Web developers are a unique breed. Their unwavering focus, attention to detail, and relentless drive to perfect their craft make them stand out. If you’ve ever worked with a web developer, you’ll know they aren’t satisfied until every line of code is flawless and every pixel is perfectly in place.
For developers, their passion isn’t something that switches off when the workday ends. They are constantly seeking out new challenges and opportunities to grow, spending hours diving into online resources or side projects that satisfy their hunger for innovation. The idea of settling for “good enough” or becoming idle doesn’t exist in their world—they are always striving for more.
So, what drives a web developer to these obsessive heights? What’s going on inside their minds that keeps them constantly pushing the boundaries of their skills? We sat down with Iñaki, one of Matrix Internet’s in-house web developers, to gain some insight into what makes these talented professionals tick.
“While designers and developers have different roles, they are integral to each other’s work. For any project to succeed, we need to collaborate closely from start to finish,” says Iñaki.
He explains that before any website is built, they first create detailed personas for the client or the client’s customers. These personas help guide the design and development process, as each client has unique needs and goals. They might encounter a wide variety of clients, such as:
“This is where the fun begins,” Iñaki continues. “We hold several meetings to gather all the information we need. For clients who aren’t sure about the service, we explain everything in detail, while for those who need convincing, we present how our service can benefit them.”
Once the information is gathered, the team creates a wireframe—a rough, black-and-white sketch of the homepage and key subpages. This wireframe serves as a blueprint for the website. Afterwards, they meet with the client to discuss branding, logos, and colour schemes.
“We like to involve the client in the process,” Iñaki says. “In our creative workshops, we print the wireframes on long sheets of paper, cut them into sections, and tape them together so clients can rearrange the layout and give feedback. Based on this workshop, we update the wireframes and personas to reflect their input.”
Next, the team compiles a design brief, which outlines everything from the wireframes to branding guidelines. This brief is then handed to the designer, who transforms it into a visually stunning website. But that’s only half the journey.
“The designer is like Picasso, creating a masterpiece, but it’s the developer who brings it to life. We take that design and code it into a functional, user-friendly website,” Iñaki adds. “In other words, the designer writes the script, and the developer is the actor who makes it come to life.”
“I’ve always been fascinated with computers,” Iñaki recalls. “While most kids were playing video games, I was more interested in figuring out how those games were made. The same curiosity extended to websites. I wanted to understand the code behind the scenes and how small changes could dramatically alter functionality.”
But not everyone who loves computers makes it in web development. According to Iñaki, many people enter the field because they enjoy gaming or spending time in front of the computer, only to realize that coding isn’t their passion. “In my class, about 40% dropped out in the first month,” he notes.
Iñaki’s brother, a software developer, was also a significant influence. “Although he doesn’t work with websites, his experience helped me improve my computer skills over time.”
“Surprisingly, no,” Iñaki admits. “As a kid, I wanted to be a police officer. I was fascinated with the idea of ‘shooting the bad guys’ and spent hours playing with toy guns. But as I grew older, I realized my true passion was in IT, though I had no idea I’d end up in web development.”
While studying in college, Iñaki explored various aspects of programming and coding without a clear idea of where he’d end up. “It wasn’t until I joined Matrix as an intern that I realized web development was my niche,” he explains. “Jeff and the team gave me the freedom to hone my skills, and after three months, I was hooked.”
At the end of his internship, Iñaki was invited to stay on. “I was proud of the progress I’d made and felt like I’d found my calling. It’s funny because if I hadn’t stayed, I was seriously considering pursuing a journalism degree and becoming a reporter!”
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more insights from Iñaki’s journey as a web developer, including how he became an essential part of the Matrix Internet team.
If you’re looking to build or update your company website, our web development team at Matrix Internet would be happy to assist. No project is too big or too small for our dedicated team.
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By Jeff Sheridan
By Iñaki Castellet Hernández