My 17 Inch MacBook Pro is in lack of better words The Shit!
I thought for a second whether or not to use the words "the shit" but didn't think more than a second to say 'Ummm, yeah, that pretty much describes it'. Why so, you say???
First off, the GLASS TRACKPAD. Gone are the days of clicking on the bottom of your OS to find which programs are open, you can now simply swipe 4 fingers. Oh yeah, it KNOWS. Also, I can use 2 fingers to scroll up and down in any application and web browser. "Are you cereal? [quoted by my brother Miguel]" (My thoughts exactly). I secretly didn't like on both Mac and PC (ok, I know it means 'personal computer', it just a word like "google it!") where you had to stop what you were doing, drag the mouse or trackpad to find the program you were using and click on that button to go to that program. Well, that's no more. I can simply swipe my fingers to find what I have open and go to it.
This saves me so much TIME. Now, granted, it might be the extra few seconds, but it adds up. Macs already had the "view all visual app windows" button on F3, but gotta admit it's a pretty nice feature.
The glass trackpad also does 3 finger options you can set, or open and close all 5 fingers to enlarge or make the app or browser smaller (semantic applicable). I'm getting used to and find that I have to get up on being '[link]semantically[/link] correct' now, I thought that was just more lingo to make me feel [link to another blog]less than a designer[/blog], but actually is for a good cause (my recommendation: don't shy away from 'elegantly described [semantic] web standards' --Is that another post? Maybe!!!--)
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Should I be a Web Designer?
So I have recently asked myself the question "I thought I was up to speed on web design?"
I went on for about a month questioning myself, stressing myself out, "Am I really that far behind?", "Am I in the right profession?", "Am I giving my clients what I should be giving them?", and there are more along the same lines. Now I love designing websites, but you may ask, "Well, what part of designing a website?" So I got a bachelors in "Interactive Media Design" in 00 (sounds wrong but the 90's are over!!!). So while in my days of figuring out what this web thing was and how to design for it, I was given teaching and advice by industry professionals in school. So of course I didn't just leave school and not Google things going on, I was trying to establish myself in a new career. Who has time for that during that time??? Well, those now in school should. It is a simple thing to do, just keep up with the [link]w3c website[/link] and also other web design websites that keep themselves current like:
1. Alistapart.com (great read)
2. Zeldman.com (inspiration on day to day from an industry leader)
3. Thefwa.com (consistently updated sites given recognition and links to their website)
4. I'll add to this...
So as a creative person, I might venture in another subject from time to time (I don't mean it), but is releveant, then I'll come back, promise :)
So can't get into a bio right now of where I am now, maybe I'll post on my (finally!!) updated personal site, angelamiller.net. Someone else already has the angelamiller.com domain, I caught on too late! So I'm at .net, not .com.
So while going back to my roots of why I even wanted to web design, I was in this personal crossroads. 'I love what I do, but maybe I am in over my head!' type of everyday conversation. Come to find out, I was trying to DO IT ALL... I wanted to impress my job, myself, my freelance clients, and anything they asked of me, I wanted to do. And I TRIED. Before I go any further, I want to say, I am not a big fan of re-inventing the wheel. If it's been done, I should be able to make it (whatever application I needed, modify it) do what I want. I could only go so far. Which brought me back to a saying from one of my professors (Find one platform you like and focus on that, don't try to do it all). But you are talking to Angela Miller, and I thought I could do it all! I wanted to be well rounded in as much as possible, from web design front end, to video for the web, minor print (like business cards and graphic design logos) whatever was asked of me.
I went on for about a month questioning myself, stressing myself out, "Am I really that far behind?", "Am I in the right profession?", "Am I giving my clients what I should be giving them?", and there are more along the same lines. Now I love designing websites, but you may ask, "Well, what part of designing a website?" So I got a bachelors in "Interactive Media Design" in 00 (sounds wrong but the 90's are over!!!). So while in my days of figuring out what this web thing was and how to design for it, I was given teaching and advice by industry professionals in school. So of course I didn't just leave school and not Google things going on, I was trying to establish myself in a new career. Who has time for that during that time??? Well, those now in school should. It is a simple thing to do, just keep up with the [link]w3c website[/link] and also other web design websites that keep themselves current like:
1. Alistapart.com (great read)
2. Zeldman.com (inspiration on day to day from an industry leader)
3. Thefwa.com (consistently updated sites given recognition and links to their website)
4. I'll add to this...
So as a creative person, I might venture in another subject from time to time (I don't mean it), but is releveant, then I'll come back, promise :)
So can't get into a bio right now of where I am now, maybe I'll post on my (finally!!) updated personal site, angelamiller.net. Someone else already has the angelamiller.com domain, I caught on too late! So I'm at .net, not .com.
So while going back to my roots of why I even wanted to web design, I was in this personal crossroads. 'I love what I do, but maybe I am in over my head!' type of everyday conversation. Come to find out, I was trying to DO IT ALL... I wanted to impress my job, myself, my freelance clients, and anything they asked of me, I wanted to do. And I TRIED. Before I go any further, I want to say, I am not a big fan of re-inventing the wheel. If it's been done, I should be able to make it (whatever application I needed, modify it) do what I want. I could only go so far. Which brought me back to a saying from one of my professors (Find one platform you like and focus on that, don't try to do it all). But you are talking to Angela Miller, and I thought I could do it all! I wanted to be well rounded in as much as possible, from web design front end, to video for the web, minor print (like business cards and graphic design logos) whatever was asked of me.
Intern Life
I would not be here or have as much determination and drive in my field if not for internships while in college.
So as I started getting experience, while still in school, I interned at PGA in atlanta, the PGA.com website. That was the coolest job ever, not paid, but I didn't care, it was PGA! Proabably coolest of all was that I worked with John Buzzell (Creative Director) and Todd Dominey (the now infamous Slideshow Pro phenom). Back then, I saw his early website and was celebrity inspired. Still am! I truly appreciate that experience. But yes, I applied to the Turner (PGA company) website, for a full-time position there, counting my internships while still in school as in-field experience. I was astounded (but I was an INTERN!!!) type of thoughts when I heard no response. The application for a position at Turner required at least 4 years of experience. I counted my time in college as experience back then. I figured they just didn't see my potential.
Fast forward to 2009... I now am gaining in-field experience, really: that means now that I know, not when you were in school, but actual jobs and experience from those jobs so that you gain real-world experience. Don't get me wrong, Internships are the breaking point in an employer when comparing two people with similar experience level. Internships mean that you had industry experience while in schooling, which means that you took the time to take an unpaid job and be accountable to be greatful to work there, and gain knowledge from industry professionals!!! Looking back, I so appreciate the opportunity I had.
So how do you get an Internship? You have to get out there and build relationships while in school. I didn't know it, but I was building relationships with my professors. At the time, I just wanted to make sure that I knew that I was doing what was asked of me for assignments while in college. I talked to my department head a lot, not only because she was accessible, but because I genuinely wanted to know what I was doing right, wrong, etc. And I also respected her doctorate (Ameeta!!!) She was the one that told me (There is a job fair, why don't you apply?) Immediately I saw CAUTION. 'I am in no way ready for that!!!' I thought to myself. But I took her advice and went. My websites weren't done, but I had DOCUMENTATION. Being an artist at heart, I liked to sketch out my thoughts and designs on paper first. So when I got the call to interview with PGA for the internship, I was elated! I was there about an hour before interviewing, and took it all in: You needed a pass from a security guard just to get into the place, then a series of gaining a special visitors pass. I was like 'Whoa, this is real time!' I finally got to my interview, and was just myself. I ended up talking to John for over an hour (showing him my sketches and my enthusiasm) and at the end, on the train ride home, felt good about it. I knew it was mine. Sure enough, got the call for a start date!
Looking back, that was, and still is, a major experience that showed me the possibility of where a career in the field could go. And among many other things, this set experience, and determination and drive, to keep the dream alive in my web design career.
Next Blog: Intern Life and What I've Learned
So as I started getting experience, while still in school, I interned at PGA in atlanta, the PGA.com website. That was the coolest job ever, not paid, but I didn't care, it was PGA! Proabably coolest of all was that I worked with John Buzzell (Creative Director) and Todd Dominey (the now infamous Slideshow Pro phenom). Back then, I saw his early website and was celebrity inspired. Still am! I truly appreciate that experience. But yes, I applied to the Turner (PGA company) website, for a full-time position there, counting my internships while still in school as in-field experience. I was astounded (but I was an INTERN!!!) type of thoughts when I heard no response. The application for a position at Turner required at least 4 years of experience. I counted my time in college as experience back then. I figured they just didn't see my potential.
Fast forward to 2009... I now am gaining in-field experience, really: that means now that I know, not when you were in school, but actual jobs and experience from those jobs so that you gain real-world experience. Don't get me wrong, Internships are the breaking point in an employer when comparing two people with similar experience level. Internships mean that you had industry experience while in schooling, which means that you took the time to take an unpaid job and be accountable to be greatful to work there, and gain knowledge from industry professionals!!! Looking back, I so appreciate the opportunity I had.
So how do you get an Internship? You have to get out there and build relationships while in school. I didn't know it, but I was building relationships with my professors. At the time, I just wanted to make sure that I knew that I was doing what was asked of me for assignments while in college. I talked to my department head a lot, not only because she was accessible, but because I genuinely wanted to know what I was doing right, wrong, etc. And I also respected her doctorate (Ameeta!!!) She was the one that told me (There is a job fair, why don't you apply?) Immediately I saw CAUTION. 'I am in no way ready for that!!!' I thought to myself. But I took her advice and went. My websites weren't done, but I had DOCUMENTATION. Being an artist at heart, I liked to sketch out my thoughts and designs on paper first. So when I got the call to interview with PGA for the internship, I was elated! I was there about an hour before interviewing, and took it all in: You needed a pass from a security guard just to get into the place, then a series of gaining a special visitors pass. I was like 'Whoa, this is real time!' I finally got to my interview, and was just myself. I ended up talking to John for over an hour (showing him my sketches and my enthusiasm) and at the end, on the train ride home, felt good about it. I knew it was mine. Sure enough, got the call for a start date!
Looking back, that was, and still is, a major experience that showed me the possibility of where a career in the field could go. And among many other things, this set experience, and determination and drive, to keep the dream alive in my web design career.
Next Blog: Intern Life and What I've Learned
Finally Giving In...
So here I am finally dedicating to a blog. I remember when blogger.com first started years ago, and I created an account, wrote a few, then just didn't keep up with it. I was still in college at AIA, and didn't think I could even attempt to talk about anything with web design. I think I wrote about my thoughts about web design while being in school. So here I am today, trying to log into my old account, with what I thought was my username and pass years later. So it smartly made a new account for me. Either they weed out unused accounts over a period of time, or I logged in with the wrong username and pass. Anyway, enough of the intro, here I am.
So about the giving in part. Maybe "giving in" isn't the right phrase. It should be "Trying this thing out again". What inspired me to do this? I watched a recent interview online by Jeffrey Zeldman (net legend and one of all of us), interviewed by Big Think. Have no idea who Big Think is, but should be a well known web design magazine with clout to get him to sit down and talk at the level he is now. So I have been following Mr. Z since my college years in 2000 (as I will call him from here on out, maybe). But Mr. Z was around since the beginning of the rush of the internet, who ran with it, and was enthusiastic and even now still "one of us", (meaning, has always had an interest and passion for web standards for a wide range of people to see on that website), which means "websites should be able to be viewed by anybody, with any browser, and be able to see what they need to see on a website, whether they are searching for something in particular, to looking at a high-end company's website without not having enough installed on their own computer to be able to see everything available on that website. See, websites are built with code. Some coding and scripting to do amazing things require the end user (us) to view their website and see all the cool stuff they use to make things happen. Which means interaction (the person going to that website and being able to view videos, click here and there on the website and get a personalized result based on user interaction with that website), and I could get into more, but that should be another blog entry. (I'm blogging for real now! Lol!)
Before I keep going, here's the summary:
1. I knew about blogging when it first started but didn't stay with it
2. I saw interview online with Jeffery Zeldman (a.k.a. Mr. Z to me)
3. I've decided that I know enough now (feel comfortable in my experience with web design now) to start a blog and will keep up with it.
4. Hopefully someday I'll have an audience! (people regularly reading my blog)
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