Have you always wanted to work in a creative career?
Yes! I’ve always loved art and was constantly doodling something when I was little. In high school we had to pick a career of interest and, of course, I chose Marketing and Advertising (web designer wasn’t even an option back then!).
What kind of web project do you most enjoy executing?
I love learning new things and being challenged, so when there’s an opportunity to integrate some cool functionality or to design a website that’s really out-of-the-box, I’ll jump at it! For example, when redesigning the ESD 112 website, one of my main goals was to make editing for our 20+ web editors as simple as possible. Basically, each program page has a tab system where all the program content lives. Each tab is its own page so that when an editor needs to make a change, they only need to sort through the tabbed content instead of the entire page. I also set up a system for program contacts so that editors can update contact information in one spot. In our previous website, that information was added in multiple places, making maintenance tedious.
What is your favorite way to communicate with your web clients?
Initially, I like to ask a lot of questions. It helps me figure out what the client really needs to accomplish with the work and how to get there. I’m a “big picture” type of person and work myself down to the details and sometimes that involved a good conversation to get started.
As the project moves forward, email is easy for me to keep track––especially when I need to refer back to something or follow-up on a conversation. As far as receiving content, I’m happy to get it in any which way possible…as long as I get it!
And I don’t mind when clients “communicate” with flowers!
The Washington School for the Deaf was so pleased with their new website launch that they sent Laura a bunch of flowers to express their gratitude.
One of Laura’s favorite spaces to hang out in…when it’s not too hot out anyways.
You are often juggling multiple website builds at once and sitting at a computer all day. What do you do to unplug and decompress?
At the beginning of Covid, we had to cancel are much-anticipated trip to Hawaii. It was pretty devastating and we still haven’t been able to reschedule. So instead of basking in the sun on a beach, we thought it’d be a great idea to convert our wellhouse/shed into a greenhouse!
Now every day after work I get to go to my new greenhouse and tend to my many plants. It’s been fun growing things from seed and actually succeeding…there’s a pun in there somewhere!
Random question time: If you had to get a tattoo, what would it be and why?
For our one-year anniversary (over 20 years ago), my husband and I went to Kauai, where we had honeymooned the year before. There was this cute little tattoo shop and we decided that getting tattoos sounded like an awesome idea. We just picked designs that we liked out of a book of artwork (this is what young people do, right?). While I don’t regret the little bit of sunshine on my lower back, I’d love to get another tattoo (or expand on my initial one) that has a little more meaning. I don’t think my husband will get another one though after almost passing out. I might still make fun of him…
