New Media Designer

Could you handle unconditional, constant sharing of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm? One Internet pioneer says she’s been lucky enough to experience it only once

Name: Belen Orihuela

Age: 29

Job title: Interface Designer

Top survival tip

Take lots of holidays. I’m serious. This job means you have to dedicate lots of time to keeping up to date on a fast-changing industry, and that can burn you out. I don’t necessarily mean holidays abroad, but spending time away from the computer will guarantee that you can return to an idea with a fresh approach. That’s very important in this job.

The reaction

Usually people find anything related to the Internet fascinating. When I tell them that I’m working on an interactive TV project at the moment, they are even more intrigued. I guess anything that relates to new technologies is always idealised to a certain extent.

In general, people think I do very advanced, cool, fun stuff. Sometimes it happens to be true, but it isn’t always the case.

Favourite work gizmo

Internet radio applications like Real Audio and music players like Real Jukebox.

The day-to-day

I usually start my day with a cappuccino and a croissant while I check my email. The first thing I do is read my horoscope. It is updated daily and sent to my personal mailbox, and I love checking it every day (although I can survive without it, I swear). Next I check the industry news and the ‘sites of the day’ that they feature. If I have time, I read the general news too.

After that I begin my work, which varies from day to day. Every new job I start is like being thrown in at the deep end. Normally I work on graphics, so Photoshop and Illustrator are the software programs I use most. Later, I might have a meeting with developers and my producer. While I’m working, I listen to BBC Radio 5 in the morning and to music for the rest of the day.