TheFWA - Vincent Battaglia

Actually 1MD is a nickname for "One Million Dollars". Why such a name? Because our ambition is to reach a $1,000,000 turnover within two years.

Please give us a brief bio of yourself.

I'm Vincent Battaglia, 26. One of the founders of 1MD, based in Brussels (Belgium). I'm mostly known in Belgium for being an active web design & technology blogger for years (http://www.vinch.be). My background is quite technical since I've got a master in computer sciences. I'm the only tech guy, the 3 other founders are pure creative mad men.

1MD is a creative bureau launched in 2009. It focuses on delivering projects with high level of innovation and technology. Actually 1MD is a nickname for "One Million Dollars". Why such a name? Because our ambition is to reach a $1,000,000 turnover within two years. (Keep it a secret but you can see the current turnover live on our website...)

What do you do for inspiration?

Watching Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch and Coen Brothers movies, Monty Python, SpongeBob SquarePants, South Park, etc. Listening to funk, drum'n'bass, jazz, electro, alternative, indie rock, progressive rock, stoner, heavy metal, etc. Reading Harry Potter.

Please list 3 of your favourite sites.

Useful

http://twitter.com
http://www.behance.net
http://www.woorank.com (this is actually self-promotion! WooRank is a product we developed to spot SEO weaknesses on any websites).

Impressive

http://www.adidas.com/teamgeist
http://www.gettheglass.com
http://www.insidepiet.com (a very good friend of us)

How many hours do you work each week?

Quite a lot! That's the price to pay to be on schedule despite crazy deadlines and technical challenges.

What's your favourite part of your job? What's the hardest part of your job? What do you do when you get stuck?

When we launch a new project and see people getting excited about it we definitely know we're doing the best job in the world.

Brainstorming is probably the hardest part. It's both inspiring and stressfull to crave for a really good idea. And when we are stuck, well... we drink one of our Belgian beers.

How many projects does your company juggle at any one time?

About 20 projects are running along side by side. Each project has its own size and pace... It's quite a challenge to manage everything while still being creative.

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

North Kingdom
Big Spaceship
Hellohikimori

Has winning FWA awards helped you in any way?

No, this is totally useless (laughs). Joking apart it obviously has an international impact. It also gives you more credibility towards people in the business. It tells you're not on the wrong way. And best of all it's a wonderful ego-booster!

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

We hardly keep our blog up-to-date. Writing is a bit like climbing Everest !

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

My crystal ball says geolocation, 3D and augmented reality will become standard technologies... One thing is certain: our job won't be the same in ten years. Maybe the word "website" won't exist anymore.

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

Without hesitations: Prototype Experience (http://www.prototype-experience.com). That was the first time that Facebook Connect technology was integrated in a pure marketing Flash website (here to promote Prototype videogame from Activision). We had a lot of buzz around that (including an FWA). Even Facebook people from San Francisco emailed us to congratulate!

Do you think Flash is here to stay?

We have a love-hate relationship with Flash. Sure it has a lot of amazing features and it's the most powerful technology available on every browsers. But it's still buggy. We really hope other new exciting plugins will make a breakthrough. Unity3D and HTML5 are great examples.

We are not Flash aficionados. We simply try to always use the technology that fits the projects. For now Flash is the best technology available to do what we want to do.

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

All you need is passion. Sounds like a cliché? Indeed. But it's really what most of our previous trainees lacked. Of course mastering Photoshop and Illustrator is crucial and school can help to achieve that. But it's not enough. Even if flair can't be taught don't be afraid to practice everyday and make lots of mistakes. That's the only way to sharpen the eye. Confucius said: "Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life."

What would be your ultimate vehicle to travel in?

A DeLorean DMC-12! I'd like to be 10 years from now to give a relevant answer to one of your previous questions...

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

We created a little buzz in the specialized press in Belgium, thanks to our uncommon concept.

We are also very active in social media: blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc.
But I think the best advertising you can do for yourself is doing great work. You don't need to hire salesmen if you always do great work.

How do you keep your finger on the pulse of the latest web trends?

Twitter is your best friend. Follow interesting people and you won't miss anything important. (Just avoid following people who only share their frivolous routine. Such a loss of time!)

What country excites you the most in terms of innovation?

United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Sweden.

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

Maybe a videoclip for Gorillaz or a redesign for a legendary rock band like Metallica (rock band websites generally sucks!). But we are not against the idea of working for brands like Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Absolut, etc.

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

The fifth season of Lost.

It has been a privilege, thanks very much

The privilege was mine. Thank you.

Links

1MD Website

Twitter

Facebook

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