I’ve been in office 36 hours straight. This happened the first week I joined Webchutney as an intern. My dad wasn’t happy!

 Please give us a brief bio of yourselves.

Sudesh – I’m the National creative director and co-founder of Webchutney. We started the agency about a decade and a half ago, and the two-man outfit is now 200 people strong.

Gurbaksh – I’m the creative director. Everything creative here happens under my watch.

Sattvik – I’m an interactive copywriter/group head with almost 4 years of experience. I joined Webchutney as a copy intern and at this point I’m leading a team of writers.

What do you do for inspiration?

Sudesh – Sometime the best way to inspire oneself is to cut off from the rest of the world. Do nothing. Think everything.

Gurbaksh – Almost everything around inspires us these days. It’s hard to go online and not get inspired by the amazing work happening all around. Books have the same effect.

Meeting new people, seeing new places and undertaking new experiences also inspire. Even if that means taking a bus to discover a new part of the city I live in.

Sattvik - People inspire me. Weather it’s the people you read about, the folks you work with or the friends you make, there is something worth inspiring in everyone.

Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

Sudesh - Uniqlo’s Uniqlock was brilliant. Ecotonoha was also nice. I’m not sure if the website is still live, but it was one of the first flash work that really impressed me. I’m also a regular at FWA.

Gurbaksh – I'm obsessed with Coke's happiness island these days. I have spent hours on it. Besides, Volkswagen's “follow no one” and wrangler blue bell summer website are amazingly made. These are the websites that bring out the, wish-i-would-have-done-this feeling in you.

Sattvik – Do Facebook, YouTube and 9gag count?

What do you regard as being your biggest achievement?

Sudesh – I would say Webchutney is my biggest achievement. To co-create an agency that has been consistently ranked as the number one digital agency in India is an accomplishment.

Gurbaksh – I’m most proud of the team we’ve built here at Webchutney.

Sattvik - To get a job where there is no physical labour involved. Seriously, I get paid to think and write.

How many hours do you work each week?

Gurbaksh – It’s hard to put a number to that. If you are asking how much time I spend in office, it’s about 80.

Sattvik - I spend about 60 hours at work. Another few thinking about the work I’ve done.

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

Sudesh – I would have been a painter. I sill am, but may be a more focused one.

Gurbaksh - Rocket scientist.

Sattvik - I almost became a software engineer before advertising and writing happened.

What's the longest you've ever stayed up working on a project?

Sudesh – It’ll be easier to tell you how many hours I’ve spent at home.

Gurbaksh – 3 days. Late nights are a usual affair in this business. Meeting a deadline is probably the biggest challenge in this industry.

Sattvik - I’ve been in office 36 hours straight. This happened the first week I joined Webchutney as an intern. My dad wasn’t happy!

What software could you not live without?

Sudesh – Corel and Photoshop. They get us business.

Gurbaksh – Flash. It’s awesome.

Sattvik – MS Spell check.

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

Gurbaksh – I’m lately fascinated with robotics and artificial intelligence interface. The whole idea of merging online with on-ground at a level that takes user experience to a whole new direction really excites me.

What area of web design lacks the most?

Sudesh – Idea. 95 percent of websites in India are just clean layouts.

Gurbaksh – Simplicity and User interface. A lot of times we think from a creative POV while designing a website, while user experience comes second. It’s very important to keep user interface at the core of any web development project. Everything else should happen around it.

Has winning FWA awards helped you in any way?

Sattvik – FWA is a daily read and a source of inspiration for almost everyone in this industry. It’s a benchmark for websites and mobile work. So obviously, being recognized by it does mean a lot.

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

Sudesh – It was actually our agency’s website. It’s archived now, but you can still view it here.

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?

Sattvik - It was one of our own. We created a website for the Indian actor Rajinikanth (fondly called the Chuck Norris of India),  allaboutrajni.com, which worked without Internet. A user had to disconnect the Internet to access the website. It was a clever yet simple use of flash, which became an instant hit on social media.

Stuff worth sharing, best utilize the power of social media.

Looking 10 years in to the future, how far can websites go?

Gurbaksh – Website is a destination. Destinations will always exist, although means to get there will change/evolve.

Of all the websites you/your company have produced, which one are you most proud of?

Sudesh - We've done some really good work in the recent past. Biwihotohaisi.com, Allboutrajni.com, and harmoniumlove.com, are few websites that really stood out in our portfolio.

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

Gurbaksh: Schools are important, but not imperative. Interest is the key. Most of the learning that happens in this field has to be outside school. Self-learning is very important. A school can teach you how to make a circle but how creatively can you make use of that circle, is something you’ll have to learn on your own. Degrees mean nothing if you don’t have the flair for it.

What would be your ultimate vehicle to travel in?

Sudesh – I’ve always been a Hummer fan.

Gurbaksh – Space craft. Or may be a teleportation device.

Sattvik – Horse.

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

Sudesh – Work, work and work. Client don’t want to hear what you can do, they want to see what you have done.

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

Gurbaksh – Most of my learning has happened via self-help and online tutorials, and I would advice the same to anyone joining this field of craft.

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

Sudesh – Bang & Olufsen Ipod dock

Sattvik – I just got my first car. Horse seemed impractical.

Gurbaksh - Ham radio.

It has been a privilege, thanks very much

No, No, Pleasure is all ours. If you ever get the chance of coming to Delhi, do let us know. We’ll show you around.

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