Dive into the archives.
- Before Going Down Under, I’m Buying a Laptop!
In a month David (my boyfriend) and I are hopping onto a plane bound for Dubai and from Dubai we’re heading to Melbourne, Australia, arriving ridiculously early on the 17th of September. It’s been a long time coming and I’ve missed Melbourne terribly though I’ve suddenly realised there’s going to be an issue of needing to be able to take my work with me.
After working as a freelance web designer for a while I’ve built up a nice client base and have half a dozen projects on the go as we speak. Because of this, I can’t exactly disappear for a month - nor would I want to as I love what I do. It is for this reason, and for convenience sake once I return to England, that I have decided to buy a laptop.
READ MORE..
- Web Designer Magazine Thinks I’m Awesome!
About two weeks ago I sent off an introductory email to Web Designer magazine, a UK magazine that I subscribe to and highly recommend to anyone interested in web design. I introduced myself to them and told them my story.
The short version of said story - I designed my first website when I was 11, went on to teach myself XHTML, CSS, PHP, Photoshop and Dreamweaver and after completing a certificate III in VET Multimedia I received a vocational award for my talent from the Australian government. I then studied a Diploma in Information Technology at university, worked as a junior web developer for 3 months, moved to England and now work as a freelance web designer full time.
They were so impressed with my work that they’re going to publish a couple of pages featuring me in issue 150 which is on sale on the 23rd of October, 2008.
Awesome!
Ashleigh
x x x
- How to Get Your First Few Web Design Jobs When You’re a Student or Graduate
Web design is a very sought after skill - almost everyone wants to have some sort of online presence. Web design is also something you can learn fairly quickly and to the computer literate it isn’t overly hard. If you want to be really good however, that’s another story, but generally speaking if you have an interest in web design you can teach yourself the ropes pretty easil through books, tutorial websites and trial and error.
The bad news is that there’s a lot of competition when it comes to getting work. When I first started offering web design to people in exchange for money I got very little out of it in the monetary department. At one point I even found myself working for free just so I could get some experience.
With websites such as oDesk, Guru and RentaCoder that allow you to apply to web design jobs, I’d say that there are more opportunities to get web design work - but websites like this don’t make it any easier. I’ve often found that by quoting a reasonable price for a web design project I’ll be declined simply because I won’t work for $5 USD an hour or less. My minimum hourly rate is actually £10 which is more like $19 USD.
So - if it’s so hard to get work - what chance does a student or graduate have of getting their first few jobs? Well, for students and recent graduates in the UK, there is Student Gems, a website where businesses and individuals can find students to work on various jobs, including web design projects, by matching their needs with student skills. Though still in beta, the site has quite a following already so if you’re in the UK and looking for work, check it out!
Ashleigh
x x x
- Web Design Pirates VS. Web Design Ninjas
Pirates versus Ninjas has become an internet phenomenon that has circulated the globe most commonly in the form of an ongoing debate that asks the ultimate question.
Who would win.. Pirates or Ninjas?
Without going into the pros and cons of each, I’m confident that you have already chosen your side, just like I have. Todays post however isn’t about who would win so much but the differences between Pirates and Ninjas when it comes to Web Design.
Web Design Pirates
Web Design Pirates lie, cheat and steal. That may sound harsh, but it is the way of the pirate. Web Design Pirates scour the web looking for designs that they can canabalize. They copy elements from existing designs and then re-use them without permission from the original author. They then of course claim the new work as their own.
Web Design Ninjas
Web Design Ninjas are at one with the web. They usually work alone, training themselves in a web-design-montage-like blur and continue to build up and develop their skills, producing beautiful and original designs for clients in the process. Web Design Ninjas are honest, they are capable and they are quick.
Have you chosen your side?
I have.Web Design Ninjas FTW!
Ashleigh
x x x
