Comments for A Website to Love

Comment on I want a coworking space in Dubuque! by Kristine

Kristine — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:41:47 +0000

Maybe we start with an “independent professionals” (aka freelancers and self employed) Meet Up group. Or a LikedIn group? You have to start somewhere

Comment on I want a coworking space in Dubuque! by Christa

Christa — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 19:47:39 +0000

I would love a coworking space — let me know if anything comes of this!

Comment on Patience and Perseverance by Kristine

Kristine — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:58:08 +0000

Tough questions indeed. Here are some thoughts that come to mind initially:

Small maintenance tasks tend to be in my consciousness and my to-do list more consistently than the big picture stuff. But, being a perfectionist, I'm always seeking to refine and streamline my processes, so I guess I get a bit of the big picture dreaming in as I do the small stuff (for example, if I don't like a certain task, might take a moment to devise a better way to do it, or find a way to eliminate it all together).
I try to schedule blocks of time to work on big picture stuff. For example, I blocked off an entire Friday recently to work on my business plan.
I have to prioritize "pleasant", energizing tasks right up there with the more challenging ones, or I risk burnout, which is not a good place to be. Specifically, that means I make a point of doing certain things everyday that I know are enriching, though maybe not superficially productive: writing in my journal, morning yoga, 1 or 2 long walks with the dog, eating breakfast, getting enough sleep. All are things that are essential to keep me happy, enthusiastic, creative enough to tackle the hard challenges of being self-employed. I learned this from my life coach. She is awesome.

Comment on Patience and Perseverance by Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:55:46 +0000

Upon second read, this is still an insightful musing. I wonder, in light of your recommendation to step back and list accomplishments when faced by the multiple pressures of life, how you determine your priorities for the day? What gets done first, the small maintenance type tasks or those that lead more directly to the big-picture dreams? And do you prioritize income earning tasks over pleasant tasks, or how do you swing the challenges of continually needing to focus on an income stream? Tough questions, I know, sorry.

Comment on The Importance of Seeing Each Other by Kathy Kessler

Kathy Kessler — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:18:55 +0000

Lovely. Yes, in lieu of information about someone, we project our assumptions onto them; when in reality we have no idea what’s going on in their head. The more information gained the better…and the best gains are made face-to-face.

Comment on Patience and Perseverance by Pamela

Pamela — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 03:02:15 +0000

This is an awesome reflection. You are so accomplished, and I think you are being very modest!

Comment on The Town Websmith by Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:48:15 +0000

I agree with you Berthold. The problem I have noticed with the word "designer" is that it can mean very different things depending on the context. Did you read this article yet? Understanding Design I don't really expect the term Websmith to catch on, but the concept does help me achieve better clarity on how I can best serve my clients.

Comment on Design Last: a practical approach to web design by Kristine

Kristine — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:08:53 +0000

Berthold, I completely agree with you that the needs of the user are paramount, and that no amount of technology will make up for a design that is lacking. I admit I am still thinking through this idea, and it may not hold up in all applications. I am a solo web designer, mostly specializing in simple web sites for small businesses and non-profits. Typically, their budgets are small, so I am able to promote the idea of function over form—the fundamental concept described in this article—with a great deal of success. Check out this article for some examples: The Town Websmith. This "Design Last" idea may not actually work for more complex web design projects like web-apps and highly interactive experiences. But for smaller, simpler projects, it does seem to help the client develop healthy priorities and realistic expectations while getting a technologically sophisticated web site launched quickly.

Comment on The Importance of Seeing Each Other by Berthold

Berthold — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:56:50 +0000

Thank you for saying this. I much rather here the voice of somebody than to message back and forth; it’s so much more intimate and at the same time detailed. You’re right in assuming that personal contact is more than the words spoken; the way we speak, mimic, gesture and so forth are a vital part in how we communicate; so much so that I would call IM and eMail crippled. OK for factual business, but terrible at building and maintaining empathy. More often than not, it isn’t what we say, it’s how we say it that counts.

Comment on The Town Websmith by Berthold

Berthold — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 07:33:31 +0000

Not to be a Negative Nancy here, but web designers by any other name are still web designers. I’m not saying freelancing is easy in an industry overrun with amateurs, but I feel there is less of a need for new names than to simply connect designers and the community. If you’re doing your job as a designer well (and it looks that way from here), making sure there is a high ROI on every campaign you help your clients with (even if the initial investment is $0 – time counts, too) and making that fact plain to see, you’re well under way to getting established through word-of-mouth.

Any agency that doesen’t fulfill your 3 requirements, namely education & transparency, best practices and problem-solving isn’t worth its money; no matter how big it is.