John Yesko User Experience
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Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q. Where do you work?

A. I'm currently employed full-time as a User Experience Lead at Roundarch, Inc. in Chicago. Roundarch designs and develops complex portal and content management websites.

The main point of this site, though, is that I also operate a freelance design business. I have been managing my own freelance projects since 1993.

Web Design Questions

Q. How much does a website cost?

A. That's a little bit like asking "How much does it cost to build a house?" There are so many factors - how big is it, what special features does it have, what tools are necessary to build it, etc. Generally, there are four parts to the cost of building a site:

  • Site design/building.
    This is the biggest part of the job. I include in this fee information architecture, graphic design, typography, photo/logo scanning, HTML production, and programming. These costs vary widely. I've worked on small business sites for as little as a couple thousand dolars, and larger corporate sites that cost in the high six figures. I encourage you to call or e-mail me for an proposal, or just to ask any questions you might have.
  • Domain name registration.
    The cost to register a domain name (i.e., yourcompany.com) has come down significantly. Some ISPs will now sell a domain name for as low as $10 per year.
  • Hosting.
    "Hosting" can be thought of as renting space. You pay this monthly fee to rent space on a "host server" for your site to live on. Your monthly cost will usually be between $20 and $50, but can be significantly higher if the site has special requirements (such as a database).
  • Maintenance.
    One of the most important things to do with a website is to keep the content fresh. The site should be updated regularly with current information, news, new services, personnel changes, seasonal specials, etc. I generally charge by the hour for website maintenance, as the need arises.

Q. Why should I hire you to design my website?

A. At least three reasons:

  • I have a black belt in common sense.
    Having spent countless hours watching users struggle with websites, I generally have a pretty good idea of what works and what doesn't. I try my best to communicate that to my clients. Sometimes, that means talking you or your colleagues out of your own ideas of what should go on your site. If that rainbow-colored gradient, three-minute Flash intro, or Garfield cartoon you had your mind set on won't work, I'll fight you on it (diplomatically, of course).

    I bring an outside perspective that's not a slave to your business's internal politics or organizational chart. Rather, I strive to act as and advocate for your site's visitors--giving them the information they need, in a manner they understand. That objectivity and experience result in a site that meets both your users' needs and your business goals.

  • Value.
    I am not the cheapest freelancer you'll find. If you have a teenage nephew who's a "computer whiz" and wants to create a website for you, I won't be able to compete with him on price. But if you're looking for a seasoned professional with extensive agency experience, you can get me for a fraction of the price you'd pay a medium to large company to do the same work. Agencies have important expertise in handling technically complex projects and larger campaigns. But if all you really need is one smart guy, I can help.

    It's not "champagne on a beer budget"--more like real good champagne on a less expensive champagne budget.

  • I am not an award-winning designer.
    That might seem like a negative, but it's not. Sites that win design awards are often built with other designers in mind. They look cool, but using them is painful. I design sites with the user in mind--clean, clear, and easy to navigate. By the way, they usually look pretty good too. Maybe I'll win an award by accident one of these days.

Q. You mentioned "information architecture" a few times. What is that?

A. Information architecture can be thought of as creating the "blueprints" for a website--planning the scope, organization, and navigation of the site. The two main deliverables out of this process are a navigation map (also known as a "site map" or "flowchart"), and wireframe document. The navigation map is "tree" diagram that shows the hierarchical structure of the site - what the main content divisions are and how "deep" the site is. A wireframe is essentially a sketch of each key page in the site. It shows the navigational scheme (links and buttons used to move around the site), general content scope, and how these elements are prioritized and positioned in relation to each other.

Q. Do you offer website hosting?

A. While I don't personally host sites on my own servers, I can recommend a hosting company that is appropriate to a client's particular needs.

Q. How do you charge for your work?

A. There are two ways.

I sometimes work by the hour. My rate varies according to the task at hand, in the broad range of $75-$150 per hour.

More commonly, though, I work on a project basis. I spend some time with a new client going over their needs, and then present an proposal for the entire project. Most of my clients are more comfortable with this arrangement than the hourly system.

I have also been known to work in trade, so if someone sells a product or service that I need, we can talk about it.

Q. Do you do HTML programming?

A. Yes, I do HTML programming, to the extent of producing web pages that look and navigate like they’re supposed to. The design and production processes are tightly intertwined in web development; I don't feel that I would be able to design an effective site without understanding the underlying technology. I also have experience with Flash and JavaScript, for creating more interactive sites.

I do not personally do intensive back-end programming, such as database programming, custom eCommerce applications, Cold Fusion, ASP, etc. If a client’s website needs these features, I partner with other web professionals who can make it happen.

Q. Do you work in Flash?

A. Yes, I use Flash for animation and added interactivity when appropriate. However, I don’t use Flash just because I can. There are plenty of unusable Flash sites out there; I say "stop the insanity."

Medical Illustration Questions

Q. Do you still do medical illustration?

A. Not so much. I've been concentrating most of my efforts in the web design/user experience area over the past few years. That said, I do take on the occasional medical illustration project, if one seems particularly interesting or the client is especially nice.

Q. What's the story with that "CMI" after your name?

A. "CMI" stands for Certified Medical Illustrator. To become a Certified Medical Illustrator, one must graduate from an accredited graduate program in medical illustration. There are only six such programs in North America. Then, you have to successfully pass a certification exam, and submit a professional illustration portfolio for Board review. I earned the designation of Certified Medical Illustrator in 1997.

Q. I’m a high school or college student (or prospective student, out-of-work caricature artist, convicted felon, etc.) and I’d like to get into medical illustration. Can you tell me how?

A. I get this question a lot. (I guess you could even say "frequently.") To be acknowledged as a professional medical illustrator, one must generally attend an accredited graduate program in the field. In North America, there are currently six:

These are two- or three-year programs, which split teaching time between illustration theory and techniques, and the medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, etc.). The programs require a number of undergraduate prerequisites in both art and science. I recommend University of Illinois (because I went there), but all of the programs have their own strengths and outstanding faculty.

  • More information about the field of medical illustration can be learned from the Association of Medical Illustrators at www.ami.org.