Focus on Female Skinners: Alexandrie
Interview by Migellito

Johanne Chaine, known to many as the skin designer Alexandrie, is able to bring to her interface designs a combined sense of functionality and attractive grace. Her affinity for the QNX operating system, passed down from the Amiga, has inspired an attention to detail that brings depth and richness to her skins. Her graphic style highlights the rounded cut-line, and smooth shallow shadows. The skins themselves display a classic formality intertwined with a feeling of warmth, youth and humor. This is a diametric synthesis that is difficult to produce, but which Alexandrie has consistently brought to skinning and to her web designs as well.

The website designs she has done for Dangeruss and Stardock Corporation, among others, comprise some of the most usable pages on the net. At no point do I find myself wondering if there is more to the site that I might have missed, or searching for a way to get to something I'm interested in. On nearly every page several methods are available to navigate the site, and the site organization is clear and intuitive. They may not have the interactive flash treats that some art sites boast, but then again that's not what these sites are about - they are about getting to what interests the visitor in an eminently aesthetic way.

I recently spoke with Johanne about graphic design, operating systems of old, and the irrepressible ICQ.

Tek: Well, since we're using ICQ, I suppose it's the natural place to start. One of the things you're best known for is ICQ design. How did you get started?

Alexandrie: When I was searching for Russ’s (Dangeruss) skins, I was thinking that it could be a good idea to port some of my favorite ones.

Russ asked me to do a few more after he saw it, and I did.

I think ICQ+ needs to be developed a little more to be really functional.

Tek: It's easy to see why Russ wanted you to do more. They are very well done. Is that how your relationship with his site began?

Alexandrie: First, I had contacted him for his web site. I sent him 2 design styles and I shared my idea of what I would like for his web site. He liked it and he decided to move to the new one. After the first transformation, I did some ICQ+ skins. It is really pleasant to work with Russ, he let me do almost anything I want.

Tek: He does seem like a very nice guy. The site is very well organized, and easy for people to use. What steps do you go through when planning a website for someone?

Alexandrie: It has to be really easy to navigate, and have a nice look with fast loading pages; it's my priority.

If the person already has a website, I look all over his existing pages to see what he really needs, and I try to understand the company or the person, to be the most representative of the kind of person or company.

It's really important to put all products, skins, offers and many others in the website. I like things really easy to upgrade or change.

Tek: It really does feel like one is getting the 'whole picture' when one visits his site. I think my favorite aspect is how I can browse his skins by application, or in his suites. Will you be continuing your work with his site after it's back online?

Alexandrie: Sure, and it will be online really soon. It's already done. The only thing missing is that his domain name is still not transferred. I have made one for me too but it's still under construction. :o))

Tek: I'm anxious to see both of them, and I know a lot of others are as well! Will your site center on the skins you've designed?

Alexandrie: Yes, and maybe some skins of others too.

Tek: Anyone you might be able to share with us, or are you keeping us in suspense? :)

Alexandrie; I have not asked anyone yet, but I was planning to ask Russ and Treetog, and some others too. Mostly my favorite ones.

Tek: Sounds like a group of the finest. Is website design your main profession?

Alexandrie: I don't really have a profession. I have learned at home, programming php3 and mysql in the end of August 2000; it took me 1 or 2 weeks.

I learned html coding 2 years ago. I really like programming stuff. I'm planning to return to school to study c++ programming. I do not have a job but I really want one, it's why I'm making free websites, to be recognized all over the world and finally find a job :o)

Tek: Are there other people you've designed websites for? If there were, I'd love to include some links to your work.

Alexandrie: Working on these French Websites with Alain Biron

http://pages.infinit.net/sfm/

http://www.web-jaune.com/

http://www.web-jaune.com/productions/

Working on this one with Russ

http://www.dangeruss-industries.com/

Working alone (this is my website) it will be an English website

http://www.alexandrie-telecom.com/

if you want to see a pictures of me go to

http://www.web-jaune.com/info.php3?action=2

Tek: Thank you for sharing some pictures of yourself :) That was one of the biggest requests after our first issue; pictures of the designers.

You bring up an interesting question. What difficulties are involved in working in both French and English, and how have you overcome them?

Alexandrie: As long I don't have to write a long text, I have no problem. Russ will help me with the texts. I will do the texts in English and he will arrange it to be more representative to the English people, and more understandable.

Tek: I would think, being in Canada, a majority of websites are in both languages. Do you find the controversy over language finds it's way into Canadian websites, as well as politics?

Alexandrie: Some friends of mine still think French pages are missing on some web sites because they don't speak English at all. They are really frustrated.

For me, I don't care, I understand both. And I prefer English pages, we have lots of choice. In Canada, it's not really easy to have French services because the market for the province of Quebec is really hard to develop.

I don't like politics, and Canadien politics websites are not really easy to navigate in French and English too.

Tek: Yes, we're getting quite enough of politics here in the US this year as it is :)

Do you have any idea why Quebec is such a difficult market? Is Quebec just not very enthusiastic about the internet?

Alexandrie: We are still a minority.

They want free services, and they want all. The banners are really hard to have. The companies don't want to put money on internet stuff. I think we still have a lot to do here before the internet really captivates everyone. The companies don't really believe in the power of the internet.

Tek: It can often be difficult when people don't see an immediate benefit, especially when what they've been doing in the past still works for them. I'm sure your beer tap site (http://pages.infinit.net/sfm/) has increased their business though. I especially enjoy how the pictures pop up in the lower frame, and the expression on the stein's face :)

Alexandrie: You have the point. :)

What do you mean "on the stein's face?"

Tek: Sorry, it's not a stein, it's a beer mug :) He smiles while I look at the products, but begins to frown as I start to leave. It really shows how web design can have an effect on a potential customer.

You spoke earlier about still being part of a minority. Has this created a sense of community for you with other designers from Quebec, or Canada at large?

Alexandrie: Quebec.

Tek: Since this issue is focusing on female skin designers, I wonder if you feel that being a woman brings any special sensibilities to your designs?

Alexandrie: Yes, but not too much. I like to be sensible but I'm not a kind of person who likes to put flowers everywhere on my computer desktop. ;o)

I don't like depressive or aggressive stuff.

Tek: That fits in well with the basic look of QNX. That operating system seems to be dear to your heart. How did you become interested in it?

Alexandrie: AMIGA!!

It was supposed to be the next OS for the Amiga. When I saw it, my heart stopped beating. I think the design is so original and easy to the eyes. The design is so simple and wonderfully arranged.

Between we had an Amiga web site before. :o)

Tek: It really is a very clear and pleasant design, more so than BeOS in many ways. Have you been a fan of the Amiga for a long time?

Alexandrie: Yes, but I never had an Amiga, I was drawing on my 2 friends computers.

Tek: I see :)

What tools do you use now for your work?

Alexandrie: Almost all on "Aura" from Newtek.

But I also use:

Adobe Photoshop

Corel Photopaint

Newtek Lightwave

...etc...

Tek: What is your computer itself like?

Alexandrie; AMD k6-II 350MHZ

128MB or memory

15" Optiquest monitor

16MB Blaster Riva TNT graphic card

a mouse and keyboard ;o)

hehe!!

Tek: :)

Sometimes the most common tools make the best art. It just goes to show that the truly important ingredient is the artist herself.

Getting back to ICQ, there are probably more skins made for it than any other program, and there are, arguably, fewer good skins for it than any other program. What do you think makes it so difficult to make a good ICQ+ design?

Alexandrie: plus/min/max/close button do not have the same look on all computers. We can't assign one image for each button.

Missing real transparency.

The borders are too small to make all we want.

It's not like skinning windowblinds. We cannot really skin ICQ, we can only put images stretching here and there, and we still have to take care of the border size, because if they are too big, it does not work well with the scrolling bar and the icon near the nicknames.

And the scrollbars are not developed enough to be skinned like we want: we have to use the same button on the top and the bottom, etc...

Tek: Despite these concerns, your ICQ skins always look excellent, more like a native interface. What tricks do you use to get your ICQ skins to turn out so well?

Alexandrie: ICQ+ is nice but it can be really better.

I only do my best. Sometimes when I start a new port, I stop in the middle because of the missing features, and I have to let it down. I left 6 skins already, and I will probably never post it until someone makes some changes on ICQ+ programming.

Tek: There was a new version of ICQ+ released recently. Has it made a difference, or is there still a long way to go? And what features would you like to see in future versions of ICQ+?

Alexandrie: I think "long way to go" are the right words. You have to try to make one one day. But it's better to have a skinnable ICQ than not have one at all.

I have a lot of requests but too long to tell you all :o)

• to have better transparency for the scrollbar
• to have a middle image on the top of the scrolling bar
• to have different images for the top and bottom button of the scrollbar
• to choose the border size we want to use
• to have real transparency support on all of the skin so we can see the desktop
• to have separate images for plus/min/max/close buttons and have the choice to choose the size we want, not be a dependent of the default size.

Tek: That would really free up the designers to express themselves. Hopefully we'll see some of those advances as skinning continues to increase in popularity.

Also on the subject of ICQ, I was surprised to not see your name among those of 'The Skindicate' in their recent releases.

Alexandrie: I have not contributed on the design. But I have helped them to correct some bugs they had on it. They have included a txt file with a thanks memo to my attention, for my help.

Tek: Good to know you're part of the team.

That brings me back to an earlier subject we raised, as my final topic. You said that you had a sense of community with other designers from Quebec. Does this include skin designers?

Alexandrie: I don't know someone other than me who skins programs in Quebec, except Paxx. Recently I have noticed that Paxx was from the province of Quebec too. I really do have a sense of community, it's why I like skins.org!

Tek: What's a typical day like for you?

Alexandrie: Taking care of my son when he is not at school. Making skins and Websites, helping some friends. Studying. Searching for new tools. I'm always in front of my computer. :o) I have a wonderful husband who really understands me.

Tek: What do your son and husband think of your work? Do they use your designs on the computer?

Alexandrie: My son is too young to really appreciate it, he is only 5 years old, but he really likes that when I ask him to make some comments :o)

My husband never uses the computer. He is not a fan of (it)!! He enjoys sports.

Tek: It's great that they are understanding about the time you spend on the computer. Sometimes it can be really difficult to cover all the bases :)

Alexandrie: We have respect of each pastime of each member of the family.

Tek: You mentioned studying.. are you a student?

Alexandrie: No, but I will probably next year, I need to finish some subjects first.

I'm studying programming language for the internet by myself. The next step will be asp and sql and ssl :o)

Tek: That's a lot to take on in your spare time :)

Is it all for website design?

Alexandrie: Asp, sql and ssl are all for the internet.

Tek: You mentioned earlier that you'd like to get hired by a company to do this for a living. What are your plans for your career? Do you think skinning has a potential as a career?

Alexandrie: Sure, why not? In the future maybe. Let the time go first, and we will see! ;o)

Tek: Well, unless you have anything else you'd like to discuss, that sounds like a good place to wrap things up..

Alexandrie: It was a pleasure to discuss with you.

Tek: And with you too! Tell your family we appreciate the time with you as well :)

(As you may have noticed, after this interview was completed Johanne added our own Teknidermy Magazine website to her portfolio of designs. We're thrilled to welcome her to our team.)