When he looks back on the defining times of his childhood (art lessons on Saturdays and writing computer games with his brother) Jeff Fassnacht Design believes that, to some degree, his occupation was predestined.

11.28.07

The "Other" Flickr

What site do you look at every day? Ffffound!.

What's the subject/topic of it? A place where people find, bookmark and share their favorite images.
 
What's so great about it? It's all about the content, which is immediate, fun, rewarding and inspirational.
 
What makes it technically compelling? The site learns from your clicks and recommends images based on that. The site's "quick key" navigation works amazingly well: list (v), top (h), prev (k), next (j).
 
How would you improve it? Or would you? Just continue the current trajectory of minimal interface and smart navigation.
 
What's your job? User experience designer.
 
Where do you work? Wesabe (work from my past can be found at Jeff Fassnacht Design).
 
If you have a degree in what field is it? BS in graphic design from the University of Cincinnati, DAAP.
 
How did you get involved in this industry? To some degree, it was my destiny.  Defining times in my childhood were art lessons on Saturdays at the Herron School of Art and writing computer games with my brother on a Radio Shack TRS-80. Those two paths eventually converged in a professional career.
 
What's your biggest Web (design) turn-off? Sites that lack focus, or try to be too many things to too many people, or don't at least try to innovate in some way even if it's in the details. There is a phrase we use to describe sites that just imitate, "fast followers."

Who, in this industry (or not), has been your biggest inspiration? First and foremost, my parents. But in this industry I remember first seeing the elegant, compelling simplicity of Yugo Nakamura's MONO*crafts site. His work really got me started thinking about behaviors in combination with data and visuals. Behaviors are a key element of excellent design online.
 
What's the weirdest thing you've bought online? Hmmm, maybe wind-up sushi. Although, living in San Francisco, I prefer to buy weird things in person.
 
What do you do in your spare time? Teach graphic design at the California College of Arts and try to make up for all the time I spend in a chair by being active.
 
What music are you listening to right now? Anything related to Glen Hansard of The Frames. But just today, a friend sent me a link to a record label in Berlin called Basic Channel which is re-releasing dub and reggae from the '60s and '70s.
 
What product/gadget can you not live without? I find it cumbersome to use anything other than a Wacom tablet for computer interaction these days.
 
What's your dream computer set-up? Okay, completely dreaming, but I'd love the multi-touch interface to become a normal part of my design workflow.