Dwelling on the past: a designers perspective

It’s fair to say that dwelling on the past is generally discouraged, because the things we dwell upon are typically negative ones. But sometimes, it’s whilst dwelling on the missed opportunities and “what if’s” of life that the most important lessons are learned.

With a new year, comes new ambitions and with those ambitions will come challenges. Our experiences over the last year, good or bad, will help us to progress and further push ourselves forwards into 2010.

Inspired by my own somewhat philosophical view on the year ahead, and with a definite need of self direction, I have compiled list of things that, as a designer and freelancer, I have often dwelled upon but will now prove to form the basis of my efforts for the year ahead.

Hopefully this list will not only help me, but with some of my own expertise and some good old fashioned research this will also offer some inspiration and guidance for others too.

1. Blog more

Keeping your readers interested, especially in a blogs infancy, in what you have to say requires regularly updated, fresh and well thought out contents. But with over 20 pages of scribbles and half written blog posts, each article started with such enthusiasm only to be put to the way side.

With this in mind I will endeavor to write at least one article a week, no slacking and no putting it off.

My top tips:

• Keep a pad near at all times and jot down any ideas for new articles, blog articles are often conceived when performing everyday tasks and through day to day experiences. Assign some time each day/week to write up any notes.

• If your blog is new, it’s important to keep your readers hanging on your every word. Write often, but keep articles relevant and informative and don’t blog just for the sake of it. The more popular a blog becomes the more loyal your readers will become, even if you decide not to post for a week or two.

• If you do find that you were unable to fulfill your weekly blog post, you don’t have to deprive your readers. Blog post are not all about writing in depth tutorials, reviews or large articles on how to redesign with HTML5.

If you have read something particularly interesting that you feel would really benefit your audience, let them know. Linking to a new product or to someone else’s article can be just as informative as writing your own, especially if you have something worthwhile to add to it. Just be sure to keep it at a good level or your readers may go elsewhere.

2. Attend more design conferences

2009 was host to some of the most influential web design conferences and speakers of the decade. For me this was to be the year of the web design conference. To meet people, put names to faces and not least hopefully learn a thing or two. The list was made, the dates noted, but with moving house and other commitments, I only managed to attend one.

Some of the biggies this year include:

• FOWD
• Build Conference
• dConstruct

And a slightly smaller gig but no less inspiring;

• Oxford geek nights

My top tips:

• Always set aside time to increase or top up your skills, going to web design conferences will always help increase your knowledge. You may already know some of the techniques being talked about, but even If you only learn one thing about each topic that could improve upon an already mastered technique it may well be worth while.

• Get some swag made up; business cards; moo cards; badges etc to give out to the people you meet. People love free stuff and will remember you easier if they have something to take away with them.

• If you Really want to go to a design conference, but cant quite afford it, put a few quid aside from each project you do and, if your good enough (or charge a lot), you’ll have enough for the ticket and maybe the train ride home.

3. Read more

Whether the source is online literature (blogs articles and online tutorials) or good old fashioned in your hand books, these will always be the best source for learning new skills, being inspired and keeping on top of the latest trends.

Last year In aid of the bush fires in Australia I was able to buy 3 PDF books from sitepoint for around $20, including Elliot Jay Stocks Sexy Web Design. Despite printing them and binding them I rarely found the time to read them.

My top tips:

• Buying books doesn’t have to be expensive. If you are a bit short on cash you can usually buy a PDF version that not only costs less but will be available to download instantly. Subscribing to a magazine such as .Net magazine can also be an inexpensive way to to keep up to date with latest trends in webdesign.

• If you buy a book, as with other tasks, set some time aside to read them. If you use public transport, take a book with you. Read on your lunch break, or before you go to sleep. After all a shelf full of books say look good but are a waste of time if you don’t read them.

• If you have any design buddies, get them to post up a list or picture of their book collection. If a fellow web designer has a copy, its more than likely you will find it useful too. On top of that you will be able to get an honest review from someone who’s potentially already read it.

4. More personal projects

My first websites were always personal sites such as cartoon fan sites. For years I designed solely for myself, this is what I enjoyed and where I learnt a host of skills that I use today.

You may find that as you increase your workload as a freelancer, the enjoyable projects that started your freelance career are few and far between and you spend your days hoping that the next project you get is one that really excites you.

My Top tips:

• Design something fun and unique each week; even if it means following an online tutorial and not just bookmarking it for “later”. – I have started this task by designing new desktop wallpaper each week, with each one using a new or different technique I can reflect and improve on each one I do.

• If you have the freedom to do so, take on an exiting project once in a while, even if the clients budget is lower than you’re used to; you may find that despite earning less, the project is much more rewarding in other ways.

Embrace the things that have been dwelt on and combine them with the numerous moments that have truly made you shine, smile, admire and be proud of and be ready all guns blazing for the year ahead.

If you’ve been doing some dwelling of your own, why not let me know, but let’s keep a positive spin on it and figure out how you will use them to become better for it!