About

Hi! I’m Min, and I make websites.

I’m on a mission to make the web a better place – one awesome website for awesome people at a time.

As someone who’s been part of the wild world of web creation since before social media was even a twinkle in those tech bros’ eyes, I take a whole-brain approach to design and development. I’ve an insatiable yearning to use both sides of my brain – the logical, technical left and the creative right – in everything I do. Ignore one side for too long, and I start craving the other.

Back in my university days, I dove headfirst into astrophysics – physics, math, geology, and astronomy – chasing the dream of becoming the Ellie Arroway of Carl Sagan’s Contact. But after two years of neglecting my creative side, I pivoted, switching to a Literature degree.

During that time, I stumbled into multimedia for a bit of fun, which led me to web design and development. Back then, we were using tables and inline styles to make things work in Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer 5. (Yikes.)

I’ve been building websites since 1999, and in 2004, I earned a Certificate IV in IT (Multimedia) from Axiom College in Milton, QLD. At the time, I was working as a receptionist for an Autodesk reseller in Rocklea. Since I’m a woman, the government funded my qualification as part of a program to support women entering non-traditional fields.

At that same company, I transitioned from reception to tech support, eventually becoming an Application Specialist and Autodesk Official Training Centre Officer. I provided tech support and training for 3D software used primarily by mechanical engineers and product designers.

For about seven years, my day job involved phone, email, and onsite tech support, plus traveling across Australia to train people in Autodesk Inventor (3D modeling software). The role was broad – if it used electricity, people asked me to fix it. I learned a ton, including how to build computer workstations from scratch (tweaked for CAD-specific needs) and took great delight in ensuring Windows XP was installed with Firefox as the default browser.

My other role at the company was in marketing. As part of a small team, I designed everything they needed – the company website, business cards, email signatures, office signs, brochures, advertisements, Christmas cards – you name it. I handled it all, tailoring each piece for print, email, web, or whatever medium was required.

But that time taught me my brain was happiest when I was coding – scratching both my technical and creative itches. Feeling the urge to focus more on coding, I left the world of Autodesk and have been working as a full-time web developer since 2009. In 2010, I joined the Brisbane-based web design house, (zero)seven, where I stayed for four wonderful years.

In late 2014, I had a baby and left (zero)seven, to raise a tiny person and pursue freelance work full-time under the business name Equivalent Exchange, which is where I’ve been ever since.

Why “Equivalent Exchange”?

Equivalent exchange ensures the end product reflects the energy and dedication everyone invests in a project. It’s the secret ingredient for a successful website – one that not only wows users at launch but also gracefully evolves over time to meet business needs. A website requires as much passion and commitment from the client as it does from the developer, and I want to work with people who love their website as much as I do.

Wait, isn’t it from the anime Fullmetal Alchemist?

Okay, you got me, you proud Amestrian. When I was setting up my business, I was binge-watching Fullmetal Alchemist for the first time, and I loved the sound of their fundamental principle.

Now, if only I could draw symbols on my screen, place my hands on the keyboard, and use my energy to create something new…

Wait.

Anyway – if you’re awesome and want an awesome website, send me a message, and let’s see what kind of web magic we can create together.