Author
Design
Why web designers shouldn’t bother designing for the fold
If you’ve studied web design, you’ve probably heard at least one designer’s battle cry against “the fold.” And if you’ve delved into anything design-related… Read More
Design
5 sketching tips for web designers
Web design, as you know, is a highly creative process. And like many creative processes, it’s best begun with sketching – think old school pencil… Read More
Design
How to establish your web design style
Web design is creative work, and it’s a skill that you develop. Like anything that takes nothing and turns it into something, design work is… Read More
Business
7 things I wish I knew about freelancing before starting
Getting started as a freelancer isn’t all unicorns and rainbows, but it’s also not all lemons and red tape, either. When I began… Read More
Business
How much work is too much? (And how to survive it)
Have you ever been completely swamped with work, with no real way of getting it all done and maintaining your sanity? For some, this… Read More
Business
8 creative exercises to re-energize your brain
Web designers are, by nature, creative. And one of the facts of the creative life is creative fatigue. Whether it’s physical tiredness, boredom, a… Read More
Business
Avoid these 7 common freelancer mistakes
So you’re freelancing! Congratulations. There’s nothing quite like entrepreneurship, and you’re in for quite a ride. To make your entry into freelancing as easy… Read More
Business
What you need to start your freelance business
Thinking about going freelance? Maybe you’ve got visions of financial freedom, creative freedom, logical freedom, or something else dancing in your head. Or maybe… Read More
Business
Client referrals: your secret for success
When it comes to working as a service professional, whether you’re solo or not, the crux of your business is referrals. Realtors to financial… Read More
Business
Become a full-time freelancer
So you’re a web designer and you’ve been bit by the freelancing bug. It happens! It can be really exciting to think about life… Read More
Design
Is lettering a skill every designer should pursue?
While there are some things that pretty much every designer needs to learn, is hand lettering one of those things? The answer: it depends. Read More
Business
How to seal the deal with a new client
Whether you’re freelancing on your own or working with a larger organization, one thing you’ll need to be able to do if you’re going… Read More
Business
Consider a design apprenticeship
What do you think of when you hear the word “apprentice” or “apprenticeship”? Do you picture a medieval teenager (let’s face it — probably… Read More
Design
Overcoming design perfectionism
Perfect. It’s how we want our designs to be. It’s what we want to offer our clients. Perfection is, ultimately, what we’re after with… Read More
Business
Why you need a leave-behind
Ever heard of a leave-behind? It’s something graphic designers, photographers, artists, and advertisers have done for a long time, but the leave-behind is also… Read More
Business
Contracts 103: Copyrights, termination, and payment terms
Copyrights, ownership, termination, and payment terms are inextricably linked, as the first two are often transferred between parties utilizing the last two. When you’re in… Read More
Business
Contracts 102
You’ve got your contract template set up with the basics. Now it’s time to think about some of the issues that shift with each… Read More
Business
Contracts 101
Contracts really are the key to setting yourself — and your clients — up for success. Working through the contract-writing process gives both parties the… Read More
Business, WordPress
The pros and cons of pitching WordPress
Let’s say you’ve got a client who needs a website, and you’re putting together the pitch. You’ve listened to their needs, and you’ve got… Read More
Design
Here’s why you should launch that ecourse for designers
You’re a designer and a good one. You know your stuff, and clearly you’ve got knowledge to share. People come to you for advice… Read More
Business
What to do when your client disappears
Crickets… Not what you want in your inbox when you’re waiting to hear from a client. One minute, you were trucking productively along, the… Read More