Exclusive Interview with Erik Otten

Though people debate the practicality of the use of Flash, no one can deny that Erik Otten – Flash designer, website author and winner of WDL’s “Site of the Month” award - shows how when they are built with care, Flash sites can communicate in a warm and personal way, like no other web medium. The physical diary style format which he chose for his online portfolio invites visitors to enter and stay awhile. Here he explains how and why he chose his profession and where he’s going with it.

WDL: When did you first become interested in Web Design and why? What other work experience would appear on your resume if you included all that you have done?

Erik Otten: Designing always interested me. Whether it was Legos or drawing, I always knew what I wanted to do with it. In 2000 I had to make the choice on the education; at that moment the internet was HOT and that's why I (accidentally) joined the world of internet technology. Apart from web design I also have a passion for designing corporate identities: brand design, and I hope that I will be able to work fulltime on it in the future.


WDL: Tell us about your work for Coca-Cola. How did you get the job? Did you bid for it or were you approached by the corporation?

Erik Otten: You can read on my website that the Coca-Cola project is a personal project. There is an idea to work out this design with Simon Hattinga Verschure (Seraph) to a full working flash website but we still have to find the time to do that. Besides that I was invited by Clockwork (a company that has Coca-Cola as one of their clients) to do an application at Clockwork.



WDL: Of all your other projects, which was the most challenging?

Erik Otten: If you work in a proper way, it has to be the latest project that you've worked on. But it's difficult to choose, if I really have to it will probably be my own portfolio website, I'm never satisfied with the result especially not if it's personal work.


WDL: You had non-English sites in all but the 6 th and 7 th versions, which are in English only (without a native language version). Can we assume that this means that you have outgrown your country?

Erik Otten: No, not at all. My aim is to show my work to as many people as possible. I try doing this by paying attention to the visuals on my website and leaving out unnecessary texts. The Dutch language can deter people from staying on my website, and that's why I've chosen to do version 6 in English. By the way, my English vocabulary isn't very good, but luckily some of my friends helped me to translate the website.


WDL: Your profile has a large range of work that is consistent in quality. We see no lacks, though perhaps you do. What do think is missing from your portfolio? In other words, what sort of work would you like to see in your portfolio?

Erik Otten: A complete corporate identity for one of the largest brands on the world.


WDL: Most designers get their inspiration from reading magazines, some get it from watching movies, and some get it from traveling, some from smoking marijuana and some from eating bananas. What do you do?

Erik Otten: I look through much architecture and garden books. They show colors and shapes in their optimal way. Besides that looking at work of colleagues and talking with them inspire me.


WDL: Is there anything you think you should have done by this time in your young life and are there any opportunities that would you call missed ones? Any regrets? Are there any redactions forthcoming? After all, you're only twenty.

Erik Otten: Big multimedia companies regularly offer me jobs. Since I'm very busy with Douglas Design, the company that I'm working for at the moment, I haven't got time for anything else. Sometimes I am afraid that I'll regret rejecting those offers over 10 years from now.


WDL: Why did you choose to make your personal site in Diary format?

Erik Otten: The diary format is the ideal way to present my work to the public; it arose by accident in the sixth version of my website. I wanted to make something completely new for the latest version but after trying out many alternatives I came back to the diary format.


WDL: Reading several web blogs about your website, we came across the following comments: “The site still has some issues with accessibility and usability, mainly due to Flash. But when Flash sites are built with care they can communicate like no other web medium. It's a trade off that has to be taken seriously and all too often flash sites are poorly made so that the choice to build a site in flash becomes a lazy and a immature choice. This is not only regrettable but more importantly it's reprehensible. Just because Erik Otten can doesn't mean everybody else should.” What do you believe the author of this statement meant when he said your site still has some issues with accessibility and usability? Can you respond to this?

Erik Otten: Flash is a tool that is developing; we already can do a lot but there is still much to improve, especially in the area of usability and accessibility. For myself I'm very satisfied with those areas in my website.


WDL: If you were stranded on a deserted island, (assuming you already have a harem, and an unlimited supply of food and drink and the best musicians in the world) what three things would you like to have with you?

Erik Otten: A blue ballpoint, a pile of A4 paper and a trash can.


WDL: Your website was published at WDL Site of the Month section with the comment: …Browsing his lightweight project files is a breeze. Check out the nice color palette.… Do you agree with our assessment? What do you think about other websites of the month - what's the best?

Erik Otten: Great compliment. Most important is that visitors will be able to browse fast and efficient through my portfolio getting a good impression of my work. The additional information and design on my website isn't that important. Sometimes I see portfolio showcases in which the showcase itself is way better than the portfolio shown, that isn't the purpose of a portfolio website in my opinion.


WDL: Another question. Imagine that Santa Claus asked you to do him a favour and make him his personal website. Imagine that you've even agreed. What would this site look like?

Erik Otten: An enormous ice castle through which you can fly on the back of a deer. Anyway, it has to fulfill every cliché set for Santa Claus.


WDL: Internet technologies are growing daily and there are many new things coming out. Which substantial challenge are you waiting for the most?

Erik Otten: Video. I think Volvo is a great example; almost all their internet advertisement has video involved, which has a great impact on the visitor. I would like the pinpoint this way of advertisement.


WDL: Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed.

Erik Otten: No problem, it was an honor.