Sean Roberts designs a lot of the porn-related banners that direct people to and around BaDoink VIP. We wondered, what goes through a guy’s mind when he designs porn banners? What goes into the work? What floats his boat creatively? So we asked him…

Q – How long have you been designing porn banners?
A – Since June 2014.

What were you doing before that?
This was actually my first job out of college. I had a few freelance jobs while I was in college, then found this job a few weeks before graduation and I’ve been here ever since.

It’s a pretty unusual job description. If people ask, how do you explain to them about what you do?
It all depends on who’s asking. My wife and friends know the full extent of what I do but I tell my family that I’m doing web design for an Internet marketing company. However the situation does arise where I’m asked through small talk and I’ll usually tell the person the truth just so I can see what they’re reactions are.

So what makes a great porn banner?
For starters, it has to grab the user’s attention. On top of that I try to engage the user as much as possible, usually by asking a question like “Wanna Join?” or “Wanna See More?”

How do you decide on whether a banner should be fun or more hardcore? What’s the process involved in designing a banner for porn?
Usually these things are decided before they reach me. I get a lot of good direction as to what the banners should be looking like and then it’s usually up to me to find the content and go from there.

Is it hard to focus, designing a porn banner, considering the images you have to work with?
It was a little difficult for the first week trying to focus, but after that you just become used to it and see it as any other content after that. However, sometimes when I’m given something unusual I get a little distracted, like if it’s niche content.

If you know that people have been clicking particularly on a banner that you’ve designed, do you get a warm glow inside your belly?
Of course! It’s the same feeling you would get at any other job when you have an idea that turns out to be good.

Do you have a favorite banner, one that you’re really, really pleased with?
I do. It’s a lesbian scene where both girls are walking away from the camera, one of them is taking her shirt off and there’s a button that says “Wanna Join?”

What do you think the ultimate porn banner would be?
I think it would have to have some pretty hardcore content, animated, and also something that really engages the user. It would have to seem like it appealed to that specific user and made them feel they needed to click.

So, any advice or useful tips for anyone trying to break into the porn banner-designing game?
I think the best advice would be to find a good company to work for.