UWSAG talks to David Dunbar
of Astral Awards

Owner: Astral Awards rated 3.0+ with UWSAG

1. What got you started in website design?
   
   "I have always enjoyed drawing and designing things, in addition to computer programming. Website design is a wonderful synthesis of both of these joys, and ever since the World Wide Web got spinning I have been doing it. (And I hope to never stop!)."
   
    
2. What do you hope to accomplish with your award program?
   
   "I hope that the Astral Awards will encourage webmasters everywhere to always pursue excellence in their work. There are so many little things that can either make or break a website, and attention to detail means all the difference. Not only are the Astral Awards here to honor those who are already masters of website design, but to also encourage everyone to work harder and longer on their websites. In the end it really pays off."
   
   
3. What advice would you give other program owners?
   
   "Don't get discouraged if you don't receive the highest award from an awards program, nor angry if you don't win anything at all. Remember, awards programs are run by people who have their own opinions on what is good and what is bad in website design. Not winning an award does not mean that you have a bad website, but just that it does not yet fit into that awards program's criteria for an award-winning website. The best thing to do is thank the program for taking the time to visit your site, and then ask for advice on where to improve. The really good awards programs will be happy to give you positive feedback and suggestions. Think about their advice and see if it will work with your site. After all, it never hurts to listen."
   
   
4. What was the biggest problem you faced with your award program?
   
   "Our biggest problem has been, and likely always will be, managing enough time in our busy schedules to review the ever-increasing number of applications we receive at the Astral Awards each month. We spend a lot of quality time visiting and reviewing each and every site that applies for our awards. If we ever got to the point where we could not give quality time reviewing each applicant website, then we would have to retire our program. We hope to always have enough time to keep our program going, and keep it at the high level of quality that it is."
   
   
5. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
   
   "This is an easy one: I would have started the Astral Awards a long time ago. It has truly been a pleasure visiting so many different websites. Some webmasters really have great imaginations. There almost isn't a single day that goes by when I don't say to myself, "Wow. What a cool website," in regards to a site I am reviewing. Just stop by our recipients page and you'll see what I mean."
   
   
6. What plans do you have for the future?
   
   "Longevity. Our goal is to see the Astral Awards still running strong, honoring website excellence far into the future and long after most other programs have gone the way of the Dodo."
   
   
7. What else do you like to do?
   
   "Eat, play, work, eat, play. Who needs anything more?! :)."