About...Jack Franklin
Jack is a 18 year old student living in Scotland with a passion for web design & development. He's been designing and developing sites for the past 4 years and regularly keep up to date with the ever changing standards to make sure the techniques he uses meet the standard expected. He works with HTML, CSS, PHP and Javascript to build websites that not only look good, but are efficient, reliable and easily maintained.
You can follow Jack on Twitter or visit Jack's website
First off, what's your official job title?
I'm a Front-End Web Developer primarily. IE I take designs and code them up. I also work extensively with jQuery. I'm doing more and more back-end stuff (giggedy) so soon I might be both front and back end.
How long have you been in the industry and how did it all start for you?
Started about 5 years ago when my Dad wanted to learn it, I was 12/13 at the time and learned HTML & CSS alongside him via a couple of Sitepoint books. He didn't want to progress on, whereas I did and soon learned a lot more stuff.
A lot has been said about web designers and them knowing how to build a site in HTML. What's your stance?
No excuse for them not to in my opinion. I was 14 and I could code up a site (maybe not to the best level ever, but I could do it comfortably).
What's the best part of your job?
Getting to play with jQuery for hours and hours and getting paid. Also it's a great excuse to splash money on fancy equipment. Hello, new iMac!
And what's the worst part?
IE6. No question.
What is the first site you look at in the morning?
I don't look at any particular site, I load up Twitter and see if there are any exciting links floating around. I probably check the BBC site as well for any news, especially football.
Is everyone a designer?
Everyone can create but not everyone can design.
If you had the chance, what site would you redesign?
Your own? Haha, just kidding! Probably the BBC. Not digging the new look.
Have you used lens flare in the last year?
Every design ever! No, afraid not!
Aside from the well known designers, is there anyone that stands out at the moment?
That Dan Davies bloke? No one particularly, John Hick's blog is rocking my world but he did the Firefox logo, so people kind of know him. And I'm loving Remy Sharp and his jQuery genius. Anyone who does jQuery, I love right now.
Away from the hullabaloo of work, what do you do in your spare time?
I love playing Badminton, think I'm pretty decent. Also play tennis and kill some bad guys on Bad Company 2.
What are you working on right now?
Top secret stuff for Klowd Ltd (www.klowd.co.uk) and also some client work for Successful Sites (www.successfulsites.co.uk), including some stuff for Waitrose and John Lewis.
Do you test in IE6? If not, why not?
Unfortunately so. However I wont make it anywhere near pixel perfect. As long as the primary functions work, that's enough for me.
Em or px?
Px. Is that bad? I often feel I should use Em but old habits die hard...
What mobile phone do you have?
Right now it's an LG Cookie but an iPhone is in the post.
Do you listen to music when working and if so, what are the usual suspects playing?
In the office I don't have control of the boom box, but in the rare occasion that I do, it's either Eminem's latest album or Glee. Shame on me, I know.
Are you a dribbbler?
No, I'm on Forrst. Love it.
What was the last design/dev book that you read?
“Codeigniter 1.7” by Adam Griffiths and “Logo Design Love” by David Airey. Recommend them both.
Do you own an iPad and if not, do you want one?
No but I'm planning to get one in a couple of months, it's behind the pecking order to a nice new iMac though!
Do you get to many meetups / conferences?
I try but fail. My new job should get me to a few more though. Fingers crossed.
What would be the soundtrack to your life?
Hm...tough one...Glee? I've no idea.
What one piece of advice would you offer to anyone wanting to get into the industry?
Go to as many meetups and conferences as you can...and speak to everyone. If I hadn't been to a conference back in 2006, I wouldn't have this job right now.
Finally.....ask me a question. Any question. - Do you fit the Welsh stereotype when it comes to a certain farm animal?
Yes, I fuck sheep.