Juan Tejeda
www.juantejeda.com (prior domain - Juan where you at?)
EXPERIENCE: I studied in Madrid, Dominican Republic and New York. Advertising and Graphic design.
Where are you from? I would like to say that I am Dominican (Dominican Republic that is) but right now I don't even know anymore. I consider myself Citizen of the world for that matter, although I get stopped in every airport because I look Arabic or Moroccan and sometimes a serial killer...Not easy let me tell you :)
Design Education: I studied Advertising and Graphic Design. Before that I made 3 semesters of Electronic Computer Engineer. When Trigonometry came around I understood I wasn't cut out for it. I was very interested in Computers at the time.
How did you start out as an artist and designer? I started right out of school working for a design studio in the Dom Rep, before I went to NY. In NY my first job was an internship for the late CITY MAGAZINE. With this publication I went from Intern to Art Director in a short time. The Art Director left the magazine to join GQ and I was the only one that knew his process. Unfortunately that only lasted a few months before the magazine was shot down.
How is it working for big corporate companies like Volkswagen and Land Rover? It's very exciting because they have no restraints in terms of money and time. They are worried only about the quality. They understand that quality is expensive; they can't afford to have bad stuff out there.
PDC: Wow, I work with Corporate Nissan, I wish they had the same way of thinking. How do you find working with clients as opposed to personal work? I see personal work as a hobby, because despite the appearances I like to write tales and movie scripts. Graphic Design is my life first love but I don't see it as art. I am more concern with communication. I don't mix the two of them.
What software do you currently use to produce your work? Whatever is necessary. I have no preferences. Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, fireworks... I am more interested in the process than the end result. Therefore a project is never finished, is just the client that make you stop :)
If you could change one thing about Adobe Photoshop what would it be? Better memory management. It doesn't matter how big you HD is or much memory you have installed, it is always slow.
Do you think that Flash is cool or overused?[/b]
For some people is. I find that many designers use flash to show off instead of adding real value to the website. I love the software though :) Many good things can be done in flash.
Do you prefer technologically advanced sites or sites with simple but good design? I am all about balance. A good website should have a good design, good navigation and interaction, and if a technologically advanced feature is necessary the user shouldn't notice.
What are your bad personal and design habits? Personal bad habit: I byte my nails. Design habit: I try not to repeat myself, which causes the lack of a design style. If you look at my work you will find that they all look like they were all made by a different person. I was worried about it until I got to know Stefan Sagmeister which says that STYLE = FART. I was so relieved to know that I wasn't the only designer following this philosophy.
Is Exercise 1 under your Xperiment section an inside joke regarding exercise? Because I found it hilarious to find nothing there.
There was something there before my machine burned and I lost all the FLA files of that website. It's been around way too long. I am working on something new but I have no releasing date.
Design styles you like: All of them :)
How would you like to be remembered? Will I be remembered? I don't think so :)
Final comments: Thanks for the interview. I am honored.
