Come see me on Saturday! https://2017.sacramento.wordcamp.org/
Category: Thoughts
Web Books I’ve Actually Read
If you have taken my class you have likely heard me say that I prefer to learn by doing not from books and I feel like tech books become outdated too quickly in this field . Well, I have read some good books on web design but they are on concepts that are more long-lasting. Since students have asked for recommendations, here goes: Continue reading
Requested App Pivots and Updates Tone and Voice
Over the summer I wrote an analysis of an app called Requested. The app did many things well but it could do better. I was honored to be hired by Requested to help them refine the way they talk to and interact with their customers. Here’s what we did… Continue reading
Social Alchemy is in
The more that audacious coders dream of changing the world, the more they need to fill their companies with social alchemists who can connect with customers–and make progress seem pleasant.
–George Anders, Forbes
Five Steps to Freelancing “Full Time”
My Baby Brother is Getting Hitched!
Hi Friends,
My brother is marrying a great lady and they are having some trouble finding a venue. Here are the specifics, please let us know if you have any ideas or know anyone in the biz who can help.
- At least 100 guests including kids
- Timing: this fall or next spring
- Looking for something rustic, unique, relaxed, some DIY, many family members want to help
- Not overly expensive, nice, but affordable, good value
- He is a mechanic, she runs a preschool
- They both live in San Diego, many guests are in So Cal but out-of-town guests will need to secure housing
- Want to serve beer and wine and food
- They like/have considered Stone brewery (north county), wineries, and the Prado, open to a park or barn but need nice facilities (no port-a-potties)
Nominate @Wits End for the Community Builder Award
A few months ago I had some free time on my hands and a need for some intellectual stimulation. It was a perfect opportunity to do some pro bono work. I discovered the website Catch a Fire, signed up and applied for a project. After a quick phone interview I was “hired” to create a scope of work for a website design for my new friend Tricia Slavik. Tricia is starting an online database to help connect parents and caregivers of children with mental illness to the RIGHT providers. This is a surprisingly difficult task for something so crucial and heart wrenching as the well being of our beloved children. Continue reading
25 Concepts or Ideas I Find Compelling
These can be habits, concepts, ideas… they can be local, universal, personal. These concepts will continue to run in themes throughout my artwork because they are in my brain and part of my experience. Continue reading
25 Objects or Visuals I Find Beautiful
Who is Alois Senefelder?
“Johann Alois Senefelder (6 November 1771 – 26 February 1834) was a German actor and playwright who invented the printing technique of lithography in 1796.” (wikipedia)
Why am I writing about him? Because I’m taking a class at Sacramento City College on Lithography and our first assignment is to write a short paper about this guy. So lets get to it! Continue reading
How to Find a Job
At the end of August of last year I left my job with 10up. This was the first time in a very long time I left a job without a plan (other than to spend more time with my kids). Turns out that was TOO much time with my kids. I also felt that, much to my horror, I may have finally burned out on web design. That also turned out not to be true, I still love technology and communication interaction (phew). Continue reading
Great meeting with Gary and Jen
How to install WordPress on your purchased hosting plan
I just helped a friend with this and thought I’d write a quick how-to because its super easy once you know what you’re looking for. First, some basics…
Explainer
WordPress is software. Open source content management software that allows you to use any browser to write and publish content. Your content is stored in a database, in tables kinda like a spreadsheet. WordPress talks to the database every time anyone presses a button (to show a post, search, display a gallery). Continue reading
My Work in a Gallery Show!
Exciting news: Four of my small works have been accepted into a group show at Capital Artworks here in Sacramento!
Lessons Learned and (maybe) Remembered
Proactive Communication Saves Your Ass
I recently told a client I would deliver a document by “the end of this week/early next week”. Normally that’s a fine promise to make and easy to keep. Except this time the document I was delivering was being written by someone else. I checked in on the progress every couple days, stressing that I had told the client to expect it. In fact, I remember that little voice in my head being wary- and I did say something to the effect of “If I tell him we’ll have it, we better have it.” Continue reading