Well, the holidays cards are mailed, the presents are wrapped, the boys are home from school, husband is working from home and we are settling in for the conclusion of 2009.
This time between US Thanksgiving and New Year is always a good time to reflect on how wonderful the year has been. In this spirit, let me send a heartfelt "Happy Holidays" and "Happy New Year" to all our family, friends, and colleagues. You have all helped make this an amazing year.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Freelancing and loving it
The two and a half years at Taubman were a great time to be exposed to many different aspects of the Web, front-end HTML/CSS, RSS feeds, back-end PHP, SSI, analytics, search and XML sitemaps and even a little basic system administration with htaccess files.
Now as a freelancer, I get to focus on what I love and that is styling with CSS. I can come up with decent Web designs but I prefer the challenge of taking the creation of a graphic designer and applying it to the web. To take it to the next level, I am diving into content management system (CMS) theming especially for Drupal and will explore WordPress in the future, using my CSS skills on new outlets. And I get a bit tingly thinking about CSS3.
The pleasure of being in Ann Arbor is that it seems to be a hot bed for Web development, kicking out some amazing Websites and applications. A wonderful opportunity for me to work with some great people.
My freelancing has started with thanks to Ken at wtwdesign.com, my "old" boss at Taubman who went solo back in early 2008. I have the great pleasure of working with him again and look forward to working with the amazing team he as put together.
As the US Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful for the people in my life both personally and professionally. Thank you all.
Now as a freelancer, I get to focus on what I love and that is styling with CSS. I can come up with decent Web designs but I prefer the challenge of taking the creation of a graphic designer and applying it to the web. To take it to the next level, I am diving into content management system (CMS) theming especially for Drupal and will explore WordPress in the future, using my CSS skills on new outlets. And I get a bit tingly thinking about CSS3.
The pleasure of being in Ann Arbor is that it seems to be a hot bed for Web development, kicking out some amazing Websites and applications. A wonderful opportunity for me to work with some great people.
My freelancing has started with thanks to Ken at wtwdesign.com, my "old" boss at Taubman who went solo back in early 2008. I have the great pleasure of working with him again and look forward to working with the amazing team he as put together.
As the US Thanksgiving approaches, I am grateful for the people in my life both personally and professionally. Thank you all.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
How things change in a year
The Architecture program site did go live only to be followed 9 months later with a full college Website redesign that encompassed all three programs plus the Taubman College parent site. I was a very active member of the redesign team helping manage both technical staff and content transition.
I left Taubman at the end of September. In two and a half years my role had progressed from making simple page edits to transitioning the table-based layout to CSS. Then my role shifted to un-official Web Master which included managing the technical transition of the site to dynamic PHP with Drupal RSS feeds. Each day brought something new to learn and accomplish that took me well beyond what I would have ever expected. Can you have scope-creep in your job responsibilities? Employment-creep!
I think the best lesson I have learned from all of this is that the role of a Web designer is very broad and as much as I attempt to be the Jack-of-all-trades (HTML/CSS coder, back-end programmer, sys admin, etc.) I could very well become the master of none.
So in the mean time I'll do some contract work with past co-workers and employers and try to hone in to a Web specialty that I can dedicate myself to.
I'll give myself some time to explore. HTML5 and CSS3 are heating up. I'm interested in versioning systems. GIT and Subversion have attracted my attention. With DreamWeaver CS4 I can dive into more JavaScript and AJAX with jQuery, YUI and Spry frameworks.
My big reward for leaving the "nest" is treating myself to An Event Apart in Chicago next week. (Actually a gift from my husband and boys that covers birthday, Christmas and possibly Mothers' Day 2010.)
All I can say is WOW, watch out world, here I come!
I left Taubman at the end of September. In two and a half years my role had progressed from making simple page edits to transitioning the table-based layout to CSS. Then my role shifted to un-official Web Master which included managing the technical transition of the site to dynamic PHP with Drupal RSS feeds. Each day brought something new to learn and accomplish that took me well beyond what I would have ever expected. Can you have scope-creep in your job responsibilities? Employment-creep!
I think the best lesson I have learned from all of this is that the role of a Web designer is very broad and as much as I attempt to be the Jack-of-all-trades (HTML/CSS coder, back-end programmer, sys admin, etc.) I could very well become the master of none.
So in the mean time I'll do some contract work with past co-workers and employers and try to hone in to a Web specialty that I can dedicate myself to.
I'll give myself some time to explore. HTML5 and CSS3 are heating up. I'm interested in versioning systems. GIT and Subversion have attracted my attention. With DreamWeaver CS4 I can dive into more JavaScript and AJAX with jQuery, YUI and Spry frameworks.
My big reward for leaving the "nest" is treating myself to An Event Apart in Chicago next week. (Actually a gift from my husband and boys that covers birthday, Christmas and possibly Mothers' Day 2010.)
All I can say is WOW, watch out world, here I come!
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