The Web Designer - Michael Ashby
ZENsplash is the business trading name although it is just me...I am a freelance designer and my name is Michael Ashby. I produce websites and logos, video and printed materials from a small (beach hut) studio located at the bottom of my garden on the Leicestershire - Warwickshire border in the UK. I have many local clients, and with the flexible virtual world of the web being what it is, I also have clients that are across the UK, Europe and the US.
If you choose ZENsplash to produce your website design or logo then you will be dealing directly with me from start to finish. I am responsible for all parts of the process - from the initial enquiry through the process of producing the website or logo right through to providing the ongoing website maintenance - this reachable and approachable way of doing business is the way I like to do business and I find the people who choose to use my services are people who prefer it this way too. I keep myself in a mode of learning to keep up with the fast moving world that is the web.
I am a freelance designer working on my own in a small studio, which means by keeping my own overheads low compared to larger web agencies I can often charge less and at the same time provide a quality, personal service.
If you think I may be able to help you with your website or logo project or have ideas that you would like to discuss, please give me a call on 01455 212 996 or 07941 879102, send a message or request a callback.
My Background
I set up the business in 2001 after returning to the UK from the US where I spent 12 years working in and around the film business. I have a background in the Arts - I trained as an actor in London at ALRA and afterwards moved to Los Angeles. After some limited success in front of the camera I ended up in Hawaii where I gravitated to working mainly behind the camera in the Art Department. I worked on dozens of commercials for many top-drawer American production companies as well as Japanese production companies, as a designer and assembler of sets and props mostly. Of the many commercials I worked on in Hawaii and LA, the most notable campaigns were for; Levis Strauss, Nivea, Coors Beer, Bank of Hawaii, Volkswagen, TK Maxx, along with many others. I moved back to LA and then went on to live and work in New York where I was located upstate for five years working for a global, non-profit organisation, SYDA, who offered meditation seminars across the world. During my five years in New York I created video graphics for global satellite broadcasts and was a camera operator during the satellite broadcast events. I got a lot of inspiration for how I wanted to approach life and business from my time in NY.
When I produce websites, logos and video I like to use all of the skills that I have learned along the way. I like to make an honest attempt to achieve the best possible results with my abilities and I like to take an interest in the different types of business. If I can have fun doing the work, have a good rapport with my clients and those I come into contact with and produce something of value, then I'll consider that a successful job done.
Why ZENsplash?
I liked mix of two paradoxical qualities.... zen and splash
Zen: {Meditation} Qualities: Elegant, Uncluttered - Simple, Clear, Conscious, Organised and Purposeful.
Splash: {Conspicuous display. A mark or spot.}
My own personal approach to design and the ideas and goals I try to foster are to attempt to produce well thought-out, elegant, effective solutions that are an authentic expression of each business or organisation. Where possible, I believe simple is best. I build websites to recognised international web standards, that use accessibility guidelines and I always build websites from scratch - this means I do not use templates and each website I produce is uniquely tailored to suit the individual needs of the business or organisation. (see examples)
I like the challenge that comes with discovering and conveying the 'right' message for any given company or organisation. The web is a powerful visual medium and a well planned, search-engine friendly website can add value and credibility to a business.
I appreciate it when ideas and things are presented to me in a straight forward manner and it is my goal to work in this way to produce the right results for my clients.
Whether you are in the early stages of producing a website or logo or ready to launch ahead please call me anytime for a chat about your project or ideas on 01455 847 377 or 07941 879102, send a message or request a callback.
