Meet Tyler Dawson | Freelance Web Developer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Dawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyler, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
I would say that most people outside of the industry are unaware of the various factors that go into creating a website. Most people focus on the visual outcome, but a lot of thought process goes into the design of each project. The content needs to be presented in a way that is easy to navigate, while directing the user to the important information on the page. A critical factor in web development is designing and building a site with disabled users in mind. These design factors range from the colors, fonts, and sizes you choose, as well as how you label your images, buttons, and links. Alternative text is used by screen readers to describe images to visually impaired users. Alt text is also important for SEO purposes, or Search Engine Optimization. This is used to rank your site based on multiple factors such as the ones mentioned above, as well as how quickly your site loads. Search engines use this ranking when deciding what to present when a search request is submitted.

Keeping all of these factors in mind when coming up with a design for a site results in a client getting a stunning website that runs smoothly and is easily reachable, as well as creating a great experience for the diverse users that access the site.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I believe what sets me apart from others is my focus on developing a lasting relationship with my clients. I specialize in working with small businesses because I enjoy getting the opportunity to really connect with them as an individual. I get to learn about their story and the passion that created their business. As a goal oriented person, progress has always been a driving force for me. I am always trying to grow and achieve more. As a developer, I am in a position to help these business owners grow by helping them solve their problems. I would say that’s the most exciting and rewarding part of my business. Seeing clients become lasting friends, and creating the tools to help them achieve their goals. It is such a great feeling to help others on their journey to success.

The most important lesson that I’ve learned in my career is that the only thing more important than your client’s needs, are the needs of your client’s clients. There are a thousand different ways to solve a problem, and as I developer it is my job to find the solution that best caters to the users who access my client’s site. If you keep the needs of your clients at the forefront of your work, you’re bound to succeed.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When it comes to exploring a new city, my top priority is always good eats, and Dallas is full of great flavors that don’t break the bank. Starting with Whisk Crepe Cafe. This place could honestly be visited at any point in the day as they’ve got you covered from breakfast to dinner, or even just dessert. Next up would be heading to Warren Park. This place is great for yoga, football, hanging out with friends or just lounging and reading a nice book. The best part is, there is always a long line of food trucks parked near by, making it the perfect spot for lunch. If it’s a famously hot Texas day (basically every day), you can always walk across the street and cool off in the Dallas Art Museum. It’s free and absolutely MASSIVE. After taking in all of the history and culture, it’s time to head over to Jinya Ramen for dinner. I love this place because they have a chicken breast ramen, which is a little bit lighter than the typical pork belly ramen, while still being loaded with flavor. Last stop of the night would be Greenville Pizza company for some late night pizza. But honestly, I usually just go for their meatball sliders.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The single most helpful person on my journey to becoming a developer would be my girlfriend, Whitley. She is always by my side, no matter what I decide to do. After discussing my thoughts about changing careers and learning to code, she really stepped up and did everything possible to help me succeed. Even after working all day, she would come home and cook dinner for us, clean up around the house and pack my lunch, so that I would have more time to focus on coding. She continues to cheer me on and keep me moving forward. I could never thank her enough for all that she has done, and continues to do for me.

I also want to give an honorable mention to anyone who has ever contributed to Stack Overflow. I cannot count the number of times that a random starter from across the world has helped me solve a problem that I had been stuck on for hours. There are some real project savers over there. It just goes to show that you can always learn from others, and everyone’s perspective has value.

Website: www.dawsonscode.com

Image Credits
Both photos of me were taken by Tate at @messynightstandmedia on instagram. The photo my my laptop and Whitley Queen’s site where taken by me. I developed her site. The photo of code was taken from Unsplash by uploader Chris Ried