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John Mills Interview

Nov 8, 07:19 PM by Marko


John Mills Interview


Interivew with John Mills at iamjohnmills.com

Marko: Heya john !
John: Hey Marko! Thanks for interviewing me

Marko: For our reader’s could you tell something about yourself? (year old and other stuff)
John: I’m a 24 year-old web professional living and working in Milwaukee, WI. I’m married to my wife, Sara, and we have two little doggies: lulu (a pug), and maggie (a botton terrier).

Marko: How are you doing these days?
John: I’m doing good! Lately I’ve been getting a lot of exposure for my personal portfolio (iamjohnmills.com) which I’ve recently unvield, and also for CSS Remix www.cssremix.com, which for those who don’t know, is a showcase for great-looking standards-based designs.

Marko: When did you first encounter a keyboard or computer?
John: In 1996 my family bought our first computer: a Hewlett Packard with a Pentium 166 and 32mb of ram. I was thirteen years old.

Marko: What is your favorite art work /website!?
John: I really like www.leihu.com – He makes great use of all elements (typeface, color, layout, ia). Being slightly obsessive, I really like sites with great attention to detail.

Marko: When you launched iamjohnmills.com are you happy with the result of the site?
John: Sure am! I wanted to make my portfolio bright and colorful, while not being too obnoxious. It was one of the few times I got to push the envelope, and I’m happy with the result :)

Marko: What do you do in your spare time (We realize that spare time, in this context)
John: When I have spare time, I like to play computer games; specifically, Counter-Strike Source. I could play that game all day if it didn’t make me feel like a lazy, unproductive loaf.

Marko: Do you have a favorite drink? How much of it do you drink?
John: Bottled water is basically what I drink all day everyday. I’m a bit neuraotic when it comes to water, and I’m convinced that in 50 years poeple will be shocked we drank nasty tap water back then because it causes cancer or some such disease.

Marko: Would you care to give us a brief overview of what a typical day is like for you ?
John: Well I currently work the State working a standard 9-5 job (I work for the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee as a web designer), where we’re working to redesign the Graduate School’s website. When I’m not at work, I’ll update CSS Remix or work on other personal projects I may have. I like to stay busy, but I’m mainly a pretty laid back guy.

Marko: I am always wondering how people such as yourself go about getting work? How do you do it?
John: Well, I work full-time, so that defintely helps :) When I do freelance projects, though, I get clients by word-of-mouth. Usually a prospective client will just e-mail me, say they like my work, and were wondering if I could help them out. My advice: build a kick-ass portfolio (and submit it to the css galleries), and they will come.

Marko: Who are some of your biggest influences?
John: I’m influenced by my daily experiences and surroundings. I’m like a sponge when it comes to visual design, whether it be from watching TV, surfing the internet, and just walking around, I make mental notes of things I like and things I don’t like.

Marko: Is your background in design? What was the progression into web development and design like?
John: My educational background is in Marketing and Information Technology – so not exactly in design at all, although, I’ve always been a creative person my whole life. I was finally able to merge my educational background and my creative nature within the web design industry. I began creating websites about 5 years ago, and its something I’ve loved to do ever since. I get be creative, and it makes me feel productive knowing it’s a valuable service to many people.

Marko: If you where not a designer/programmer what would you be?
John: I think its important not to get hung up titles and career paths. I may be a designer, but I don’t like to be boxed into that. I like to think of myself as an entrepenar and someday I’d like to start my own business. You can be anything you want to be, in my opinion, and its never too late to change.

Marko: How do you like our site mcville.net?
John: Hmmm – Can i be honest? Running CSS Remix, I’ve developed a discerning eye for design. I think a stronger brand, would give you more cohesivness throughout the site. It would ideally shape the colors, typefaces, layout, etc. When people come to the site they should know right way what you’re site is about, and the brand should convery a strong sense of that. The site is a really cool idea, and you have some great interviews, just need to pull it all together a little better.

Marko: If you could change something on mcville what would it be?
John: The scripty typeface for the logo, and “sci-fi” looking background.

Marko: What kind of music do you fancy?
John: I really like electronic music – electro-type stuff like daft-punk, kraftwerk, cyantific, etc – I usually listen to the 1.FM Club channel when I’m at work. I have an ipod but I hardly use it. Internet radio is great because its free, the music is new and varied, and I don’t have to use the god awful GUI mess of itunes.

Marko: What’s your favorite food?
John: This is gonna sound lame, but I really like taco bell. I don’t eat it that often beacsue its really unhealthy, but I’m a big fan of the double-decker supreme :)

Marko: Where do you get out on Saturday’s?
John: Usually I’ll just stay in, watch a movie and have a few drinks with my wife. When we do go out, I like places where I can sit and talk without having to shout, and also that aren’t too smokey. I hate smokey clothes.


some relaxing question to follow

Marko: Chinese or Thai (food)?
John: Thai

Marko: Coke or Pepsi?
John: Neither – blech

Marko: HTML or CSS?
John: Can’t have one without that other in my opinion. Its like comparing an apple to the bowl its sitting in.

Marko: Do you watch television? If so, do you have a favorite show?
John: LOST! and also I like The Office (Dwight rules)

Marko:What OS do you use ?
John: Windows XP. Can’t wait for Vista, I hope it doesn’t suck.

Marko: What would we find in your favorites bookmarks-bar?
John: Hundreds of bookmarks, but when I need to be distracted I’ll read things like A List Apart, Vitamin, Digg, and a bunch of random designer’s blogs

Marko: What inspires you? This doesn’t have to be design related.
John: I sometimes have wierd dreams that inspire me. But mostly I’m inspired by other examples of design, be they on TV, the Web, or in print form.

Marko: Thank you for having this interview m8 ,cheers!
John: It was my pleasure!

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