... I wanted to introduce the company's employees, so this time I interviewed Nakagawa, a senior web director.
The article delves into the work and attitude of a web director, so if you're interested in what kind of person a web director is and how they work, I hope you'll read it!
The job of a web director
Ikebe : First, please tell us how you became a web director.
Nakagawa : I joined Untype in October 2011. I
was originally interested in design, but I learned coding while I was looking for a new job and found it interesting, so I started as a coder.
However, after about two years of work, I realized that I was not good at thinking about logical JavaScript processing. At the same time, I liked talking to people in my previous job as a salesperson, so I thought that I could use this strength at Untype, and after consulting with my boss, I became a web director. It's been about 10 years since you became a web director. Ikebe: So you changed from an engineer to a director. You said it was to make use of your strengths, but is there anything you feel is good about becoming a web director?
Nakagawa : Of course, the joy of releasing belgium b2b leads a big project is special. There is a sense of accomplishment in overcoming various risks and the joy of being able to build a long-term relationship with the client. I also think that a continued relationship of trust is the most important asset. When I started as a director, I had experience with small-scale projects, but I remember very vividly the first time I was in charge of a large project. It was a difficult project in which we had to completely renew the website with few materials available, but we overcame it with ingenuity in the design, and received feedback such as "I'm glad you were able to make our customers' wishes a reality." Successful experiences like this are also my driving force.
Ikebe : It's nice to have a visible goal, such as publishing a website.
On the other hand, when do you feel that being a web director is difficult?
Nakagawa : Due to the nature of the industry, it is fun to always have to collect and study a wide range of information, but sometimes it feels difficult.
When I first became a director, I focused on studying about the web, such as UI, but gradually I began to feel the need to study the client's industry as well.
If you don't know the specific purpose of users visiting the site and the reasons why they leave, you cannot make useful suggestions.
For example, for real estate-related cases, I read books and talked to friends who work in the real estate industry. I am conscious of broadening my horizons and learning about a wide range of business scenes and the structure of the world.
Ikebe : You said that daily study is important, but how do you collect information on a daily basis?
Nakagawa : In the past, I only looked at news sites, but the information was broad and shallow, and I felt that I wasn't learning much. Recently, I have been conscious of grasping the "essence" of information, and I value the time I spend reading books. I am also careful about the books I choose, and instead of "know-how" books that seem to be quick and easy, I try to read books that feature episodes that can serve as the basis for judgment, such as personal experiences.
Ikebe : It's important not only to collect information, but also to be conscious of quality.
Can you tell us about any "failures" you have experienced in your 10 years as a web director?
Nakagawa : At Untype, we also undertake design for paper media, and I recall one experience where we did not hedge the risks unique to paper media as a major regret.
Our lack of knowledge about the temperature of the amount of money involved in paper media and the confirmation items was noticeable, and we ended up causing trouble for the client.
Our own fragility and weakness, such as narrow-mindedness due to assumptions, is honestly reflected in the project.
After this failure, I became very conscious of eliminating my own bad habits.
When proceeding with the confirmation work, I start by doubting myself, and if I'm still unsure, I double-check with another employee, making sure there are no omissions.
Ikebe : So you are still making use of your experiences from failure. In that context, do you have any strengths/weaknesses that you are aware of?
Nakagawa : I think my strength is that I just love people. In my work, I also try to meet clients in person or talk on the phone as much as possible, and I value communication that leaves a warm impression on them. Whether or not I can communicate in a way that conveys sincerity so that the project progresses smoothly is where a director's skills can be put to the test, and it's also something to look forward to
. As I mentioned in my previous story of failure, I feel that one of my weaknesses is that I have a habit of giving up halfway through. I try to be constantly aware of this and be careful not to become complacent.
