Matt Griffin founded 6House Web Design in 2003 and has been the primary owner and art director ever since. He is also the author of an online web design magazine called Mirificam Press. Since 6House Web Design was started in 2003, Matthew Griffin has combined a solid design philosophy and worldview with progressive web design techniques to produce beautiful, effective websites. The result is a long list of satisfied clients both in Midland / Odessa, Texas and around the world. Matthew eventually codified his principles of web design into two lists—the six houses of web design technique and the six houses of web design philosophy. We were fortunate enough to conduct an interview with the busy Matt Griffin, check out the interview below. When you’re finished, head over to Matt’s personal website where you can view his full portfolio. Keep up the great work Matt!

Age: 29

Website: sixhousedesign.com

Why did you choose to enter into your field? What do you like most about designing websites?

I started designing websites when the web was still young back in the late 90s. I fell in love with it immediately because of the unique blend of artistic and programatic tasks involved. I was already a confident BASIC and C programmer at that time but found the monotony of programming something I could only handle in small doses. It was the same thing for my drawing and design. Web design provided the middle ground I was looking for.

What inspired you to create 6House Design?

From the beginning it was my plan to free myself the hard line 9 to 5 employee lifestyle. I married young and had plans for children and I wanted to be able to spend time with my family. It’s not a smart move for everyone. It requires a lot of discipline and foresight. But it’s been rewarding in every way and a great adventure going on eight years now.

What suggestions or tips can you give someone who is aspiring to become a web designer?

First, if you don’t like doing a little bit of everything and adapting and changing your methods on a regular basis, look somewhere else. This vocation is a cacophony of disparate parts and we have to make sense of it all. Second, learn it from the ground up. Start with HTML and CSS and get comfortable with those first. If you try to jump right in and learn with a WYSIWYG editor you’ll regret it later.

Before you begin working on a new project, where do you draw your inspiration?

I try to draw inspiration from the object I’ve been commissioned to represent. When a new client hires me, I typically do a walkthrough of their work area. I pay attention to how they dress, what art they have on the walls, what colors they favor, how their machinery looks and sounds. I also insist that they have a professional photographer come and spend a few hours with them as well. All of this raw material helps me design something unique that conveys the spirit of a business. I’ve found that this is the best way to produce something that my client likes and, in turn, rings true with their customers.

When you are in the process of creating a new site, is there something you do that saves you time?

Yes, something I learned very early on. Never design multiple mockups for one project. I design what I think is best and that’s what I present and that’s what I stand by. It’s a mistake to think that you’re not giving a client enough bang for their buck by presenting only one mockup. The truth is that the more options you give a client, the more trouble you’re going to have. Limit options, put everything you’ve got into one mockup, and you will be a happy designer.

In your daily process of being a designer, what are a few websites that you frequent?

I check in with alistapart.com pretty often. They always have interesting articles and creative solutions to the problems we all face in web design. Also,vandelaydesign.com/blog/ is a place I visit regularly for lists of resources.

What are some strategies you can offer that you used to grow as a designer?

For a long time I walked through one new Photoshop tutorial every week. There’s a million of these online for free and plugging away on a consistent diet of them is a great way to grow yourself as a design. You start to learn tricks and workarounds that make you more efficient. Suddenly, you look up and your stuff is starting to look pretty good.

Who is the coolest designer/web guru that you’ve met so far?

I think it’s probably Jeffrey Zeldman. He wrote Designing with Web Standards and I’ve met him a few times at SXSW Interactive Conference in Austin, TX.

When not staring at a computer, what do you like to do for fun?

I spend a lot of time with my wife and kids. I’m a big reader. I really enjoy classical literature and Christian Theology. I write a web design blog called Mirificam Press. I also love movies. I recently finished shooting a feature film that I wrote called Open When Johnny Can Read. I’m in the process of submitting it to film festivals and promoting it right now. And, of course, I design the website. It’s at johnnysletter.com.