And let's face it, some people just have the gift and some others spend years attending a good school and pumping out mediocre work.

  Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

I started designing for the web in 1997. First in Brazil, for McCann, and moved on through different agencies around the globe - 5 different countries in total.

I believe all that experience has molded my character much more than it has molded my view of international design. I've always been drawn to different things, different situations, adversities, growth.

  What do you do for inspiration?

Nothing. Oh, well, I guess I try not to take what we do way too seriously and keep a light environment around me.

I think inspiration comes naturally in an environment where people like what they do, people like and respect each other, and are free to explore different possibilities.

Today I get a lot of inspiration from the great team working with me. They are usually much more in tune with what's new than I am.

  Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

thefwa.com

imdb.com

farfar.2038.com/english/musicvideo.html

  What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Professionally, I think it's starting up Gringo.nu this year. That means a basic shift from thinking about concepts and what works, as a creative director, to thinking about everything from a much higher perspective.

What makes the team happy? How are their careers developing? Are they happy? Is my business partner happy? What does the client really want? How can we best spend his money on? What really works?

How to always innovate and why that is so important not only for business but also for personal growth. Where are we heading towards as a company? What is our role as a company in society today? There is still so much to learn.

  What software couldn't you live without?

A browser.

  What projects do you have in the pipeline?

I don't know if I can talk about that at this point, but suffice to say they are all international projects, very conceptual, extremely difficult and challenging to produce, and that the team is having a blast working on them.

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

I am not sure I know enough about all the great people around, but here are some:

northkingdom.com

evb.com

farfar.se

  What effect on traffic do your new designs have?

I think information needs to be well designed to be better absorbed and to pass on a certain feeling. But design is just a small part of what generates interest.

Look at porn sites for instance. Huge traffic, terrible design (for the most part). We try to use design as just another detail, albeit a big one, of what can make a site memorable and generate traffic.

  Who is your target audience?

Mainly people who are a bit web-savvy already, young, who are only impressed by things that are ultra cool.

  What area of web design lacks the most?

I think I still see the lack of great typographic work in online design.

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

It was a disgrace. Did it using Microsoft Front Page in 96. It lived for 6 months and then it was taken off the air.

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

No! If I plan to? Not too much into writing. If I did I think it wouldn't be about web design

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

I am not the one who "does" Flash work here. I work with 2 of the best Flash designers in Brazil, people that are referenced all over the world.

There is nothing that Flash can do and they cannot do. They've used the software to its unimaginable limits. I've noticed there are bigger implementation challenges when the site grows larger and more complex.

  Do you think Flash is here to stay?

Unless something else replaces it sometime soon, it is the de facto software of the "cool web" today.

  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 did not attend any design school.

I think going to great school must be fantastic but you can certainly do without if you dedicate yourself enough to reading what's available, looking for your references online, chatting to good people, becoming an intern at a good studio.

And let's face it, some people just have the gift and some others spend years attending a good school and pumping out mediocre work.

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

Good work generates good clients. If the work you do is specialized and rather visible, there are good chances it will get noticed and some other good opportunities will come.

That's what happened to us. We knocked on a few doors as well, with mixed results.

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

As I mentioned, I am not the flash designer. I would prefer not to suggest very much.

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

Cello strings - 200 dollars.

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

Help

  Any parting shots or pearls of wisdom?

Kern your fonts! Always.

  It's been a privilege, thanks very much.

My pleasure!