mcville: Jon Hicks Interview

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Jon Hicks Interview

Nov 3, 10:33 PM by Marko

Interview with Jon Hicks at hicksdesign.co.uk

Marko: Hello Jon (bow) :) !

Jon: Hello Marko!

Marko: For our reader’s could you tell something about yourself? (year old and other stuff)
Jon: I’m 33, I live in Witney, Oxfordshire with my wife Leigh, 4 year old Samanatha and 2 year old Daniel. We’re about 40 mins away from the Oxtons.

Marko: How are you doing these days?

Jon: Tired, stressed, but generally quite happy thanks!

Marko: When did you first encounter a keyboard or computer?
Jon: We had an Acorn Electron computer at home (like a smaller BBC Micro, which we played Chucky Egg and Donkey Kong on. I also used to do some rudimentary programming on it in BBC Basic. I think that was around 1983-84.

Marko: What is your favorite art work /website!?
Jon: Art-wise I love the work of David Shrigley , Nathan Jurevicus and Yoshitomo Nara . Website-wise, I love the work of Poke , Asterik, and Derek Powazek. I would sell my soul for their talent.

Marko: when you launched hicksdesign.co.uk are you happy with the result of the site?
Jon: I’m never pleased! I’d love to redesign it and improve it, but while the ideas are there, there just aren’t enough hours in day.

Marko: What do you do in your spare time (I do realize that spare time, in this context, is pretty relative)?
Jon: Spend time with the Family basically. There’s barely enough time to do that, so I work when they’re all asleep! I try and get away from work as much possible, so I drag the children out on country walks.

Marko: Do you have a favorite drink? How much of it do you drink?
Jon: Diet Coke and Tea. At one point I was drinking 2 litres of DC a day, but I’ve managed to cut back. If we’re talking tipple, I love a pint of Fullers London Pride.

Marko: Would you care to give us a brief overview of what a typical day is like for Jon Hicks?
Jon: Get children off to nursery, work, RSS Feeds, and at the moment, tracking the delivery of my new powerbook every 10 mins. Then dinner, baths, putting children to bed, and then working till I fall asleep.

Marko: I am always wondering how people such as yourself go about getting work? How do you do it?
Jon: I’ve never gone out looking for work, its always been from word of mouth or enquiries! Well before the whole Firefox thing took off, all my work came from recommendations.

Marko: Who are some of your biggest influences?
Jon: see “What is your favorite art work /website!?”

Marko: Is your background in design? What was the progression into web development and design like? How did that take place and why?
Jon: My background is actually in illustration. I studied to be a wildlife artist, and wanted to spend my life illustrating books. I later realised that I preferred graphic design.

Marko: If you where not a designer/programmer what would you be?
Jon: Either an illustrator or a gardener. I still think about having a job where I can be outside in fresh air, getting exercise, rather than staring at pixels all day.

Marko: How do you like our site mcville.net?
Jon: You need more cheese-related content quite frankly

Marko: If you had the chance to change somethin’ on mcville what would you change?

Jon: I’d add more cheese-related content I reckon.

Marko: What kind of music do you fancy?
Jon: I’m into everything bar R N’B, Soul and Gospel basically. I have particular leanings to atmospheric, slowcore, shoegazing type music. Starflyer 59 is probably my favourite, but current raves are Sigur Ros, Ladytron and Low.

Marko: What’s your favorite food?
Jon: Thai Green Curry, and for snacks, hot buttered crumpets with big lashings of peanut butter (all melting into the crumpet!). I guess I have a thing about cheese too! I also had a Paella last week that was to die for…

Marko: Where do you get out on Saturday’s?
Jon: I’m assuming you mean out in the evening? With having children, and living far away from our families, probably only as far as the takeaway! If Leigh and I do manage to get out, its probably to an nice restaurant in Witney (we have a great Thai restaurant here), or Oxford.

some relaxing question to follow

Marko: Chinese or Thai (food)?
Jon: Thai!

Marko: Coke or Pepsi?
Jon: Coke (Diet)

Marko: html or asp?
Jon: HTML. More useful than snakes anyday.

Marko: Do you watch television? If so, do you have a favorite show?
Jon: Not much time for telly, but I like to watch Dr Who, Grand Designs and comedy shows like Look Around You and Little Britain. I think I listen to Radio comedy more, stuff like Eddie Izzard, Bill Bailey and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue. I do like my Star Wars too.

Marko: What would we find in your favorites bookmarks-bar?
Jon: Loads of web dev bookmarklets, Various Textpattern admin links for Hicksdesign and Pimp My Safari, and links to photo libraries. At the end there is a special bookmarklet that will destroy the universe, which is very tempting to press sometimes.

Marko: What inspires you? This doesn’t have to be design related.
Jon: Family, Nature and cheese. Cheese fuelled dreams are the best.

Marko: Thank again for having this interview, cheers m8!
Jon: Thankyou Marko, now get with the cheese-related content!
Marko: :)

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Jon Hicks Interview

Nov 3, 10:33 PM by Marko