Creativity: web designers don’t try to find graphic innovation anymore, it’s like they are copying each other, and HTML5 or tablet sites won’t fix the problem: they are a lot less creative than flash websites.

Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

I began my career at Euro RSCG Lyon in 1996 where I created Euro RSCG Interactive, one of the first digital agencies in France. Later I was named Head of Creation at Cospirit in 1999, where I worked with the communication of French start-ups on the web: Lastminute, Infonie, Wanadoo, Vizavi among others. In the beginning of 2002 I joined BETC where I’ve spent the last 9 years working with the digital communication for brands such as Canal+, Peugeot, 13e Rue, Disneyland Paris, MCM and Evian.

Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

http://streetartview.com/ (Red Bull)

jetueunami2.com (an advergame from 13th Street only available from continental Europe)

canalplus.fr (an area17 web design)

How do you relax or unwind?

Doing things that don’t disappear if you turn the electricity off… Like planting trees and building brick walls.

If you weren't working on the internet what would you be doing?

I would be renovating houses, using eco friendly material.

In terms of software, is there anything new you have been playing with lately or that has impressed you?

SIRI does not work very well in French, but it still impressive, and I like to imagine websites piloted by the user’s voice.

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

Area17 was the best French agency for web design, and I love AKQA because they are always inventing new uses of interactivity. But I would stay loyal to my first love and place in first North Kingdom for what they have brought to this industry (Coke Zero Game, Got Milk…).

Who is your target audience?

One of our goals at BETC is to ensure that our creations become popular among the big audience. This has been the case for our films (Evian “Rollerbabies”, Canal+ “The Closet”) but also for our digital work (Disneyland “Tower of Terror”, Canal+ “Maison Close” and “Borgia”, and “Ikillafriend.com” for 13th Street). We like the idea that digital can be mass media.

What area of web design lacks the most?

Creativity: web designers don’t try to find graphic innovation anymore, it’s like they are copying each other, and HTML5 or tablet sites won’t fix the problem: they are a lot less creative than flash websites.

What was the last digital effort you saw (or were a part of) that used social media in a way that really made sense. Why?

Mercedes tweet race was a great peace of use of the social medias.

If you were a student entering this industry or an aspiring FWA award submitter, what advice would you give them?

Go mobile!

How difficult do you find employing the right people in a world where everyone calls themselves a web designer?

As our team is growing, we discover the pleasure of diversity. When we were a small team, everybody needed to be able to do everything, but now we are more like a talent club, a group of people where you can pick the right talent for the right project.

What would be your ultimate vehicle to travel in?

A dog sled, silently moving in a quiet forest (but with 3G available).

There must be a project that you have always dreamed of doing, what is it?

I love the Lay’s vending machine, I hope it’s true and not a fake machine that doesn’t work for real, but anyway I love the idea.

What are you excited about learning next and is there a long term challenge you are considering tackling?

Connected TV and 2 screens media consumption are the next challenges for digital designers.

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

A demolition hammer (true).