* Estimated that 17% of these 2 billion websites are active.

I began by giving away free websites. These websites to three retailers who ran big ad buys in Austin newspapers became the portfolio pieces that seeded what would become hundreds of retail clients.

References

"Rowland Williams uniquely stands out as someone who is not only extremely dedicated to the craft, but also someone that provides decades of knowledge and experience working with clients and delivering products that both challenge and innovate."
Thomas Hsieh, CEO & Founder
Soulbii

"From the outset Rowland listened carefully to our needs, paid attention to our budget, made great suggestions, and best of all took pains to make sure the site reflected the look, feel and spirit of our authentic Irish Pub. Rowland provided us a tremendous value and is a true asset."
Steve Basile, Manager/Partner
B.D. Riley's Irish Pub

Design Thinking

Navigate Evolving Tech

• Surmounted early limited bandwidth. I designed around bandwidth issues by keeping graphics small -- trimmed away every possible pixel -- to decrease page load times on sub-56k dial-up speeds. I improved on this with judicious flows that dispersed graphics across multiple pages atop easily-learnable UX which kept users moving.
• Refined designs with the advent of broadband and displays of 16:9 and beyond. I used increasing bandwidth and additional screen real estate to coalesce graphics onto fewer screens. This allowed for immediate and compelling calls to action to convert eyeballs to revenue.
• Adapted UX/UI to accomodate smartphone screens and slow mobile downloads. Responsive design -- before there was a mobile standard -- refined my design skills as it forced me to think outside the box on every project. User interviews and testing further improved my skills and products.

Success measured by repeat business. My largest client, Igloo Group (Waterloo Ice House et al), purchased websites for each of their three divisions. Other clients also hired me for multiple divisions. Still more clients hired me for updates and fresh rebuilds for their single domains.

Deliver Function and Flow

• Client needs dictated function.
• User needs dictated flow.

Create Effective Marketing

Clients lowered their cost-per-impression advertising expenditures relative to traditional advertising while receiving 24/7 marketing.

Clients spanned retail sectors -- from furniture to jewelry to hospitality -- until I shifted my focus to legal and medical professionals following 9/11. I returned to retail clients after the post-9/11 market stabilized, and focused on the hospitality industry.

Client and user interviews plus user testing created UX/UI that:

• Elicited a visceral user response to my UI. I wanted users to feel something as they experienced my sites.
• Offered quickly-learnable UX. I designed easy-to-use UX that addressed client goals and user needs.

Skills Mastered

I Listen

You're not doing your job if you don't leave your comfort zone. I step into my client's sphere. What do they want? What do they need? Who is their customer? What does the customer want? What does the customer need? What will convert them for my client? I conclude my research with a single question: How can I use what I've learned to make my client's business stronger?

I Adapt

Adaptation isn't an asset for a UX designer, it's a requirement. I change my thinking with each new piece of data. I reconsider my designs with every change in technology. What are the new parameters I'm working within? How far can we push those limits to benefit the client? Adaptation is a skill that requires honing, and I have honed that skill thousands of times over years of practice. It is now part of me.

I Deliver

Skills only matter if they result in a successful deliverable. I've listened, adapted, then delivered well over 200 unique websites. I am 100% committed to the process of creating a product. The payoff is a product that gives the client what they want and what research and experience assures me they need. I have done my job properly when both these goals align.