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Matt Brett Interview

Dec 2, 06:14 PM by Marko

Matt Brett Interview


Interview with Matt Brett at mattbrett.com

Marko: Heya Matt!

Yo Marko! *

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

Matt: Sure can… I’m 25, born and raised in Ontario Canada. I live with my wife
and daughter – Hannah and Deanna, along with our cats Shiznit and Gaius. I
play a lot of video games, most on the PC but have plans to pick up an Xbox
360 in the new year. I’ve been designing web sites since 1997, but only
recently (last 3 years or so) been big into web standards and CSS based
layouts.

Marko: How are you doing these days?

Matt: Doing pretty well. Been crazy busy since November 1 – that faithful day
when I relaunched my site as part of the CSS Reboot. Trying to keep the content rolling and things fresh. Also had a lot of freelance stuff on the go lately, which is typical for around Christmas time – also good cause I can use the extra loot this time of year.

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

Matt: Yikes – late 80s I believe. A friend of mine’s Commodore 64 rocking Tank Wars. I didn’t get my own computer until ‘95 when I was 15.

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

Matt: Oh man, I definitely don’t have one favourite. Although, I’ve been pretty
hooked on the new A List Apart. I have a long list of sites I really like. I’m actually just moving all my

bookmarks over to del.icio.us and have started tagging them with ‘sick’.

Marko: when you launched mattbrett.com are you happy with the result of the site?

Matt: Yeah, definitely! I had (and still have) a lot more on my to-do list that

was meant to go into it, but because I had to hit that November 1 date, I
was forced to drop some. I was hoping to have my portfolio online by now,but all the extra attention I’ve received has kept me busy rolling out content, keeping up with comments and emails and improving the stuff I already have online.

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

Matt: Spare time… something I wish I had more of, and I’m sure I’m not alone here! I don’t really have much in the way of time where I don’t have
something to do. But I try to get in as much time with my family
as I can. And of course gaming, keeping up with the happenings online, and I’ve always got music on. NP: Rancid – Dope Sick Girl.

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

Matt: I drink far too much Coffee. Well, not as much as some… typically 3 a day. I also enjoy a cold Alexander Keith’s or Rye and Ginger.

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

Matt: Not a problem! I wake my daughter up at 7am to watch Winx Club every morning. After I drop her off at school, I have breakfast with Deanna while watching the news. Then to work, which is sitting at my computer in my bedroom. Currently working for Participatory Culture Foundation developing the open source internet tv application, DTV. I usually wrap up around 6:30pm at which time I get dinner ready for Hannah and I. We usually do whatever homework Hannah has then back to my computer to work on freelance stuff until Deanna’s off work. Depending on how much I have on my plate, I’ll either work more, rock some games or take the night off and watch a movie or something. Not very exciting, I know. Mind you, I’ve got music on the whole day, so it gets me through.

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

Matt: To tell you the truth, I don’t do anything. I’ve never advertised or made any effort to find work. Seems to just fall in my lap. I used to do a lot indie band sites and word spreads quickly through the scene. I had a business going for a few years which I recently shut down. I kept a few of my long-term clients on board and have acquired a couple new ones since, but trying to keep it at a minimum for a while.

Marko: Who are some of your biggest influences?

Matt: I’ve been influenced by a slue of bands over the years. Hot Water Music most prominently. Deanna and Hannah on so many levels. Both my parents for sure and some of my closest friends.

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

Matt: No, not at all. No background, really. I started by building an Angelfire site for my band in 1997 primarily because we wanted to have one and didn’t know anyone that could make one for us. So I just started messing around with HTML and it progressed from there. I attempted to go to college for Multimedia design which proved to be a giant waste of time and money.

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

Matt: A musician. I play drums (not so much these days) and have played in many bands. Lucky Number Seven, a ska/punk band I played in for 5 years was doing pretty well when we decided to call it quits. Mostly because our jobs were cutting in on our rock time. I also had the chance to join a band called Jersey back in 2000. They were already pretty well established and later went on to sign to Virgin Records and spent years touring. I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t just started my first real job, I would have taken them up on it.

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

Matt: I really like what you’re doing here. The first time I ended up here, I spent a good 20 minutes reading interviews. You had me hooked instantly.

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

Matt: Hmmm, I think I’d reduce the width of the left column and give some of that space to the content.

Marko: What kind of music do you fancy?

Matt: Been into punk rock since I started high school. Old school reggae – man that shit is just so good. Toots And The Maytals, The Skatalites, The Melodians and of course, Bob Marley. Also huge into ska and ska/punk. The occasional hardcore band turns my head, but that’s usually a pretty rare occurrence.

Marko: What’s your favorite food?

Matt: Mexican or Italian.

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

Matt: Out? Out where? Like… out of my apartment? Wh-wh-why would I leave? I really don’t get out much. Between work and having a daughter, there isn’t much room for a social life, sadly enough. I’ll catch the occasional show or go to a movie or something with Deanna.

some relaxing question to follow

Marko: Chinese or Thai (food)?

Matt: Chinese

Marko: Coke or Pepsi?

Matt: Coke. Mmmm, cavities.

Marko: html or css?

Matt: Hard to pick one or the other since you really need both. But CSS blows my mind on a regular basis.

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

Matt: Not much. Battlestar Galacitca is the best show ever. Rome was a pretty good series too. When (the fuck) is Sopranos coming back?

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

Matt: Have a look for yourself.

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

Matt: Oh man, just about anything I see, read or hear.

Marko: Thank again for having this interview Matt ,Cheers!

Matt: Not a problem! Thank you!

  1. — luxuryluke    Aug 21, 07:54 PM    # Nice one!
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