Ross Johnson –

Ross Johnson has been designing websites professionally for over fifteen years. He brings a unique and comprehensive view to design, shaped by a lifelong love for fine arts and his education in technology, business and social science. This diverse background brings insight to all aspects of design including practicality, business implications and psychology of how people interact with computers. For the past seven years Johnson has run a global design firm called 3.7 DESIGNS. The firm has serviced companies across the globe including General Motors, Sandals and The Detroit Zoo. He currently teaches at Michigan State University and Washtenaw Community College. Johnson

He will be presenting on “The Overlap of Emotion and Usability” on Saturday.

Interview with Ross:

Why do you use WordPress?
It’s the best platform for the type of projects I work on. It’s easy to use, flexible, extendable and always evolving.

What do you like best about WordCamps?
Meeting other professionals and learning new techniques for design and development.

What is your favorite tip or resource for a new WordPress user?
The WordPress Codex contains everything you need and more.

What is a common problem you see in WordPress sites, and how would you avoid it?
Bad user experience. Plan before you post, think about what categories and tags make sense for your site and create a logical user interface.

How do you stay up to date with new information about WordPress?
wpcandy.com

Do you have any advice for a person who’s building a business around WordPress design/development?
Find an niche and become an expert in it.