mcville: Lea Alcantara Interview

mcville is a community website where you can find smashing interviews
and articles with some recognized people, as well as discussions on
other topics like design,web development, lifestyle, music.

Lea Alcantara Interview

Oct 30, 05:32 PM by Marko

Interview with Lea Alcantara from lealea.net

Marko:Hiya Lea!:)

Hey hey!

Marko:How are you doing these days?

Lea:Not bad at all. With all the buzz surrounding Lealea.net’s launch, I
can’t complain.

Marko:For our reader’s could you tell something about yourself? (year old and
other stuff)

Lea:I just turned 23, which makes me feel ancient amongst all the brand new
whiz kids cropping up. I’ve been into art and design my entire life, but
I almost fell into this profession, actually. I guess the timing was
just right when the internet was first introduced. I’m a huge geek, but
it’s offset by the sheer power of my Asian cuteness. :-) I’m a bit of a
goof, and like to pretend my ego is the size of Europe.

Marko:When did you first encounter a keyboard or computer?

Lea:Toy computer I got from Hong Kong. I didn’t want a doll. I didn’t want
an instrument. I wanted that damn fake computer.

Marko:What is your favorite art work /website!?

Lea:So many to choose from! I love comic books and illustration, especially
independent artists. I love Bryan Lee O’Malley’s work
http://www.radiomaru.com/, and of course, the two illustrators I’ve
worked with for the WFAC http://www.wfac.ca/—Robin Chyo
http://www.robin-chyo.com/ and Kevin Dalton http://www.thewhitecanoe.com/dalto/. For websites, again, almost too
many to think of… I enjoy Stylegala, of course. My personal website
http://xox.lealea.net/ will have a list of other favourite sites.

Marko:when you launched lealea.net are you happy with the result of the site?

Lea:Pretty happy, considering the response, ha. Funny enough, I almost
didn’t launch that particular design because a) I knew it wasn’t generic
and thus may ruffle some feathers and b) I’ve been staring at the design
for a while and I’m sure other designers can tell you how much you start
hating staring at your own work, hehe.

Marko:What do you do in your spare time (I do realize that spare time, in this
context, is pretty relative)?

Lea:Reading, writing, singing, chatting, aimless web surfing…

Marko:Do you have a favorite drink? How much of it do you drink?

Lea:Bubble tea! Avocado bubble milk tea! I LOVE IT. I am almost addicted to
it. For those who don’t know what bubble tea is, it’s a yummy Asian
drink you can probably get at your local Chinatown with these sago
(tapioca-like) chewy pieces in them. Avocado is my favourite flavour,
followed by Mango and then Taro.

Marko:Would you care to give us a brief overview of what a typical day is like
for Lea Alcantara?

Lea:Ha, that’s pretty boring. I don’t really have a set schedule every day,
but I usually get up, have breakfast, read Bloglines, read important
websites, deal with clients, read the newspaper, eat lunch, do work,
chat with people online, play with my kitten, Oscar, hang out with my
boyfriend (who lives with me)... As that’s pretty boring, let’s pretend
I wear some revealing

Marko:I am always wondering how people such as yourself go about getting work?
How do you do it?

Lea:Networking, of course. Marketing yourself the right way to the right
people. Word-of-mouth is the bread-and-butter of this industry. Clients
from referrals, friends, and family.

Marko:Who are some of your biggest influences?

Lea:I can’t really think of anything, directly. I’m sure there are some, but
I can’t identify them specifically.

Marko:Is your background in design? What was the progression into web
development and design like? How did that take place and why?

Lea:Yes, my background is in design, I have a college diploma for Visual
Communications Design with a major in Design & Digital Media. When I was
a teenager, I originally wanted to be an animator or illustrator or
comic book artist, so that was what I was initially targetting but I
couldn’t afford to go to a fancy school like Sheridan College in Ontario—which is world reknown for its animation program—so I stayed in
the city and took Visual Communication Design, thinking I would major
Illustration. In the end, I realised I enjoyed computers and working for
the web better and I didn’t have the patience to be an illustrator or
even an animator, so here I am. The first website I created was a Sailor
Moon fan site, way back in 1996, I believe.

Marko:If you where not a designer/programmer what would you be?

Lea:Oh, God, many things… I would either be a: novelist, illustrator,
comic book artist/writer. I’m not writing out doing any of that, btw. :-)

Marko:How do you like our site mcville.net?

Lea:I think it needs more work to balance the type. The layout is a bit
bland, so you can work on that.

Marko:What kind of music do you fancy?

Lea:I have eclectic music tastes. From Eminem to Alicia Keys to Radiohead to
movie soundtracks. It depends.

Marko:What’s your favorite food?

Lea:I’m a bit of an epicure, so again, eclectic tastes. Ethnic food is
great: Italian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Thai, Indian… the list
goes on.

Marko:Where do you get out on Saturday’s?

Lea:Go… out…? Ha. Well, when I do go out, I go to movies with my
boyfriend (he’s a bit of a videophile/audiophile/film nut) or we go to a
local Irish pub with friends to play pool and eat good chicken wings.

Marko:Do you have a boyfriend?

Lea:Ha ha! Yes. Very much so.

some relaxing question to follow

Marko:Chinese or Thai (food)?

Lea:I can’t decide. Both.

Marko:Coke or Pepsi?

Lea:Coke.

Marko:html or asp?

Lea:HTML.

Marko:Do you watch television? If so, do you have a favorite show?

Lea:LOST or The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Marko:What would we find in your favorites bookmarks-bar?

Lea:My Mint installation, Bloglines, and uh, all the sites in my Bloglines
subscription.

Marko:What inspires you? This doesn’t have to be design related.

Lea:A great conversation. There’s nothing better to fire those neurons than
having a fun and engaging conversation with friends.

Marko:Thank again for having this interview ,cya!

Lea:Thanks for interviewing me. Whee!

Stefan Koopmanschap Interview Darren Ansley Interview

Events:

Promotion:

Links

powered by

Monitored by

Support

Lea Alcantara Interview

Oct 30, 05:32 PM by Marko