webdesign 2 Comments

Definitely A Learning Experience

I gave myself one week to come up with three to five composites for my website redesign client. No problem — I did similar projects with similar deadlines in college. VCT, graphic design, yeah. No problem.

I hate all of my ideas.

No, let me rephrase: I can’t seem to translate the ideas in my head to something that looks good on-screen. I feel like I’m missing lots of the finer details and the subtleties that I admire in other designers. Shadows, patterns, gradients, tiny lines and shapes and ornamentations that just aren’t popping into my head. The 4×3″ ballpoint pen drawings look like drawings of decent web page designs; my Photoshop comps look like a VCT 102 student put them together.

Maybe trying to take design cues from my favorite designers isn’t the best way to go. Maybe I’m being too hard on myself because of it. In any case, I have one evening and two weekend days to finish at least one and a half comps, if not more, and preferably improve on what I already have completed. If I have to give them crap and say they’re first drafts, I will, but I’d rather give them awesome comps and just let them choose what kind of website they want.

It’s just so frustrating. I finally have the opportunity to wow a client with my flair… and now… *pfft*

health & fitness

Quick Observations

Being creative on behalf of someone else is challenging. I’m designing for the opposite of my normal style: bold colors, fun, and purple. I have four detailed thumbnails complete, and I only think two of them are “fun”. I’ve started making the funnest one into a composite in Photoshop, and it’s started to take on a mind of its own. It’s very yellow… to go with the purple, of course.

Also: I am reminded once again that my beginning kickboxing workout is teh awesome. Even at 8pm.

If you’re interested in checking up on me, SparkPeople has made the diet and exercise logging public (per member’s discretion). If you really, REALLY want to know if I took my walk today, or how much I ate, or if I gave in and made macaroni for dinner, you’re welcome to look.

(And if you DO look, I know that today’s calories are scant. Don’t fret; I’m not making a habit of eating under 800 calories a day. I just didn’t pack a proper lunch today.)

I got James at work to join up on SparkPeople, and we’re planning to have some friendly diet/fitness competition. I’m not sure what kind of competition we’ll come up with, but I’m sure we’ll figure out something fun.

randomness

Immensely Satisfying

#1. Walking into the post office, surveying the line of suits waiting to mail stuff on their lunchbreak, then simply dropping my online-postage-bedecked package into the package slot and turning on my heel. Total time at the post office: 45 seconds.

#2. Rain. Not snow, but rain.

In other news, I can’t afford to have very many of these totally exhausted evenings. Not with two concurrent web projects going on. Hopefully I can have a productive evening tomorrow, getting some detailed thumbnails cranked out for my client. Once I get set up and trained on the use of their online time logging system, I’m going to need to shift gears to get the other contracting project done. I think I can juggle both — again, as long as I can force myself to time-manage properly and not allow myself to be unusually tired in the evening.

That said, I’m going to bed early tonight. Like, now.

the ongoing saga of my job

Things Are About To Get Interesting

Had a call with my freelance client during my day off today. Discussed time frames, design ideas, web presence goals, and so forth. Realized after the fact that better pre-phone-call notes are in order for my next client, as well as actual signed paperwork, rather than just a verbal agreement. Might have been a little optimistic on my timeframe for ultimate delivery. Let’s just say that the next five to seven weeks are going to be devoted to this project as much as possible.

Enter the higher-paying freelance gig. I’m apparently getting training in the structure of their interface tomorrow evening, via the magic of the internet and conference calling. That very likely means that the dude has a project ready and waiting for me to tackle. These projects are estimated to take 16 hours to complete, which will basically be one week of evenings.

Add to that about one evening a week of juggling eBay postings, and I’m going to be one busy bee right shortly.

At least I gave the other freelance client an “assuming life doesn’t drop stuff on my head” clause.

Must not bow to the temptation to shirk exercise in favor of working on web stuff. Need to continue taking care of myself, despite all else.

P.S. – Did I mention that we’ve lost another team member at work, and will be losing another this Friday? Makes the workplace a lot more jumpin’, too.