Getting To Know Joey

Why on Earth would you pick a website name with so many Ns in it?

Shenanigans & Sass is the brain child of Mr. F and me! It was our wedding site originally, and now it is where you can see all the shenanigans I get into. Not to mention, I’m sassy!

How did you get your start in web design?

We’re going to rewind to 1998. I was a Freshman at Indiana University and playing on a website called wbs.net. As the sites evolved and the needs changed, we had to learn HTML and CSS to keep our characters fancy, and website looking sharp! This led to a love of solving user issues and making pretty websites that people wanted to use.

Where did you go from there?

From there I moved into more technical roles by providing support for digital music, medical diagnostic websites, and property management software. It’s more fulfilling to me to create and to solve problems than to support weirdness. So I hopped in feet first into getting my programming degree. I graduated in 2016 with a B.S. in Information Technology with an emphasis on software development.

Yeah, but development isn’t design. How did you go from coding to design?

From 2016-2019 I worked as an applications developer and software engineer. Developers often choose the most efficient path to create functionality without a great deal of thought of how non-technical people use the applications and websites built. I prefer the creative needs of graphic work and front end development over back end development. When the opportunity was presented to me at the company I worked for, I excitedly got my UXUI Design certification from the Nielson Norman Group and transitioned from developer to designer.

So, what are you working on now?

Between crocheting and writing, I make graphics, design websites, and study up on the latest trends in UXUI Design. I help other authors format their books, create brand kits, and market via social media.