Pink Lemonz Interview

.:: INTERVIEW WITH WEB DESIGNER TANIA METCALF ::.

STRUGGLING HARD TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Interview with Tania Metcalf, Australia

Tania Metcalf, a 19 year old from Perth, started writing her own programs since she was eight. Since then, she now has 7 websites, exceptional design skills and a talent for photography. Pink Lemonz finds out why, with a design portfolio like hers, that she's applying to study Law.

AGE : 17
COUNTRY : Australia
OCCUPATION : Student/Candy maker/Freelance Graphic Designer

ON DESIGNING

1.. Tell us something about yourself.

Well just at this very point in time, I am awaiting my final exam results, which will dictate what university courses I am eligible for. Thus far I've applied for a double degree of Law and Arts, so whether I make the cut off is the next hurdle. However, let's not talk about study, it makes me nauseous :) I'd much rather discuss more interesting things like music, design, people, literature, photography, raving, the beach, travel, peroxide, body art, post modernism, philosophy, films, poetry, visual arts..

2.. What got you interested in designing ?

I've always had a strong passion for the arts, photography, drawing, computers and anything that is versatile and expressive [or gives me an excuse to muck around with expensive equipment ;)], so I guess graphic design integrates a lot of those fields. I can recall from as young as about 5 or 6, using the ol' Amiga 500 to create very simplistic graphics and animated images with the likes of programs such as 'Fantavision'. Another aspect that got me hooked, which may sound really pathetic, is that I really love print design and media. It is awesome due to the endless opportunities it provides to exercise your creative mind with different types of packaging, brochures, posters, flyers...you name it and I'll want to try it out :)

3.. How did you manage to learn all the web applications ? Are they self taught ?

To sum that question up in a nutshell, I will say one word: experimentation. I've never taken any course in design, computing or even photography [with the exception of a basic unit during high school], so much of my 'knowledge' [if you dare be so brave as to say I have any] stems from hours of sitting up until the early hours of the morning playing with Adobe Photoshop, and visiting sites and trying to understand how they achieved a particular layout. In the early days I would code an entire site from scratch in Notepad, leaving me with little time to focus on the aesthetics, but with the aid of Dreamweaver and other *shudder* site building programs, I've since let my graphic and design skills develop, leaving the basics to Dreamweaver, only altering the source code when the need arises. The best way to learn is to get into a project and try things out...the worst you can do is have to start over :)

4.. You mentioned in the email you sent me that 'you'd find any excuse to design'. Where do you think this passion comes from?

By nature I've always been very interested in expression through the arts, be it through playing guitar, painting, writing or acting, it all comes down to using a medium like a tool for getting out emotions, or even just for enjoyment and something to do. Design is no exception, except it has the added bonus of sometimes actually having a purpose ;)

5.. Why did you choose to study law ?

I'm a bit like a coin really...I have two, relatively contrasting sides to my persona. One is highly boring, almost uncreative, sociological, post modern and scientific (the political side), whilst the other is fun loving, musical, sporty and artsy (the creative side). Hence, in choosing my future career (and hey spare in mind that I'm only 17), I was always been debating which path to follow - a career in science, politics and or law; or a career in the arts, where I could pursue media, theatre or music. In the last few years I've often found myself in a conflict between design and law - and it appears at this stage as though Law has taken preference, primarily because I want to bring about change in society, that is not limited to or by helping only individuals (as one would find in a career such as medicine or psychology). Hence, my battle plan is to combine a law/arts degree whereby I can study sociology, politics, law, women's studies and psychology, all of which will hopefully provide me with a good foundation for either legislative law and or politics - two fields where maybe I could contribute in reducing the growing divide of rich and poor, racism and homophobia; and start changing the discriminatory nature of (Australia's) legal system whereby indigenous individuals, the GBLT community and women still suffer.

6.. Have you ever thought of taking up IT or New Media ?

Most definitely, as I mentioned in the above question, I've constantly been in limbo as to which path I will follow. There was a stage not so long ago when I had dreamed of studying design at Sweden's design school, Hyperisland. However, for the meantime I've decided to put my New Media options on hold and just focus on law - it saddens me to think of it remaining just an interest, but at the same time I am very passionate and motivated about making a difference in the 'socio-political scheme of things'.

7.. A lot of women / youth your age don't know what they want to do in life. Do you consider yourself lucky to have found something that motivates you, to be sure of what you want to do in life and in your career?

Certainly. I mean, we all have trouble trying to make (what at least seem to be) life changing decisions, but the key is to just keep things in perspective. I am still very young, and hey, if in two or three or 5 years down the track, I change career paths, then so what? Many people don't find their feet until their mid to late twenties, and even then you may still be unsure of where you want to go precisely. It's a little crazy to expect that youth must make such an important decision with little to no life experience, and that is one aspect I do consider myself lucky in - I've seen a bit of the world and have an advantage over many of my peers in that I'm similarly motivated and passionate about two paths that both offer careers.

8.. You have about 6 / 7 websites altogether. How do you find the time to manage all of them ?

Haha. I don't really manage all of them all that frequently :) Well at least, I haven't been recently with the last 6months being so full on with studies. My main and personal site, Jestergirl, is relatively simple to maintain - I update the cover graphic once a month and add to it whenever I have the time. I'm currently starting a few new projects which I hope to get off the ground asap. One that I'm particularly excited about may mean that I will have to put the others on hold, as I'm also heading off for travel around Europe and Asia this coming January.

9.. All your websites have a different purpose especially in the content and design. How do you come up with ideas for these sites ?

I have so many interests in life that it sometimes scares me, so in a way it's not surprising that I have a variety of content and designs.
Many of the ideas come from something I've studied, seen or even heard. The social, private and political contexts of my sites are often related to issues that are of interest or relevance to me. A common motif would be gay pride and the ongoing debate of law reform, which is a hot topic here in Perth right now, whereas other themes relate more so to the arts, from print texts, to theatre to current exhibitions or musical fields and youth issues. My next site will hopefully be a pictorial take on the world since I am currently investing in a DigitalDV Camera and will be travelling through about 8 or 9 countries next month..so bingo, there's another idea :)

10.. What would be your 'dream design' to work on ?

That is a tough question! It'd be a close call between working on Hybrid's (an electronic music group) next CD cover and site; and designing the print and online promotion for BMW's newest automobiles ;)

11.. What inspires you ?

Seeing the energy in other artists - checking out their portfolios, photography, magazines, advertisements...online magazines and designer sites, such as Design Is Kinky, www.thismanslife.co.uk ... the designer's republic..

12.. Who is the greatest influence in life ?

For me it is not necessarily a matter of who, but what, and the answer is watching everyday people succeed in their pursuits in life. But to take a post modern perspective, the media is not necessarily the greatest, but at least the biggest influence on life, after all aren't we all really just victims of social engineering? ;)

ON PERSONAL LIFE

1.. Are you single or are you seeing someone?

I have been seeing an amazing, wonderful supercalafragilisticexpialodocious girl for the last 4months or so. She really is an inspiration and a great friend all in one :)

2.. If the government decided to legalize gay marriage, would you marry your girlfriend (if you're attached)?

To be perfectly honest, I really don't know. Right now, I see marriage as merely a legally binding piece of paper, however my perspective could change with further consideration of the topic...and somewhere inside my crazy mind I can see the romance of it all, so maybe I would marry my girlfriend...I'd have to consult her first I guess ;)

3.. What is your favourite pick-up line?

I don’t really have one…seeing as I don’t go out to pick up.

4.. How would you define beauty?

I really don't mean to sound cliché, but I know there's no avoiding it; I define beauty as being dependent on an individual's personality, and their ability to see more in others than just the aesthetics. I find someone beautiful if they are interesting, a little diverse, open minded, compassionate, generous, intelligent. Of course there will always be people who you are physically attracted to, but for me a person becomes all the more beautiful, or all the more repulsive as you get to know them. I also believe that if you begin to like somebody's personality, you often begin to find them more attractive than you may have thought previously.

5.. What is your definition 'love' ?

I doubt that I could provide a singular definition for such a complex question, nor could I sum up much of my thoughts without writing an essay...so I will say that love is a condition during which you feel a connectedness with another that is unsurpassable by any other person. I cannot put a set of conventions or definitions on love, because to do that, is to create expectations, and thus you will not find love by setting a criteria for someone to meet. Love is something that just happens, and if you are going to set out a criteria, then you're discounting half of the population from which you may find that 'right person'.

6.. If you get the chance to meet god, what would the one question you would ask him ?

"Are you a guy or a gal or an other?"

LIST OF WEBSITES

.. www.jestergirl.cjb.net
.. www.retrophunk.cjb.net
.. www.wshsleavers.cjb.net
.. www.envy.nu/iicandy/eg/g3cko.htm