Jonathan van Wunnik Interview
Oct 28, 02:25 PM by Marko
Interivew with Jonathan van Wunnik – from artlantis.nl
Marko:Hello Jonathan! Nice to do this thing with you!:)
Jonathan: Hi Marko. I really like doing this interview.
Marko:How are you doing these days?
Jonathan: I’m doing fine.
Marko: For our reader’s could you tell something about yourself? (year old and other stuff)
Jonathan: I’m 29 years ‘young’ (I keep saying that, to make me think I’m not that old really!). I kind of stumbled into webdesign more or less out of interest. My background is in Industrial Design, but my fascination for great design (but usable!) made me team up with a friend during college to do websites. He was already a bit ahead in that field so I could learn along the way. The combination of design and technology was the perfect combination for me.
I graduated in the field of interaction design. And because I didn’t follow any (graphical) desing course and wasn’t that confident about my design capabilities at that time, I started working as an usability consultant. But I couldn’t let go the webdesign. And what’s better than doing your own website? You’re your most critical client after all!
Marko: When did you first encounter a keyboard or computer?
Jonathan: I think when I was about 10 years old. My neighbour friend had just got a Commadore 64. I can remember we played the whole summer games, while it was beautiful weather outside ;-)
Marko: What is your favorite art work /website!?
Jonathan: The website I visit most these days is Flickr. I really love shoting and post-processing photos. I have an account at Flickr, off course, to show off my own photos, but the really fun thing of Flickr is it’s social aspect!
The “CSS Zen Garden” book and site of Dave Shea was and still is a great inspiration. I also check “Stylegala” and “CSS vault” a lot. I really like seeing other people doing amazing things with CSS and webstandards design.
Marko: when you launched artlantis.nl are you happy with the result of the site?
Jonathan: The short answer is yes. At least I can say I’m (still) happy with the visual style. I already want to improve some navigational issues with archived posts and such, but that’s a different story…
The starting point for the visuals was to work with only 2 colours. Those 2 colours became black and pink along the way, I think after 3 designs rounds. But the bottom line is I’m still happy with the design, even after 3 months.Marko: What do you do in your spare time (I do realize that spare time, in this context, is pretty relative)?
Jonathan: Lately I was (and still am) busy with Artlantis, that’s an ongoing story. But I like to work on it. I love making photographs. A bit squashing. Reading. And having a drink with some friends now and then!
Marko: Do you have a favorite drink? How much of it do you drink?
Jonathan: Water. I (try to) drink 3 liters a day! I always bring a bottle.
Marko: Would you care to give us a brief overview of what a typical day is like for Jonathan can Wunnik?
Jonathan: I can give it a try. First I get up early (off course). Travel to Amsterdam by train to my work (Fredhopper). Design interactions. Interview users. Visit clients. The usual thing. Travel back to Delft while reading RSS streams cached in NetNewsWire. Have some food. Check Mint stats. Design/build/write for Artlantis. Read book or magazine. Watch CSI or Top Gear. I think that’s quite typical, isn’t it?
Marko: heh typical :)
Jonathan : :)
Marko:I am always wondering how people such as yourself go about getting work? How do you do it?
Jonathan: Now I’m having a day job in Amsterdam, acquisition is (luckily) not my responsibility at the moment. I can concentrate on the hands on job.
But before (when I did the start-up with my college friend) new projects came most of the time via via. One project generated another. We made sure the word was spread about us doing websites and were handing out as many business cards as possible. But that was then…
Marko: Who are some of your biggest influences?
Jonathan: Maybe it sounds a bit arrogant, but I don’t have any big influences, visually speaking. My inspiration can come from anywhere and anybody.
But when it comes to CSS-based, webstandards design, then I definitely have to mention Dave Shea’s CSS Zen Garden, Douglas Bowman’s Stopdesign, John Hicks’ Hicksdesign and Dan Cederholm’s SimpleBits. When I started ‘playing’ with CSS-based layout and my need for information about the topic growth, these were and still are of great influence.
Marko:
Is your background in design? What was the progression into web development and design like? How did that take place and why?
Jonathan:
As I already mentioned earlier, my background is in Industrial Design. The emphasis during the study was (unfortunately) rather on product development than on (product) design. Now my father is an artists (he makes great paintings!), so I learned (to talk about) aesthetics very soon and I was encouraged to paint and draw a lot.
Webdesign became soon the perfect outlet during my study to keep in touch with my (graphical) design needs. It combined the technical, the usability (user centred) aspects with the creative part. Besides, soon I liked designing for the 2D space more than for 3D (tangible) product space. Anyway (web)design grew rather gradually on me.
But I have to mention that in the beginning I didn’t want to go the uncertain (financial) path of an artists life (I knew how it was like from home), but in the end no matter what path you follow, you have to do what you really want to do. And for me that’s (web)design. I’m not already there yet… but step by step…
Marko:
If you where not a designer/programmer what would you be?
Jonathan:
A photographer (Anton Corbijn?!).
Marko:
How do you like our site mcville.net?
Jonathan:
Ok, now I’m supposed to say something nice ;-), I think, but when it’s about design I cannot pretend.
Design and navigational wise it can use a bit of polishing. And though I like the font you used for the headers, I think the readability (usability) is a bit too hard, but that’s just the usability guy in me ;-)
Marko:
It’s really that bad? ( :)
Jonathan:
It’s not really that bad, the basic idea is there, but it just needs to be pushed a bit further!
Marko:
What kind of music do you fancy?
Jonathan:
At the moment I really listen a lot to: – Sigur Ros (There latest Takk album is really amazing! I love it.) – Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois (Probably my favourite album of 2005) – Elbow (Wonderful songs) – Antony and The Johnsosn (Have you heard his great voice? It’s really magnificent! Listen to his “Hope There’s Someone” or his interpretation of Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day” and you will be amazed! I saw him live and it was really beautiful, amazing!) – The Clientele (I just got their latest album and this is growing on me for the last few days.)
Marko: What’s your favorite food?
Jonathan: Tapas.
Marko: Where do you get out on Saturday?
Jonathan: When I’m in Delft I go to a great bar, nearby where I’m living ;-)
Marko: Do you have a girlfriend?
Jonathan: Yep. I’m already happy together with my girlfriend for more than 7 years!
Marko : I’m sorry girls Jonathan is not available :))
Jonathan: Yeah :))
Now some easy question:
Marko: Chinese or Thai (food)?
Jonathan: Thai
Marko:C oke or Pepsi?
Jonathan: None
Marko: html or asp?
Jonathan: (x)html
Marko: Do you watch television? If so, do you have a favorite show?
Jonathan: CSI and Top Gear
Marko: What would we find in your favorites bookmarks-bar?
Jonathan: flickr.com, pitchforkmedia.com, stylegala.com, dpreview.com, metacritic.com, gamespot.com (yeah, I’ve an Xbox and like playing a bit Halo or FIFA now and then ;-)!)
Marko: What inspires you? This doesn’t have to be design related.
Jonathan: Great music! I can close my eyes and see what I want to see and/or what the music wants to let me see…
Marko: Thank again for having this interview, cheers m8!
Jonathan: Thank you, Marko, for interview me. The pleasure was all mine. I enjoyed it.
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and Jonathan, you gave this interview to this guy!
btw. Sniperwolf we made the interview over mail.