A Conversation With the Best Web Designer in Pittsburgh
We spoke with Roberto Iriondo, owner of DAI Builds, which has become the best web design agency for the region
Small businesses to large corporations incredibly need a top notch web design for their business websites. It is imperative for the design to be focused not only on a great user experience (UX), but also focused on web performance, making sure that their websites do not leave prospect customers waiting.
If you do not own a business in the Pittsburgh region, you might not recognize the name DAI Builds, but if you are an entrepreneur, small or midsize-business I am sure that you have heard about their services. DAI Builds — Digital Agency not only specializes in providing the best web design and development services, but they are also recognized as the top search engine optimization (SEO) for the Pittsburgh region.
We met with Roberto Iriondo, founder of DAI Builds-Digital Agency, to talk about some of their services, and how they were able to become the best web design agency, outranking larger web design and development agencies for the Pittsburgh region.
First of all, tell us a little about your background and how you got to where you are today
Long-story short: I am originally from Peru, the US has been my home for the past 9 years, I love Pittsburgh to its core, I do as much as I can to help fellow Pittsburghers. My background is in computer science, with a knack for design, a passion for web development, along the constant need to keep learning.
What is your working process like?
I push people to solve root problems. I like teams to be highly collaborative. The best ideas come from diverse groups working side by side to solve truly complex issues. At DAI Builds, we have worked with many industries, from regular corporations, to small businesses, along companies who needed NDA agreements due to the sensible information we were working with.
How many developers do you work with?
DAI Builds is a small firm, we only have 3 developers on the team. However we strive to make our clients successful, whether it’s by providing the best web design and development services, SEO, or any other type of digital marketing need that they may have.
Besides web design and SEO, does DAI Builds also provides other services?
We are a full-service digital agency, while our specialty it’s mostly focused towards web design, development and SEO — we adapt to the variety of needs that our client has and make sure to exceed their expectations, along providing the best ROI.
Take us through a recent workday
I started in the office reviewing data updates to our logistics and development products, did a fireside chat keynote at a software conference in the afternoon, and hosted some visitors in the Pittsburgh area in the evening for a discussion on diversity and inclusion. That was a busy day.
What apps, gadgets, or tools can’t you live without?
Google drive has changed the way I work with files. It’s perfect to use on Android whenever you need offline files during a flight or for diverse meetings. Zoom has definitely been a game changer for our meetings, interviews or support. We also use a home-made analytics software that analyzes all of our data on the web, making it easy to track our activity, customers, visitors, social media activity, etc.
What’s your workspace setup like?
My laptop is somewhat of a beast, I use a typical 60 inch desk, along 3 27" monitors to analyze data, development, meet with clients, staff, etc. — The laptop is also mobile “enough” to take it wherever I go.
What’s your best advice to prospect web designers and developers looking for work?
Make sure that your basics (HTML, CSS, Javascript) have strong bases, don’t forget to continuously revise CS fundamentals (They are always asked during interviews) and make sure that your portfolio is visible online and shows your top-notch work in a simple, yet beautiful way.
How many clients have you serviced in the Pittsburgh area, and the globe?
Our agency has worked with over 100 clients, we are very proud of what we have done so far. We are continuouslly growing and digitally transforming — because technology never stops advancing.
What’s your best shortcut or life hack?
If a task takes longer than 90 seconds and it’s usually repetitive — figure out a way to automate it.
How do you keep track of what you have to do?
I make heavy use of Evernote, Google keep and Google calendar. Evernote is great to use, and Google tools are top-notch. Also putting “TODO:” on my code also helps to remember what I need to do or fix whenever I am developing something.
How do you recharge or take a break?
I go to the gym almost every single business day. It doesn’t only make me feel more confident, but also it’s critical to clear my mind. I put on my headphones, lift some weights and forget about what’s going on around me. It took me a while to be able to accomplish this flow state at the gym.
What’s your favorite side project?
I have been working on an awesome forecasting tool that allows users in the US check for influenza-like illness activity accurately by region — the app is not public yet.
What are you currently reading, or what do you recommend?
- Tony Robbins, Money Master the Game — It’s nothing like its title, definitely recommend it.
- Give and Take, Adam Grant, a great book on leadership, recommended to me by Technical Lead, Timothy James, currently at Google.
- Stephen King, On Writing, A Memoir of the Craft, is a masterpiece on writing, I haven’t finished it yet.
What’s a problem you are still trying to solve?
I am still working to find my why. While I strongly believe that I am a lifelong learner and doer, I am trying to understand my remotely tiny little place in human history.
