Q&A with Dylan from Matter Storm Design

Trixie’s List had a little Q&A with Dylan James Goodman of Matter Storm Design – a local, Columbia County-based graphic and web design company.

TrixiesList.com: Tell us a little about your background and experience.

On paper, I’m a self-employed graphic and web designer. My interest in design and art started when I was young. I was fortunate enough to have some design work while I was still in school, so after I graduated I decided that I was going to work for myself and build my business. That was some eight years ago now and I’m lucky to have worked with a number of really cool businesses and projects along the way.

Otherwise, I’m a DIYer at heart, so I’m always doing something creative or working with my hands. I also like to work in the garden, dabble in woodworking and home renovations, help out at a local food co-op, cook for friends and listen to silly podcasts.

TrixiesList.com: Are you located in the Hudson/Columbia County region? If so, why?

I’m currently located in Chatham in Columbia County. I’ve been in the area for most of my life and most of my family lives close by, which is a plus in my book. I love being within minutes of Hudson, and yet also under an hour away from Albany and Kingston. There’s always something cool going on in the area, lots of great local businesses, community and places to explore and with all that comes unique opportunities.

TrixiesList.com: Tell us about your websites, do you have some examples. How does a good website help a local business? What would you recommend?

At the beginning of the pandemic, a lot of businesses needed to move online, some for the very first time. So while I do plenty of print and digital design projects, the amount of web work I do has grown exponentially.

I specialize in WordPress websites, but I have experience with all top website platforms. There’s pretty much no limit to what can be built with WordPress, so it’s a great fit for most projects, especially when they need a platform that can grow and adapt with them.

I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of local businesses over the years, doing a range of different things, from: ongoing UX support for a non-profit community center to optimize, streamline and redesign elements of their site for improved conversion and user experience; creating a new site for an international audio production company that provides sound for everything from the VMA’s to tours like Radiohead and Coldplay; designing portfolio websites for local artists to showcase their work; to building eCommerce sites shipping products from coast to coast. I also provide continued care for existing websites, keeping everything secure and running smoothly.

A website can be one of your most important business assets – it’s the base of your online presence and your home on the web. In an increasingly digital world, if someone is looking for information about a business, they’re going to turn to the web. Small businesses need every advantage they can get and having an easy to find, fast and engaging site builds credibility and opportunity that social media accounts alone can’t replicate. A well designed site is an invaluable tool whether you’re a creative, non-profit, small business or entrepreneur.

TrixiesList.com: If a local business would like to get in touch with you, what is the best way?

The best way to get in touch for design or web work is through the contact form on my site: matterstorm.design. Message me with questions or even just to say “hi”. I’m always happy to learn about new opportunities, collaborations and cool businesses doing good things!