There are lots of resource and tutorials online, but the most useful resource is the help in Flash. There are no shortcuts, so spend time on it.

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

Henry Chu, Born in 1976, Hong Kong.

I started my design studio pill & pillow in 2004.

Apart from my design career, Im also a media artist and part-time lecturer.

  What do you do for inspiration?

Books, music, videos, films, going to the streets and taking a shower.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

group94.com, yugop.com, db-db.com

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Staying in the design business with a good balance between profitability and quality.

  What software couldn't you live without?

Flash, Fireworks, Photoshop.

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

We are working on 3 projects for a local leading property company, also a new website for a local design studio.

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

I think the works from group94, sofake and hi-res are revolutionary, and yugop is always the king of interactive design.

In local industry, I recommend CoDesign, Sixstation and milkxhake. Sorry to mention so many.

  What effect on traffic do your new designs have?

Design is only one factor to make people stay in a website, whether the website will generate traffic really depends on the content.

  Who is your target audience?

Depends on project and client, but I hope people like minimal design also like my websites.

  What area of web design lacks the most?

Web design should have a concept and message behind all the styles and executions.

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

It is not online anymore, it’s was an html site with images and text, nothing special.

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

No, I’m not good at words.

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

By using Unity Multiuser Server + Flash 8, I created ASCII Video, took me 1 week.

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

Yes. Flex is up coming, but it’s also Flash based.

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

I didn’t go to any design schools before I got into the industry, I wish I went to one.

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

Always deliver more with a limited budget, first it turns an ordinary work into a showcase, and second it will help you cost the next client higher.

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

Most of skills are self-taught, I pay attention to the new techniques in the industry, and I will try to do it myself.

There are lots of resource and tutorials online, but the most useful resource is the help in Flash. There are no shortcuts, so spend time on it.

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

A dinner.

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

I dress as casual as possible.

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Keep producing good work, and you will be rewarded one day.

  It's been a privilege, thanks very much.

You are welcome. It’s my pleasure.