The NetSource design team is pleased to announce the launch of www.seppalacorp.com, a new website for Seppala Corporation, one of Florida’s premier luxury home builders. The new site provides a comprehensive set of tools for Seppala Corporation to quickly communicate with both vendors and clients. Netsource’s experienced design team developed the site to compliment Seppala’s [...]
Christie Heikkinen
Christie Heikkinen — a portrait
What do you do at NetSource Technologies, and how long have you worked here?
I’ve been working here since 2008 as a designer. Most of the time I’m designing websites or making updates to existing websites, but I also do some offline work like postcards, business cards, and brochures.
Christie Heikkinen
Birthday: May 2
Favorite Color: Green!
Hometown/Where have you lived?
I grew up in Springfield, Virginia, which is a suburb outside of Washington D.C. After I graduated from high school, I moved down to Savannah, Georgia to go to college, and then continued my southward journey by moving here to Ocala, Florida!
When did you become interested in art and design?
I’ve been interested in art ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon! I spent a lot of time drawing and painting when I was little, but I also liked to try out everything related to art and design: pottery, woodworking, murals, photography, illustration, and of course, graphic design.
When did you become interested in creating websites?
When I was in college, my boyfriend (now husband) started teaching me how to create websites. At first, I was really overwhelmed about learning the language and all the rules, but the more practice I got, the easier it became. It was really exciting to learn the “behind-the-scenes” of what makes websites work, and all the challenges that come with it.
What is your favorite part of creating a new website?
I really love writing out the HTML and CSS for websites. Especially at the very beginning of the project, because that’s when you figure out the structure and the best way to organize all the elements on the page. I enjoy working on complicated designs, and the challenge of getting the website to work in a variety of browsers that all have different rules.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love that web design is constantly evolving. The way I built a website a year ago is different from how I build websites now, and next year it will be different too. There are always new techniques to learn and new technology to adapt to, and that’s what keeps it so interesting!
When did you become interested in computers and technology?
I never really used computers for anything but playing games and writing papers until I got to college. I got my first very own computer (a Dell laptop), and that was also the first time I had used the internet without dial-up, which made a big difference on how I browsed the internet. I think around the time I started learning website design is when I really got interested in computers and the internet, since it was such a big part of what I was doing.
What piece of technology could you not live without?
I don’t think I could live without Google. I don’t even know how many times a day I use it to search, for everything from “how long should I cook a fish” to how to spell a word. I think it’s really changed how we get information, because it’s so easy to find an answer to a question.
Do you have any hobbies?
Right now, I am learning how to sew! I’ve made a few things for around the house and a couple of dresses. It’s pretty neat to walk around in something that you made yourself, and it’s also made me appreciate how much work goes into making a piece of clothing!
What are your top three moments in your life so far?
- Getting married!
- Getting my first paycheck – I was very proud to have a real job and to earn my own money
- Walking across the stage to get my high school diploma
What is your favorite food / drink?
I have a horrible sweet tooth, so pretty much anything with loads of sugar in it.
Twitter or Facebook? (and why)
I use both, but I would pick Facebook over Twitter. I think Facebook is more for keeping up with friends and family, while Twitter is more for following interesting people for entertainment. I like being able to look at photos through Facebook, and the way they let you link to articles and videos easily. I really don’t like how cluttered it is getting with all the applications and useless news that appears in your feed, but hopefully they are working on a better way for you to customize your news feed in the next version.
Tell us about your family!
My dad is a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and my mom is a flautist and avid quilter. I was the second of three girls in my family. My older sister, Wendy, is living on an Army base in Japan with her husband Sherif. They just had a beautiful baby girl named Anna. My younger sister, Bonnie, is going to school at James Madison University to study Education.
I met my husband, Eric, the first day of school at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. He runs a content management system called Pligg CMS, and he’s also a freelance photographer/videographer.
Do you have any pets?
I have a little cat named Sophie. She’s a Persian with long white hair, blue eyes, and an affinity for cardboard boxes.
If you couldn’t be a Web Designer anymore, what career would you pursue?
I’ve always thought it would be fun to decorate cakes like in that Ace of Cakes show. It would combine my love of pretty things with my love of sugary things!
If you could choose to have any superpower, what would it be?
I want super speed! I’d get so much more done every day, and doing chores would only take a couple seconds.
How do you think technology and/or web design will change in the next 10-20 years?
I think we are moving towards more portable computers, like smart phones. You can use them to make calls, check your email, play games, and browse the internet – all from a device that can fit in your pocket. Companies are starting to design more for mobile devices, and I think in the future it will be a bigger consideration to how we approach web design in general. Instead of browsing the internet from a desktop on a desk at home, a lot more people will probably be using the next generation of smart phones and iPads to use the internet. Whatever is going to come next, I think will make us think more about simple and interactive interfaces for smaller screens and shorter browsing times.
What tips would you give to a business that is just starting out with their first website?
I think websites often get neglected once they get launched. My tip would be for them to look at their website as a constant reflection of their company. As your company grows and changes, you’ll want to grow and update your website too. This keeps the information on the website current, so customers always see your newest products/services, and prevents your website from looking outdated.
