Max Bock
NET|November 2018

We speak to an Austrian front-end developer and designer whos recently been experimenting with CSS Grid to unlock the future of web design.

Max Bock

Vienna-based front-end developer and digital designer Max Böck (mxb.at) has been building stuff on the web for the past 10 years, firstly as a freelancer and more recently as one third of Simple loop (simpleloop.com), a studio he set up with a couple of colleagues at the start of the year. He’s worked on apps and sites for clients of all sizes across various industries and recently he’s been experimenting with CSS Grid to find new ways of making web layouts. We spoke to him to find out more.

Your original qualification was in music. What drew you to web development?

Yeah, I graduated from high school with a focus on music. I did a lot of gig posters, band logos and other design work for the local music scene back then and I loved it. After a while I started learning how to make simple websites and became fascinated with the web as a global creative medium.

Wanting to be a designer, I moved to Vienna in 2009 to properly study web design and development. Over time, I gradually became more interested in coding and all the technical aspects as well – that’s what got me started.

How did life as a freelance developer treat you?

I founded my freelancing business straight after college. In the first few years, I tried hard to find work and build a portfolio, so I did a lot of websites for small businesses and startups. I remember taking on many challenges I did not feel ready for at the time, as sort of a learning-by-doing strategy.

After a while I had built up a reputation and got hired by bigger agencies and clients. Freelancing hasn’t always been easy but carrying a project all the way from first contact to launch has definitely taught me a lot of valuable skills. Plus I love the freedom and flexibility that comes with it.

This story is from the November 2018 edition of NET.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2018 edition of NET.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NETView All
Camille Gribbons
NET

Camille Gribbons

UX designer at Booking.com, Camille Gribbons reveals how she first got into the industry

time-read
7 mins  |
June 2020
THE 5G UI REVOLUTION
NET

THE 5G UI REVOLUTION

Tris Tolliday describes his vision of a web UI catapulted forwards by 5G

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2020
HOW TO SHOWCASE YOUR DEV SKILLS
NET

HOW TO SHOWCASE YOUR DEV SKILLS

Aude Barral shares 5 top tips for landing your dream developer job

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2020
KNIVES OUT
NET

KNIVES OUT

Murder mystery film, Knives Out, grabbed everyone’s attention, and so did the fun website that promoted it. Oblio tells Tom May how it created its innovative 3D navigation

time-read
6 mins  |
June 2020
HOW EMOTIONAL LABOUR HINDERS WOMEN IN TECH
NET

HOW EMOTIONAL LABOUR HINDERS WOMEN IN TECH

Christine Brewis, head of digital marketing at Studio Graphene, discusses how gender parity in tech has changed over the last ten years, and what more can be done

time-read
5 mins  |
June 2020
EDAN KWAN
NET

EDAN KWAN

He swapped life as a singer for a career making eye-popping digital visuals. The Lusion founder chats to Tom May about battling demons, winning awards and where digital advertising is heading

time-read
8 mins  |
June 2020
ANDREW COULDWELL
NET

ANDREW COULDWELL

The Brit in LA discusses his new book on design systems, Laying the Foundations

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2020
Top 5 Tips For Ensuring Web Content Is Accessible For All
NET

Top 5 Tips For Ensuring Web Content Is Accessible For All

Merlyn Meredith outlines five top tips for ensuring web content is accessible for all

time-read
2 mins  |
May 2020
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BROWSERS?
NET

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR BROWSERS?

Nico Turco examines the state of play with browsers, whether developers should encourage diversity or monopoly and how Google fits into it all

time-read
6 mins  |
May 2020
YEARS IN THE MAKING
NET

YEARS IN THE MAKING

Exclusively for net: The latest in a series of anonymous accounts of nightmare clients

time-read
3 mins  |
May 2020