One gay gals' musings and observations while travelling on the streetcar
Posts tagged web design
From Geeking it to Girlying It Up
Jul 17th
I haven’t really felt like blogging the last few days. I’ve been a bit preoccupied trying to get a web site set up for myself. What do you call this? you ask. The new web site isn’t meant to serve as a replacement for this one. This blog is my ‘me’ space, where I can come and write/rant/rave/say whatever I want. The new web site is going to be a way of getting my name out there in search of freelance work. While I could easily use this domain; I think it’s important to keep the two separate.
I have to admit though, I’m feeling a bit inundated with everything that’s out there. I subscribe to a lot of design (both graphic and web) sites through RSS feeds and Twitter. I’m constantly learning about new tips, tutorials and tricks. This week alone, I’ve spent hours playing around in PhotoShop and setting up a contact form in PHP.
I spent the entire evening yesterday after work tweaking and setting up a form I’d found online. I was able to follow the tutorial, but then I wanted to customize it to match the site’s colour scheme. I had fun while working on it but by the end of the night, my shoulders were sore and blogging was pretty much out of the question.
Dreamweaver Does Not A Web Designer Make
Apr 14th
I wrapped up my latest course last night. It was the remaining course needed to obtain the certificate for the design program I had enrolled in so now I’ll have a little something extra to put on my resume and I’m not referring to that thing I can do with my legs.
The class was called Web Design and I thought it’d be a continuation of the other courses where we were encouraged to do most of the coding (HTML, CSS and JavaScript) on our own. Instead, the teacher placed a greater emphasis on using Dreamweaver for web site design and creation. While Dreamweaver is a really powerful tool, some folks tend to think it’s the only way to design/create a web site.
I’m not an expert by any means and I know I still have a lot to learn (and practice) before I can consider myself “good.” During our presentations last night (we each had to show our site to the class), it was obvious that a lot of people don’t know nearly as much as they like to think they do.
Twilight Omens
Jan 23rd
Oh, Friday. Happy, happy, day.
Work has been pretty boring lately. There’s a project that everyone wants to get done this month (we’re launching a revision to a main site). This would be fine except more and more changes keep getting proposed. At a meeting the other day, Larry, my boss, said we were aiming to have the new site launched by the end of January. I was wondering if perhaps the month of January had extra days added to it and I was left out of the loop. My calendar says that the month is over next weekend yet the site is nowhere near done. Oi.
My days at work lately have been spent in front of my computer, logged into the company’s website software trying to keep up with the changes. The software and server are both archaic which leads to a painfully slow process. I feel like I’m getting cabin fever, always sitting at my desk, staring at the same screens and waiting for the pages to load. I’m hoping that Larry (or someone else) will put a stop to the proposed changes so that we can move ahead with the launch. I’m itching to get this project done and work on other things.
Speaking of other things, things have really started to hop along. In addition to the meeting I had with Bob the other night, I applied to an ad for someone looking for web design help and at dinner with our acupuncturist last night, S suggested I take over doing her web site. As for Bob’s project, while I’m not too enthused about the topic of the site, I can’t be choosey at this point. I need to get some practice, apply what I’ve learned, expand on what I’ve done so far and get a portfolio started.
Upon coming home tonight, I checked the mail and saw a package from Chapters addressed to me. At first I was surprised because I haven’t shopped online in awhile. I came inside and after greeting the puppy, I opened up the package. I was pleasantly surprised to find Franz Ferdinand‘s new CD inside the envelope. I was planning on buying the album – how could I not considering the boys were releasing it on my birthday? When S asked me what our friends could get me for my birthday, I mentioned Franz’s new album. That was yesterday. Just over 24 hours later, I had the album in my possession. I sent K a quick thank you text and then proceeded to add the songs to my ipod. I can’t remember the last time I had a physical CD. The few listens I’ve heard thus far are pretty sweet.
This weekend should be quiet. We don’t have any plans to go anywhere or to have anyone over. Entertaining is fun and having a house full of friends is always great. It’s the clean-up and cooking that I’m happy to miss out on.
I think I’ll spend some time catching up on updating my friend’s site and getting started on Bob’s project.
Happy Friday indeed.
Giving a Voice to the People
Jan 21st
I’m alive, dear readers. Rest assured, my absence from posting yesterday had more to do with fatigue and crankiness than it did with my potential client kidnapping me and holding me for ransom.
I should start at the beginning, as in, trying to make it to the damn meeting in the first place. He (lets just call him Bob) and I agreed to meet at a Starbucks close to the subway line. Even though he offered me a lift if I needed it, I let him know the subway would serve me just fine and dandy. Of course, things never pan out the way I hope.
I decided I’d hop on the streetcar to get me to the one subway line and then transfer to the next. One, two, three streetcars all went passed, all too full to let on any other passengers. Natalie was with me as she was on her way to pilates class. “Do you want to cab it to the subway?” I asked, frustrated that I was already running late and I was only on the first part of my journey.
In Need of a Web Designer
Jan 19th
I received an e-mail from the college instructor I had for four of the six courses I took last year. It was a forward of an e-mail he received from a colleague. “I thought one of you could take a stab at this,” the note from my teacher read. The original message was from someone looking for a web designer. I checked the attached job description and realized it was something I could easily do.
I contacted the guy who had sent the initial message and let him know I could help him out. He and I exchanged a few more e-mails before deciding that we would meet tomorrow to discuss what exactly he’s looking to do with his web site and what I can help him with.
I thought it was pretty decent of my teacher to think of me when e-mailing his students. I guess showing an interest in class (even during the JavaScript session) and always having my assignments done on time made me stand out.
I don’t know what will come out of the meeting tomorrow but I’m hoping I’ll get the chance to work with this guy. It will give me the chance to practice what I’ve learned and start building a portfolio of sorts.
I know I’m just scratching the surface with what’s involved with web design so any opportunity to practice and try out new things is appreciated. I was thinking I’d stop in at the college and check out the bulletin boards where students post their flyers and see if anyone else is looking for web help. Maybe I’ll post my own flyer to get my name and contact info out there.
I’m going into the meet tomorrow optimistic and hopeful. Maybe this will be the start to something really good.
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