Victoria Johnson
Illustrator & Educator
Can you explain what you were experiencing in regards to your website before hiring me?
My main problem was that I had a great business with fantastic clients - and a home-made website that let me down. It was quite pretty but it wasn't easy to navigate and didn't look professional. I was sending potential clients there but not feeling entirely comfortable about it, knowing that it didn't represent me or my business very well.
What were you most impressed by when our work began?
The single biggest thing that impressed me from the outset is how organised Mariana is and how streamlined the whole process is. Before the designing takes place, Mariana asks a lot of questions that cleverly home in on the business, its clients and its goals (in the Vision Journal) then creates the website within a clear, set schedule. This means that a lot of planning and forethought is required which leads to a final result that is well-conceived as a whole, taking into account every aspect of the business. It also keeps the back and forth to a minimum, which, I imagine, enables Mariana to focus on the work rather than dealing with a million 'oh and one more thing' type emails. I aspire to run a business as smoothly as Mariana does and think her clear, strategical thinking is reflected in her work.
How would you describe working with me?
It was a pleasure working with Mariana (you!). She is friendly, warm and kind and very easy to talk to. She listened attentively and seemed to genuinely care about what I was hoping to achieve with my website - and have the knowledge, talent and discipline to realise more or less exactly what I wanted.
How do you feel now about your decision to hire me to design your website?
I feel like I hit the jackpot. I had massive reservations about hiring a web designer and believed it would be very difficult to find someone who understood what I needed/wanted. I can't imagine there are many out there who could have tuned in so accurately to an artist's very specific aesthetic vision and managed to incorporate that so successfully into a high-functioning and professional looking website.
How are you feeling now that the project is over about moving forward?
I'm very glad it's over as it was quite an undertaking but I feel I can proudly send potential and existing clients to a website that represents my business in the best light. I think it was a huge and necessary leap forward for my business and I'm excited to start using it to full effect!
What would you tell someone who is considering hiring me?
Oh definitely do it. It was worth every penny and the results are amazing. I absolutely love my new website and I loved working with Mariana. I felt like my precious business was in the hands of a super-knowledgeable, extremely skilled and talented, warm and kind professional - who loves and cares about the service she's providing and wants the best for her clients.