...or maybe I want webdesign. I have seen alot of people write messages saying that they would like to do this as a profession. I also realize that there are many people in the Asylum that already do!
The purpose of this thread is educational. My question or request: What should a person know to prepare himself/herself for a career in Web Design, Web Management, or Web Implementation. If that is to broad...how about just Web Design.
Personally, I have the last year learning HTML, Photoshop, Dreamweaver. This allowed me to make websites that I could profit from (I have only done one at current, but hey...one is better than none!). Although this site does not compare to many of the sites made by members of the Asylum, it was still good enough for me to make a lil' cash. I now realize that I need to know more...instead of just cutting and pasting javascripts; I want to learn how to author them. I feel this will help me when I tackle DHTML. Now...Server-side scripts...such as ASP and PHP...wow...im not even there yet...but it seems really important.
A "web designer" is that mythical person that has 10 years of experience in every tool imaginable (including Flash, Photoshop, programming languages like CGI and Java, CFM & SilverStream) and can manage a project over 10-20 people.
SO, don't do that. Those people don't exist.
Pick a speciality. And how old are you? What kind of education have you got behind you? What's coming up? Don't be so vague.
Thanks for the reply twitch...I am 27/yr ex-computer teacher for a non-profit organization. I was promoted (or demoted...depending on how u look at it) to software technician. I had been picking up html and photoshop as a hobby (for the last year or so) and now opportunities are popping up all over the place. I actually just did my first website (for my job)and submitted it in the "site critique" section here. The company I work for has a computer curriculum at 17 different school sites. Early next year the sites will connected through a WAN. A data base will be used running off of SQL server 7.0 to manage the data. In addition, they are looking to expand their website to meet various different demands that will arise in the future. The best part is that there really isn't many people in this company who even have a slight clue about technology.
In a nutshell, I have a great opportunity to learn. I have an opportunity to create a new position for myself, based on abilities I can provide this company. However, I really enjoy web site creation. (I obviously am not a web designer!)
Many people are asking me to do pages for them...and they are even willing to pay! I have 3 offers right now. But I think my skills need alot of help!
I have a year left in school and will get my B.S. I enjoy the creative aspects of website creation very much and wouldn't mind doing it professonally. I just need to sharpen, polish, and hone my skills.
hi, im fake, a 14 year old with a love of computers and anything that has to do with them.
a year ago, in 7th grade, i took a required computer course, in which we did a segment on html.
my friend had a computer which i had been playing games on (im a gamer at heart, but not by nature :P). for my birthday, after begging my parents relentlessly, i got my first PC :]
anyways, at school i started learning html and thus began my passion for the web.
quickly moving ahead of even the teacher (though that's probably not saying too much) i began to create shockwave animations with director 7 (my first animation resembled stickdeath.com )
for whatever reason (i forgot why exactly) i switched over to flash 4, where i had soooo much fun learning everything i could about it, and feeling oh so proud about the resulting work.
making webpages for gaming clans i was in, as well as just fun pages for me, i progressed through web design rather rapidly (well, at least i think it was rapidly)
fast forward to now. having just launched www.fake-design.com, my second domain after the failed www.pufflefluff.com (well, it didnt really have a purpose from day one, but it was a good starting point), im hoping to bring some profits in from my hobby, and turn it into a summer job.
well, theres my life story :]
anyways, i too would like some advice as to how exactly to go about being a pro web designer
I think the freelance web designer may be a dying breed. Disappearing are the days when you could just toss up a digital tri-fold brochure of sorts, now it's all about the content and managing it and selling stuff and databases and and and. I don't know a single guy that can manage a complete design brilliantly from front to back, well mebbe those Gustafson and Doyle guys and but not many more.
phortay, sounds like you have an opportunity to learn the NT server thing inside and out so you might wanna focus on that stuff, ASP, SQL, and VBScripting (after getting a firm grip on html and css). That's still a lot but if you have time and are in a situation where you are THE man there at the office, it could work out where you actually get a pretty thorough knowledge of the MS (dark)side. Then you can buy hosting on a Unix server for your homepage stuff and get to know that from that angle. Good luck with it.
so, freelancing is passe? Nononononono, my dear reverent friend.
If I didn't have this fucking fulltime job to deal with, I'd be making just as much (possibly more) if I stuck to just clients that called me and asked me for work. It's not a matter of doing *everything* with a site. Many of us just design, or just do databasing. The team is what is important these days.
So, in a nutshell (as the voice of propagated experience) freelancing is not going downhill--it's stronger than ever. Companies will always have the need to look good and function properly. We just need to be better at it than we have since the dotCombustion.
From: Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England Insane since: Oct 2000
posted 06-12-2001 10:04
I agree totally with Twitch
I am worked in graphic design and web design for 8 years and have just been made redundant for the 4th time - joy of the business! That is why I have gone freelance. There are so many companies out there who are struggling to get projects done, but the work flow is so changeable they daren't take on someone else - hence the freelancers. We do a worthwhile little job. Contract work is very profitable too - you get a really good wage and just work for 3 months and then you can take it easy for a couple of month just picking up the odd bit of freelance. Main thing is you have to be an all round and very flexible - and mainly you have to be able to motivate yourself to keep going or your won't succeed. My last job was Web Design Manager for Chrysalis (music company in England) and I was on a great wage - I keep getting similar offers - but you have to make a balance in your life between career and having a life! Most high management jobs mean that your home just becomes a place to sleep and friends....have I still got their number somewhere?? Don't want to get like that again! xx
all this talk about freelanceing...
I gotta ask, those of you who make a majority of your income or spend a majority of your time freelanceing.
How do you market? I understand the whole 'word of mouth' thing...churches, charities, etc. But when it comes time to really start making money and really getting into this, how do you spread the word.
From my experiance it's a real pain in the ass just to get people to know you exist...nevermind trying to convince them that you have a service that they want, you're good, and there is a legitimate reason why you charge more than the 16yr old kid down the street...
funny how some people think that it's impossible to get your name out as a freelance artist. Well, lets be honest for a moment. A business is a group of consultants that are freelancing under one name. How do *they* get their name out? Well, the same rules apply to freelancing. I work with the best in the business, so I can bill myself out for a lot more than the 16y/o kid down the block. I have a huge portfolio, so I can grab the clients I need *mostly* off of word of mouth.
I agree with Twitch^.. before I took my current current permy postion, I was a contracted designer (automotive) for 15 years. I have worked here (Stateside) also back home in Uk and also in Germany, getting those positions through word of mouth. Its often not what you know but who you know!... plus building a reputation is critical. I have no idea how big/small the circle of graphic designers is, but it it is anything like the circle of automotive contracting circle, its small.. reputation is critical... hence starting small and build a rep is a must imho.. ymmv ~Vp~
It wasn't that I thought that it was impossible for freelancers to get jobs/get their names out...I simply wondered how you all do it. Marketing is tough in any business...especially (I would guess) in a business that is as often under-rated/misunderstood as web design/info. architecture is. Businesses can have commercials, go to trade shows, make print ads, make cold calls, and lots of other things to get business. Just wonderin' what you did...that's all. I imagine that word of mouth is the most difficult in the sense that an employer has to really be impressed with you to pass your name along. Of course, if you really are that good, word of mouth is the best (not to mention the cheapest) route to go. At least you know what your employers/clients think of you...
If you don't mind me asking, Twitch, what's in your portfolio...just bein' nosy...
I almost forgot...what percentage of your time do you spend on 'new' jobs...and what on maintaining 'old' ones?
mobrul
[This message has been edited by mobrul (edited 06-13-2001).]
I get bored at my job.. I ring around friends in my business.... they tell me whats hot , or whats not.. I fax my resume... the office manager usually will then call me for a telephone interview and/or ask his current designers if they have heard of me and what they think (heres where the reputation is VERY important).
I am not a graphic artsist so I dont know if the free lance/contract side of graphic artists work in the same way as it does for free lance/contract automotive designers.. but it might just! and if it don't it should heh.. well imho..
thinking about it.. I wonder if my field of design is smaller or larger than the graphics field?.. anyone know?.. just out of interest...
oh ya.. Happy 200th post Mobrul! ~Vp~
ediot: my fart fingers agin
[This message has been edited by vogonpoet (edited 06-13-2001).]
posted 06-07-2001 23:57
I have 3 offers right now. But I think my skills need alot of help!
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