ass programmer does with it.

What’s this “Actionscript” you speak of?

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

I predict Adobe will buy out Macromedia and it will stick around for quite a while.

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

Of course, it can be helpful. And, of course, it’s not the only way to go.

Learning is a process that doesn’t necessarily have to begin, and certainly shouldn’t end, in a classroom.

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

Word of mouth, for sure. Make that first client happy, and they’ll certainly be back, and they’ll tell a friend or two along the way.

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

There’s so much information on the “internet.” Close the porn and do some research.

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

I can’t divulge this information, as it could be deemed… …illegal.

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

80% of my clothes were given to me. I couldn’t care less what I wear, as long as it covers the naughty bits.

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Be passionate… but stay grounded. No one likes that guy at the basketball court who has the latest pair of Nikes, the authentic basketball jersey, 2 wristbands, a knee brace, a headband, and sports goggles.

Basically, don’t take yourself too seriously.

  It's been a privilege, thanks very much.

Thank you!