A virtual copy of my recent photobook has been added to my website. That was exciting. If you didn’t manage to get hold of a copy in real life, you can now flick through it online. It works best on an ipad or a computer screen. I’d recommend starting by reading the introduction, which outlines the concept of the project and sets the scene.
I feel very lucky to have worked with some brilliant designers over the years. It was more than twenty years ago when my Uni friend Phil Gyford built the first incarnation of the Insight School of Art website for me, and for free too. I think I gave him a painting in exchange. Phil was, and still is, interested in using the internet for good and builds amazing and useful sites like The Diary of Samuel Pepys and Today’s Guardian. I remember going to meet him for an after work drink when he was working at Wired in the late 90s. He wasn’t quite ready, so he sat me at a computer and said ‘have a play on the internet’. I had no idea what he was talking about.
When the Insight School of Art website needed developing in a way that I should really pay someone for, I was introduced to Jeremy Walker. We worked well together for about twenty years and became very good friends. Over the years, he also made the Studio Fridays website for me and, more recently, we reimagined my own personal website, paulregan.studio. Sadly Jeremy passed away last year. I wrote about the process of making paulregan.studio back in 2024.
Christopher Darling has now taken over all of my sites. He’s done this seamlessly. I knew he would as I’ve worked with him in the past and he’s always been great. If you are looking for someone to help with your website project, I’d highly recommend contacting him.
So, what do I think makes a good web designer?
- Someone who listens and totally gets what you want.
- Knowledgeable and skilled.
- Completes work in good time.
- Has a good sense of design.
- Politely suggests alternatives when they feel you’re missing the mark.
- Available for quick fixes when something goes wrong.
- They never send quotes that feel unreasonable.