Steve Lovell, 31
Steve has been a web designer for five years and with Jump Web Services Ltd eight months (he helped found the company). He has all sorts of clients from financial services companies to yoga studios and real estate agents. Born in England, he went travelling in 1996, arrived in Hong Kong seven months later and has been here ever since. He got into web design because he had a bit of spare time, a willingness to learn, and a desire to change jobs.
What qualifications do you need?
Formal training in art or design is useful. Many colleges and universities offer certificates in web design and web authoring, but by the time you get to work, most of what you've learned will be outdated. More important is to have knowledge of internet programming (html, perl, dhtml, css, etc.); have a good working knowledge of the major software tools (Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Photoshop, etc); keep up to date with changes in technology; have a strong interest and ability in design and be able to work under pressure.
What sort of person does the job suit?
Someone who is patient, has an eye for design, and is able to accept criticism.
