Blagging about what matters most, technology.

I am a (somewhat) proud iPhone 3G owner but originally when I decided to make the switch at the launch date many of my friends questioned whether or not I could handle taking the plunge. Being a sucker for modding my electronics, I had everything you could imagine on my phone that made it mine. Anyone who has made changes to their Windows Mobile device will know that changing themes, home screens and functionality is as easy as a few quick registry edits or a program or two if you are lucky enough to find one. The modification community is very large and well informed and they are also extremely enthusiastic. As a person new to the Apple world it was hard for me to find people who could answer my simple questions, let alone ones involving modding and hacking.

In that respect the iPhone, even with its shiny new 3G capabilities, was a complete turn off to me. My lust for latest and greatest gadget quickly overshadowed my complains with the prospects of touch screens and graphical icons. Windows Mobile and ‘pretty’ don’t go hand-in-hand and since my device was not an HTC I wasn’t eligible for prettier firmware flashes. So I impatiently waited on that fateful July morning to activate my phone, captivated by all the beauty but disappointed by Apple’s poor implementation… and the disappointment didn’t stop there.

You can read about it in any newspaper or popular gadget blog. The iPhone has had a lot of issues, more than you would imagine after a year of it being in production, but that did not deter me from enjoying the phone and its OS more than my previous device. Syncing issues, iTunes bugs, activation delays, constant app crashing, poor GPS, terrible reception; you name it and the iPhone has probably had an unprecedented issue with it. So why keep, enjoy or even praise a phone with so many pitfalls? You have to accept that it does deliver what most of us bought it for, albeit a bit buggy.

In the midst of all issues I decided to just keep the phone stock. Of course I did a few things here and there to make my life easier, but nothing so drastic that it could be called a mod. I resisted the temptation of Jailbreaking because of all the bad press the new firmware had, even after the new process was released. The possibility of a bricked phone plus the alleged lack of support for ‘Installer’ made it all sound even worse to me so I resisted (even though I no idea what ‘Installer’ was).

It wasn’t until one evening when I was sitting at home with Matt adding ringtones to my phone that I found the light in the situation: the inability to add custom SMS/Text notification sounds. Why they wouldn’t add support for this feature was beyond me, but the next day my phone was broken free from the shackles of software limitations. That was also the day that I realized that Cydia could be used for more than just OpenSSH and the wonder of not having to access a computer to install third part applications and themes. The iPhone world was my oyster.

At this point the real question is whether or not I would go back to the Windows Mobile phone platform. Considering I disliked the iPhone as a stock piece of equipment I think that using it for business would not be a good idea for someone with the level of technical savvy I have. Also, the device is just not compatible with a lot of the mobile (business related) applications that other phones are. Lets not forget that Apple is still trying to fit the pieces together in order to compete in the world of business phones and the whole Push mail debacle isn’t helping their cause. All that considered, the phone does feel much more inviting to third party developers (both official and unofficial) so we are seeing more feature-filled free apps than I ever used on my Windows Mobile device.

The phone has its quirks that I never imagined I could have lived with if I didn’t take the time to jailbreak it and make it mine, something that wasn’t necessary on my previous phone. Now lets see if Google and T-Mobile can tempt me with their phone and Android’s wiles.

Today I walked past the television and found my mom watching an episode of Oprah that was talking about the difference between rude and mean people. In my mind when I heard their psychologist explaining the difference on the show to the audience with multiple rows of 30 year old women nodding in unison at key points I figured that this information was common sense; rude people are rude but not aware of it and mean people do it on purpose. There is also your third category, the arrogant person who talks down to you, and they are just another can of worms from a psychological standpoint.

When I left the room I realized that the reason so many people in the audience and even my mother were fascinated by the guest speaker, a waiter, who explained that they spit in your food when you are rude at a restaurant. A typical consumer who goes and receives these services doesn’t realize just how difficult it is to be on the receiving end of those short tips and ridiculous criticisms. To them going to a restaurant is a 45 minute experience and not an 8 hour means of living.

When it comes to the design world your relationship with the customer is a lot like that 45 minute restaurant experience; to them it should be an easy ordeal where you meet their needs in the way they see fit. All the while, when you customer is gone after that meeting you are pulling your hair out because they want you to change that background color back, or they want to completely change the palette, or the whole thing is wrong and they want a new concept. Its hard for people to understand just how much time and effort goes into this kind of job even if they work in a similar industry. So how exactly do you deal with this kind of customer situation?

Protect Yourself From The Start With a Solid Proposal

Your proposal (or contract or initial agreement) is the backbone of your projects and you should always use one. If you work for a design firm usually a sales associate or project manager will handle this before you are even given the client, but its still good to know it inside and out (or just make note of the company policy). If you are a freelance worker or handle this task in your company as well as design it is essential to have this document because it not only protects you but it also protects the customer.

If you carefully state the terms of the project, for instance, how many revisions the customer is allowed or a rough outline of the information you need from the start, it can always be a backup if you have to contest someone who is being extremely difficult. Just keep in mind that you do not want to lose the customer. Be firm when you point out the information in the initial contract (preferably with a signature on it) but don’t use it to demean them or take significance away from their concerns. More often than not once they realized they are asking for things outside the contract they will back off a little.

Be Calm and Fair to the Customer

One big mistake people make is bringing up their issues when they are in the heat of the moment. Don’t put yourself in this situation! You are more likely to offend your customer or say something out of your own frustration that will do more to hurt them than help the situation. If someone else has dealt with the customer on the finer details (like an project manager or sales associate) ask him or her how to approach the situation with the customer. They might be able to handle it for you, especially if it’s interfering with other projects.

The best strategy is not to push it at first. If they need a change and you are sure it will make them happy go ahead and do it. The amount of time it takes you to do a few small edits here and there will be no match to making those same edits further along in your projects. The next time around when they want changes when the project has progressed more let them know that you want to work with them to get the site the way they like it but there is only so much time that can be spent on one area. Sometimes customers just want an idea of how things will look and offering visual references for how their changes will look from other examples could help them and save you time. You don’t want to scare them away by being too harsh but you need to let them know that it is affecting you and the flow of your project.

Don’t Get Discouraged By Rude Customers

There are always going to be a few customers that will get to you but working in Web Design and dealing with customers in any service field is going to get you a grab bag of people with different quirks. Knowing how to handle these situations with customers in a way that will leave them happy will save you a headache and get you more business in the end.

If you are reading this then you are probably like me and fall into the category of people who just love to create websites for your own personal use. It can be any number of things; from websites showcasing your love for other hobbies (This was where I usually shined putting together video game related websites) or you are just really into graphic work and enjoy integrating that into websites. Of course there are others, some do it just to make their MySpace and Livejournal pages a bit nicer, some do it to help friends and family out with setting up their own website. The bottom line is theses are people out there who just love creating website and working with HTML, graphics, PHP, etc. So why are they doing it for free?

Well that’s a good question. I imagine that years ago before I got my first real job as a web designer I probably said something like “I just do it for fun” or “I don’t think anyone would want to pay me to do it” and this is what I am hearing a lot of my fellow designers out there say when this question is posed to them. But in reality there are millions of people and businesses out there who are in need of talented designers with both your enthusiasm (I mean you have to have it if you spent so much time doing it for free!) and ability to make beautiful, functional, unique, and creative websites. Your knowledge base is enough to get employers and prospective customers interested in paying you to do websites for them.

But, like anything else, it’s not that simple. There are some steps you are going to need to follow before you can actually start putting your skills to use. Trust me though, it will all be worth it once you get that first paycheck.

1. Figure out your audience and create a portfolio that will appeal to them.

Of course you want your portfolio to show off your talents and its good to put your personal projects in there, but narrowing down who you want to target for customers (or firms you would like to work for) will help you have an extra advantage over others.

Do you want to design MySpace layouts and Wordpress themes for start-ups, musicians, and younger entrepreneurs? Do you want to work for a design firm that targets businesses? Do you want to help small business owners and entrepreneurs with their first website and company identities? Keep your audience in mind so that you can build an effective portfolio.

2. Build your portfolio

Put together a portfolio to show your best work off. The best thing to do is create a website with an online portfolio so that anyone can view your work at anytime without having to shuffle through emails and images. Avoid using free hosts that contain ads as they can be a nuisance and seem unprofessional. It would be a good idea to also add in your resume information directly on the site, especially when looking for freelance work online. (You should keep the information simple if you are adding it to a site; only include your Web Design related resume information.)

There are a vast number of types of customers out there and you will bet that they usually know what they want to see before they take a look at your work (especially design firms!) When I was searching for my first Web Design job I put in applications to multiple companies and after seeing my portfolio they always told me that my work wasn’t what they were looking for. It wasn’t until one courteous hiring manager finally shot me an email with some specifics telling me that my work was too “abstract” and “artistic” which wasn’t the style they put into their designs. Knowing that, I tweaked my portfolio and added in more professional style design that incorporated current design trends and was able to get a job shortly after.

Don’t interpret this as sacrificing form for function. They want to see your skills but they also need to know that you can deliver what they need on their team. It may sound dull at first but you can still be artistic and creative while working with a professional scheme.

3. Make sure your resume reflects your skill set

One huge mistake that people I speak with make is they limit their resume to the basics: the jobs they have had, the school they have gone through, and their references. Ok, this setup for the resume is alright but when you are a college student or if this is the first time you have ever attempted to get a professional web design job the resume will be pretty lack luster. Your best bet is to create a new section for your resume called to display your skill set.

This is exactly what it sounds like. A section in your resume where you list the skills you have acquired over your many years of doing web design as a hobby. HTML, XHTML, PHP, ASP, MySQL, etc. can all be put into this area. Programs are also very important, as you will find many companies will not hire you if you don’t know how to use their standard programs. Feel free to list Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Visual Studio, Visio, InDesign, etc. here also, but be careful not to go too overboard. If you need to know what’s crucial to put here check out online job listings as they usually have a list of things the applicants are expected to know. The most important part of this section is being honest because these skills will be a factor in you getting hired.

You have to remember you are trying to sell yourself to whoever is hiring you so you want to keep it short and sweet. Try and stick to one page for your resume, 2 pages if you have a cover letter. If you run out of room after attempting to list your skills, feel free to rewrite other sections to reflect only parts of your other jobs that will apply to working at a design firm (anything involving management, supervision, teamwork, collaboration, and customer service is always a plus, as well as computer usage on the job)

4. Time to do some footwork: finding that dream job

Maybe not quite dream job since you will (most likely) be starting at entry level.

Searching for jobs is getting easier and easier every day. People can post everything from one-time jobs to full-time work online and all you have to do to apply is shoot out an email or two and wait for a reply. Some of the websites I use are Monster, CareerBuilder, and the extremely popular Technology career website Dice. If you are a college student or live near a university they often have their own job listings for all kinds of jobs right on the college website.

CraigsList also offers a wide variety of job postings for web related work. If you want to try out doing freelance work there are web design listings under the ‘gigs’ category. You can also post your skills, portfolio, and email address to offer people your services and have them do the search for you. A good posting on CraigsList can be very lucrative but watch out for scammers who might screw you over and be careful of what information you give out. It’s best to use a somewhat anonymous payment gateway, like Paypal, instead of personal checks to avoid having them bounce on you.

You may want to limit yourself to applying for Entry-Level positions or those that don’t require too much outside your skill set and proficiency, but sometimes submitting applications to jobs that are a little above your skill level can get you noticed by the company in the future (this is where that cover letter comes in hand). It may take a while before you start getting interviews but if you have a good resume and a solid proposal it shouldn’t take long. This industry just keeps growing as the Internet becomes more and more of a staple for everyday life.

5. Keep yourself on top of new trends and technologies

Now you have that wonderful job that’s just building up your resume with delicious job experience. So now what? Your biggest concern should be avoiding falling into the rut (as I call it). What is the rut, you ask. The rut is the repetitive use of styles, languages, techniques, design elements, and color palettes that web designers with desk jobs can get into when they aren’t exercising their creative freedom.

Well isn’t that just my style? You are probably asking this question and I assure you there was a time when I asked it too. But even when it’s your ‘signature style’ or personal favorite, there is a point where you need to get a fresh, new perspective on it all. Eventually new things will become popular, different colors will start being used, and what your customers were once insisting were in their designs will look dated to them (or maybe even to you).

The best thing to do is take a look at what your fellow designers are doing. Websites like Best Web Gallery and The Best Designs can give you an idea of what your peers are doing creatively and professionally.

I’m guessing only a little….

It’s no big secret that the new MacBooks are stepping up to a whole new level graphically, but are they taking a big step backwards in the features that are important to their users? New design, updated nVidia graphics cards (that hopefully aren’t as buggy as their predecessors) and a more eco-friendly after taste will be received with mixed feelings with some of the pitfalls being so blatantly obvious from the first stills of the MacBook redux.

Right off the bat my first complaint is the style… which, in my opinion, it lacks. I get where they were coming from when they designed it and I can even hear the engineers at that fateful concept meeting (because I can only assume they were the ones decided on this) telling their designers to integrate the “timeless” look and feel of the aluminum case with the ever popular black elegance that people have been eating up since the release of the Black MacBooks. But, coming from a person who got turned on to Apple computers purely because of style, let me be the first to say that this redesign lacks it.

Ok, I will agree its not that bad and could be much worse, but clean design, stylishness, and taste were the reasons I started incorporating Apple into my electronic rotation and I feel like this one, although filled with delicious upgrades, does not live up to the same level of style displayed by its predecessors.

Of course my opinion would never kill the new notebook sales, but one thing that might be pushing prospective designers away is the new glass and extra glossy screen. Anyone who has tried to design on a laptop with an overhead light and a glossy screen will understand why this is a terrible addition (although very eco-friendly). Steve Job’s response to the complaints of a glossy screen was simply to “turn up the brightness”. I’m no fan of glossy screens and in my experience changing brightness is never a solution, especially when you are outside.

Though there is most likely a collective grunt being uttered out there by fans of the infamous “BlackBook” and others are joining my own complaints, we have to admit the new price point, green design and updated internals make this new group from Cupertino a little easier to swallow. There’s always a cheaper classic white MacBook or slightly updated 17-inch Pro model if you, like me, just can’t take the change.

Maybe all of the issues with the new screen will go away with a few third-party anti-glare screen protectors.