The 'feed your eyes' mission and to 'lever/promote talent in the industry' have not wavered nor changed. I guess my level of expectancy has. Since it all started out (way back in '95), I have grown to become a scout-trend-spotter-seasoned-catcher of emerging talents. My role is now more defined. I'm always on the lookout for who is pushing further and achieving new media driving force status.

a) Lots of startups were 'government' funded - the ratio turned out to be a 9 on 10 failures. As the grants dried up so did the fledging companies. Basically no influential 'group' emerged nor survived through the dot com bombing of late 1999.

b) Lots of studios were created by x_designers from traditional advertising agencies which, in turn, became 'overnight' Internet pros. Laughable and immature, making them non-competitive with the bustling international community. Again, the talent involved was great - but sucking up projects from 4-5 sources. So much for originality. Not much of a chance to evolve. Zip chance to survive… apart from stubborn and smart freelancers who garnered international clients.

c) The language barrier is something that may keep those who only speak/work in French on a 'microvision' level (Montreal is such a small market) and prevents venturing in the 'macrovision' aka the 'world market' that does require English as entry language.

d) Lastly - those who have steered in the clear - are either moving to a different part of Canada or the US or freelance. So we are suffering some brainware damage.

Netdiver started out in '95 as an intelligence gathering startup. We were questing the potential business models and how creatives would take advantage of these. Part of the initial research consisted on evaluating the 'network economy' potential. Later pinned down that it was indeed a 'new media' subjected to new rules of communications. So Netdiver - the magazine and portal - is basically a bookmarklet venue renamed "portal" when the word became… more glamorous. It was started to publicly share the pearls we had discovered and some of the resources (toolbox) that may be of help to designers. When we first opened, three years worth of research was published. What we did and still do, are scout for talent, innovators wherever they are located on the planet. To us geography / location - is completely irrelevant.

It so happens that I work-luv-live in Canada which is still a free country… haven't we averted a major fiasco recently? But I gladden myself being a world citizen… interacting in the virtual realm.

In a stealth fashion, we decided to reinvent ourselves and pursue acquiring the skills for designing/developing the next generation of web sites which are CSS driven. CSS are parameters that control presentation / layout in conjunction with HTML to display / structure content. Benefits are ease of update, interoperability and accessibility. In some cases, big save can be made on bandwidth costs. Also web standards (because all devices will be hooked to the network), usability and accessibility (Section 508 which we believe will become mandatory for all businesses in the next couple of years) became obvious prerequisites as well to do so. Granted up to this day it remains a stiff challenge - we are now ready to boot. Bring them on!

Also, we wanted to stress that we were NOT a BIG studio / company.

Some of the reviews concerning Soulmedia positioned us in a place of no comfort… whereas clients were more scared of the hooplah than encouraged by it. Perceived as TOO big, thus, possibly, TOO expensive. We wanted the truth be known about the model we had always favored since onset: small is beautiful and small we are!!! We are 'a thinking design and creative code duo'. That's it. We're two. My partner and me. We never wanted nor believed that we had to be 'everything to everyone'. Pure fallacy! An extended network of top brainware and freelancers offer precise and complementing skills, if need be.

We took the gamble and so far, it is paying off. Since launch, Pixeltable has been consistently recognized as one of the leader in the web community. One of the main objectives was to prove beyond a doubt, that it could be ALL of the above without being deprived of esthetics. Who wants an 'ugly' site anyway since recent research prove that users think a 'beautiful' inteface to be a 'good' site?

Lastly, after 10 years on the web - we wanted to narrow down and offer a more selective list of services. Cutting edge IA, GUI and CSS development coupled with eye candy conceptual design and branding strategies. Recently we have received growing requests for creative consulting



5. You are a co-founder of Independents Day. What can you tell us about this project?

I have been an activist for most of my life and was involved with Amnesty related rescue missions and public pressure campaigns way back in the late '70s.

The ReBirth was purposed to coincide with the Dec 10 / International Human Rights Day. We rolled out the concept, call for submissions and new site in just three weeks (for those interested CSS driven only). I believe in building on a momentum. The relaunch was not crazy but borderline crazy. We had terrific support from the guys at Sighttwo who came up with logos and rotating banners for the submission form within 3 days of request. Owe big time to design portals editors around the world and the new media community which proved again, that it could collectively use its talents, knowledge, creativity, diversity, resiliency, generosity to really affect and kick start an awareness project... that could genuinely benefit the world.

ID is the brainchild of Jeffrey Zeldman and Susan Kaup. I was invited in to brainstorm the concept potentiality, ended-up working to 'make it happen' sort of speaking. Now, Pixeltable curates the project and its future endeavors. Check the x_phase section to learn of past events. We welcome contributions. Phase 2 is upcoming with a new call for submissions brewing up - stay tuned!



6. In many of your articles and interviews you have mentioned that you believe the net is still in its infancy, that the best is YET to come. What do you hope to see in the future of the web?

We are still very much into the 'plumbing age'. You know, building the infratstructure… the pipeline. Exploring the 'how' (widgets) and promising incursions into the 'how' (rich media apps) but the 'what' is definitely the golden cornerstone. Content is King!!! What's the use of a huge pipeline without running water in it, right? Content is the water and whoever is working at developing content, is part of the next game.

I know that the word 'convergence' is a hyped and over used buzzword, which was mostly applied out of context. Convergence means all devices connected to the network. As a big fan of science-fi basically think that what is upcoming is what was imagineered decades ago. Remember Vodafone … and how they tinkered with some techno widgets to connect 'content' to users? Catering to these niche audiences (users) is the most exciting part of what the future holds. And that, is yet to come!!



7. Between keeping deadlines with PixelTable and maintaining Netdiver and Independents Day, what keeps you motivated on such a high level?

Everyone in life strives to find its place! Early on, around 14, wrote my life manifesto, which was to change the world. Evidently (circa '67) the possibility of doing so… was conservatively remote - if not down and all completely impossible… unless there were some kind of new mean (media) through which the 'many' could be reached. I had the insight and 'longing' for such a tool. I knew it had to give access to information, education and communication. When I landed on the Internet -I had found IT!!! The tool and platform that suited my vision and objectives. It then became all 'possible'.

So what keeps me moving on? The future!!! The next steps. I want to see the realization of this thesis: Communication + Exchange + Collaboration = Exponential results! What power beholds us!

8. It is apparent that you hold an affinity for writing and visual design. Which of these do you prefer?

Design. Writing is a necessity, design is a passion. Writing is a torment especially if I have to write about me. I have written extensively all my life in both English and French: plays, prose, songs, articles, etc. But every time - it seems this big dark cloud descends on my mind and I struggle and struggle… to get my brain to focus on a small portion of what I'm thinking… and keep it that way until I'm finished. Focussed! I mean really focussed and breaking down thoughts into meaningful words… and short sentences. Anyone who knows me - knows that I can go left and right… too much on my mind - I'm sure it is dizzying. I have this urge and necessity to write but I struggle… lots doing so. One would like to think that wanting so much to 'share' would make for an easy ride… or at least being gifted into making it an easy asset to express from…Go figure.

Whereas design… is like breathing air. Playing with abstracts ideas, sifting chaos, finding a concept and turning these into 'visual' renderings is… in comparison easy. It does not mean I don't work less hard… perhaps I am more talented at this. Especially if it demands a high level of synthesis, which I'm good at. I'm a generalist with a large horizontal view of life. When I design - the playing field is endless… Often told that I am an 'idea machine' ROFL.

Writing is thinking vertically for a short moment. I see this as an interruption of the usual flow. Picture me trying to control the tumult, which is constant interference when I write, and constant inspiration, when I design. I know quite a contradiction.

Since I luv problem solving which happens to be superlative fun for me - I do both.



9. What was the last great movie you have seen and what was the last great book you have read?

AI by Spielberg. Luv it because it threads the technology vs humanity conflict. The social complications of technology are quite brillantly put. The finale concludes with the greatest statement of all: 'It is LOVE that makes us human'.

As for books… oh my gosh… My studio is litterally invaded by books. At any given time there are at least 4-5 books I'm reading or cross reading, tons of magazines in various stage of exploration… Always luv reading - another true passion. Learning defines who I am. BUT I do have a book to recommend if you are lucky enough to find it. Society of the Mind by Eric L. Harry - the most mind blowing AI sci-fi thriller that displays a lot of semblance to today and a not too far distant future.