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Kev Adamson Interview

Jun 28, 03:53 PM by Marko


Kev Adamson Interview


Interivew with Kev Adamson at kevadamson.com

Marko: Hello Kev!

Kev: Hi Marko! How yu doin’?

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

Kev: OK. Well, I’m a 26 year old freelance graphic designer, web designer, animator and illustrator currently living in (sometimes) sunny North Wales

Marko: How are you doing these days?

Kev: I’m nay bad, nay bad indeed.

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

Kev: My first machine was a commodore 64 – great days. It was mainly for playing games (Daley Thompson’s Decathlon, Leaderboard Golf, Bubble Bobble – wicked!) but I also used to do basic adventure games programing a bit as well.
My professional training is in Graphics Arts (diploma and degree level) and I have been working in the creative industry for , ummm, around 6 years at some capacity I guess – but that wasn’t your question was it? Sigh. The mind does wander …

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

Kev: Crikey. I dunno really. I haven’t really got a favourite. I just kinda like what I like. It could be a commercial piece of work, or something done by a street artist on a wall or something. I think veerle (http://veerle.duoh.com/index.php) has set the standard in terms of blogs though – it’s flawless.

Marko: When you launched kevadamson.com are you happy with the result of the site?

Kev: I’m a bit of a perfectionist so I’m never really totally happy with anything I produce. I’m happy that it’s a bit different to other sites, and that it isn’t constrained by the ideas of others or the needs of a client – so that pleases me. A lot of designers change the look and feel of their sites quite often, while I’ve let this one grow and bolted on different visual ideas and functionality – I almost treat it like a sketch book. I guess some people find it a bit messy, while others see this as its charm.

Marko: What do you do in your spare time (We realize that spare time, in this context)

Kev: I work! Well, it seems that way at the moment. When I can grab a few hours to myself, I like to play golf (I’m a member of Conwy Golf Club), go to the gym, play the guitar, have a couple of days over in Liverpool with some buddies (generally involves drinking copiously and talking rubbish), or just slouch in a comfy chair watchin’ funny DVDs.

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

Kev: Lager! I tend not to drink as much as I used to as a youth – hangovers are so unproductive(!) – but I do have a few light ales now and again, just to wind down.

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

Kev: Well. At the moment I do a fair amount of sub contract work for a local design agency called View Creative (www.viewcreative.co.uk). So I usual head up the studio and work through some ideas there. I also go to meetings, write site plans / scopes / proposals etc. Typically, I then spend time on my freelance projects which usually takes me into the evening / night / early morning! It’s great to work alongside the talented guys up at View – to bounce ideas around and keep my work fresh – and also have some banter with like minded professionals.

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

Kev: It builds over time. I have repeat customers, some stuff from Search Engines, word of mouth etc. I just work hard at what I do, try and put myself in the right ‘shop window’, so to speak, and be patient and let client relationships grow. My marketing is mostly all web based as it is cost effective, but there are print campaigns (especially with my illustration) that require a little more of a cash investment from myself.

Marko: Who are some of your biggest influences?

Kev: Again, I’m not really sure. I think there is positive stuff you can get from all sorts of places. In terms of the web, the stuff you find on Stylegala / CSS Beauty / the WSA etc. is a great point of reference to how other web based designers are using creativity and technology to come up with new solutions. Not all of them I ‘like’, but there is good stuff to be learnt from them all. I am kind of into alternative edgy stuff, so I think a slight edge and quirkiness is evident in my illustration because of this.

Marko: Is your background in design? What was the progression into web development and design like?

Kev: Yes. I did A Levels in Art and Design, a Diploma in Art Foundation Studies and then a Degree in Graphic Arts at the Liverpool School of Art and Design. I found it tough getting commercial work after Uni and just did some freelance bits and bobs whilst looking for a ‘foot in the door’, and then some nice chaps gave me a chance as a kind of trainee web designer – having had very little experience in that particular medium. I was there for a couple of years, finding my feet, and then went totally freelance. It took time and patience but I was in no real hurry.

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

Kev: I dunno. A hands-on Landscape Gardener / Labourer. It has creativity, exercise, nature and the outdoors all rolled into one – that would be nice. I envy those who get to work outdoors getting fit and healthy (and for pretty good money usually as well) – especially during the summer.

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

Kev: I would say that:

– the design is interesting (I like the ‘depth’ at the sides, although it does say ‘tyres’ to me a bit)
– it is easy to use
– it’s a good resource for those interested in the industry

Marko: If you could change something on mcville what would it be?

Kev: I would add illustrations galore!

Marko: What kind of music do you fancy?

Kev: I guess I was brought up on Rock, but I’m in to all kinds of stuff – very open minded. The latest Gomez album is pretty good!

Marko: What’s your favorite food?

Kev: At the moment … Sardines and noodles. I know. A bit weird.

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

Kev: I try and get over to Liverpool and go out with all the gals and geezers up that way. We usually head over to a bar called Karova, or Alma De Cuba – in fact there are loads of cool places up in the ‘pool! Go there and get startled!


some relaxing question to follow

Marko: Chinese or Thai (food)?

Kev: Chinese

Marko: Coke or Pepsi?

Kev: Pepsi

Marko: HTML or CSS?

Kev: Hmmm … CSS makes HTML look good, if you know what I mean! So CSS.

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

Kev: Comedies all the way: I’m Alan Partridge, The Mighty Boosh, Black Books, Ricky Gervais, Peep Show, Spaced, Nathan Barley … I could go on for quite some time!

Marko:What OS do you use ?

Kev: I have a PC networked to a Mac and they get on fine! So, errm, XP Pro and OSX Tiger

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

Kev: Guitar Tabs sites, useful web design and development sites – quite a mish mash really. Not as many as you’d think though, as I’m a bit lazy and tend to rely on my cache!

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

Kev: Lots of things inspire me. It could be an idea from seemingly no where, a noise, nature, a book, a photo, the way a shadow falls on an object, something I’ve seen on the telly, the architecture in an ancient church, and so on and so on. If you kind of open your eyes to things in a different way, all sorts of things can inspire. It’s amazing the things that we take for granted, or allow to slip our full attention.

Marko: Thank you for having this interview Kev ,cya!

Kev: Hey, no troubles Marko! Thanks for having me!

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