Interview
Andy Nguyen
What are some things you do to help yourself into the state of mind necessary for creative work?
Some things that help put me in my creative mood are:
1) looking at the latest CSS gallery entries. 2) looking at old CSS gallery entries that I've collected through flickr and del.icio.us bookmarks. 3) looking/reading almost any magazine that has good grid structure and/or good color schemes.
Do you follow a strict daily (or weekly, etc.) routine with regard to workflow, or is every day (or week) different?
I balance between a daily routine and something different each time, according to a project. I think it's good to approach a project slightly different each time like "starting from scratch". It's to make sure that your project workflow will work for the project that you're working on and that it makes sense and consistent.
Do you prefer to work in a closed, private environment free from other people and distractions, or in a more open, collaborative environment?
I like to have both. However, I would prefer a closed environment with access to still collaborate projects with other people. This would allow me to work on my own with better concentration and I can always ask people for advice or suggestions.
What do you do to get your day(s) started in the right direction?
Plenty of sleep, a good breakfast meal, and a happy morning mood. I don't drink coffee because I don't need it.
What task management technique do you use?
GTD (Getting Things Done) and a little bit of what I've learned from the Transcending CSS and Web ReDesign 2.0 books. Basically, I try to focus on the bigger picture.
What things tend to disrupt your workflow?
Interruption and sudden, unexpected deadlines.
What previous experiences have influenced your workflow?
I would say none but learning from the GTD book helped improved my task and time managements to improve my workflow.
What other disciplines influence the way you work?
Being analytical, asking questions (when you can't figure it out yourself), and paying attention to detail. Quality over quantity.
Is there anyone in particular you have learned from?
Too many! I learn something new everyday from many bloggers and books. I have a list of feeds that I keep up with in my Google Reader.
What things help keep you focused on the work at hand?
I keep a certain number of "mood" playlists in my iTunes. I'll listen to music depending on the project (real estate site, ecommerce, webapp, etc.). Also, I prefer working during the daytime (morning to noon) or really late at night (9-2am). I feel more task-oriented in the morning and more creative late at night.