About Kyle Larson

I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and began using computers when I was in Kindergarten. My enthusiasm for computers started when my grandfather purchased an Apple IIe for me, and when I got my next computer (a Mac II) I began using the computer as a design tool to create posters, flyers and artwork. This creativity transitioned online in middle school when I purchased my first modem and started using BBS services, and eventually used some of the early versions of the web through CompuServe and Gopher. In 1997, at age 16, I designed my first website using Netscape Composer.

After high school, I worked as a User Experience Intern for Techies.com. Unfortunately, like many other web companies at the time, Techies was unsuccessful in their attempt to go public and had to restructure and lay-off many of its employees. My next job was designing websites for various departments within the University of Minnesota's College of Liberal Arts. Working at the University was my first exposure to designing with web standards, CSS and coding without any dependence on WYSIWYG tools.

In 2004 I formed TC Websites LLC, a design company focused on building websites for small businesses, with two partners from the University of Minnesota. At TC Websites I gained insight into the day-to-day operations of running a business including meeting with clients, managing projects, and making effective decisions. In 2008 I took over my partners' interest in TC Websites which I am currently running as a sole proprietorship and continuing work with various small businesses.

In addition to my work as TC Websites, I am working full-time as a Senior Web Designer for Chief Manufacturing (a division of Milestone AV Technologies) that manufactures television mounts, projector mounts, and rack systems. When I started at Chief I took on a leadership role as the only web designer on the team and worked with external vendors that provided server maintenance and .net development. Working for Milestone has given me many opportunities that I didn't previously have working for small businesses including designing a business-critical site that has over 2,500 visits daily; working with the executive team to develop a public corporate site and intranet; and helping organize live testing sessions with our users.

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Designs © 2010 Kyle Larson