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Unique CSS: Tell us about about mesonprojekt
Karl: My name is Karl Francisco Fernandes, I’m 21 years young, and currently a freelance web developer based out of Goa, India. Apart from making websites, I enjoy watching films, listening to music and playing football. mesonprojekt functions as my personal and professional webspace: it houses my weblog and online portfolio. It has been designed and developed entirely by me, and as of now, is one-and-a-half years old.

Unique CSS: What led you to take up web design and development
Karl: Although I have been feelancing professionally only for a few months, I have been making websites ever since I was 13. I have always been fascinated with XHTML, CSS and Javascript. While I have more of a coding background, having taken up computer engineering at graduate level, graphics design is something I learned by myself to give vent to my creativity. I think making websites appeals to me most as it is a logical combination of art and functionality.

Unique CSS: What was the concept behind the design of the site?
Karl: I was deciding on the look of the site at a time when the “grunge” style was taking over the Web. After studying it for a while, I used it in my redesign of mesonprojekt. Visually, the basic concept was to make it resemble an old table-top with a number of vintage-style items for the header and the body. Hence the wood, the paper, the pins, etc. But I didn’t want it to be hardcore grunge either, so the textures and typography I used made it look rather clean. From the back-end, the site is powered by Textpattern and uses Cufon and Javascript for the extra effects.

Unique CSS: What are your sources of inspiration?
Karl: I would say the Web is my single greatest source of inspiration. There are literally hundreds of sites I frequent. At the top of my list would be Smashing Magazine, A List Apart, Web Designer Wall and Design Shack. Apart from the Web, I also get inspiration from graphics design, illustration and typography. Coming to designers, a few names that influence me are Jason Santa Maria, Dan Cederholm and Jon Hicks: all legends in their own right.

Unique CSS: Any advice to aspiring web designers?
Karl: All I can say is keep learning: learn something new everyday. I learn a lot from others’ source code. You see something you like, learn how it is done. Be inspired, don’t copy. Keep experimenting with new techniques. Read books on web design: there are so many available today. Don’t ever stop learning.

Unique CSS: Wise words there from Karl. Good luck in the future!

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