As Web Design Company we are always looking for new inspiring people around the globe, sometimes we just know their projects, their nicknames or we have few information about these creativity prophets, some other times we’re lucky and we could get directly in contact with them to unleash and share personal talent and imagination.As Web Design Company we are always looking for new inspiring people around the globe, sometimes we just know their projects, their nicknames or we have few information about these creativity prophets, some other times we’re lucky and we could get directly in contact with them to unleash and share personal talent and imagination.
This week we’re pleased to share with you this special interview, take your time to read it carefully!
Hello! Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Jeff Starr, web designer and developer. I live and work in the US with my beautiful wife and two awesome children, ages 9 and 15. I co-author the book, Digging into WordPress, run my own design business, Monzilla Media, and work as Editor of Smashing Magazine’s exclusive WordPress section.
How and why did you become a WordPress developer? Did you go to any college to learn WordPress?
I started with WordPress around version 1.2, around six years ago. Compared to the current version it sucked, but at the time it was miles ahead of anything else out there. I had been building dynamic sites by hand, so discovering the ease and flexibility of WordPress, I immediately was hooked.
Could you tell me about your most unique projects that you have worked on before, and tell us why they are unique?
The most interesting project so far is my new book and website about .htaccess, called “.htaccess made easy”. I greatly enjoy writing about .htaccess and Apache, and have enjoyed the process of bringing together a wide range of skills, including author, editor, graphic designer, layout artist, publisher, web designer, developer, and everything in between. There were many challenges along the way, but seeing it all come together is just awesome.
Can you tell us about the projects you are working on right now?
Yes, basically it’s my book and site, .htaccess made easy, but now that that’s wrapping up I’m moving on to about a month’s worth of writing new articles for my primary sites, Perishable Press and Digging into WordPress. From there, I’ve planned a new book on WordPress, but that’s all I can say at this point. After that, we’ll see how it goes.. I do have far-future plans, but also try to stay open to new possibilities and ideas.
What do you enjoy the most of your job?
Freedom.
Are there any obstacles or difficulties you have faced on your project? How did you solve it?
Many obstacles and difficulties.. in fact, that’s a good description of working on the Web — things are constantly changing, so there’s always new issues to resolve and better ways of doing things. It’s a continual process of learning and relearning everything as you go.
Could you mention some of your favorite sources for inspiration whenever you’re in search of an idea to get you started on a project?
I collect all sorts of snippets, screenshots, graphics, web pages, and such as a source of inspiration. I’m always on the lookout for signs of quality, authenticity, originality, humor, and so forth. This perpetual stream of creative input eventually manifests in some form through projects, sites, drawings, writing, and so on. Favorite sources of inspiration include music, art, and well-designed websites.
What kind of skills are the most important for WordPress developers?
PHP, SQL, and the WordPress API. It’s also good to know HTML, CSS, and jQuery. I think it’s important to broaden your skillset as much as possible, go beyond your area of expertise and always learn new things.
What kind of networks do you use to get your clients?
Clients generally reach me via one of my websites (e.g., Perishable Press, DigWP.com, etc.), but social-media is also important in sharing news about news, ideas, products, and so forth.
Can you give us some advice for the WordPress beginner?
Study and practice until your eyes fall out. Most importantly have fun and be yourself!
What do you think about the Web Design world?
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