Archive for the ‘diatribes’ Category
Well, it’s been a long, long, long time in the making, but I’ve finally updated my portfolio a teeny little bit (not too much to be overwhelming, of course!) There’s this portrait of my gorgeous little sister:
and a “new” website (that was completed months ago). I really don’t like updating my own website!
But I’m determined that it’s about time to do it, especially given that I’m about to move again, and that means that my address as listed on the website will be even more wrong than it is currently. (Sure, in theory it only takes two minutes to change it, but that’s not how I work…if I’m going to spend two minutes, I’m going to be there three hours trying to fix all the little things.) At any rate, all the little things have really added up, and it’s time for some major-ish rearranging. (continue »)
Tags: productivity, projects, websites
Posted in diatribes, site updates | No Comments »
I have a terrible tendency to throw what I refer to as “all night work parties”, which usually end up comprising about two and a half days straight of me staring into my laptop, clacking away and forgetting to sleep or come up for air. They’re admittedly not the most glaringly healthy way of getting things done, but I do tend to be the sort of person who works in spurts, and when the fever comes over me, I often like to run with it. (I actually experimented with a “normal” schedule, wherein I slept at least a little bit every single night for a month straight. It was interesting, and I may try it again at some point…but not just now.)
So a few weeks ago, I was crashing at the tail end of a work party, and ended up falling asleep next to my laptop, gigantic glass of water in hand. Yes, you know where this is headed. A few hours later, I woke up spilling said gigantic glass of water all over myself and my poor laptop. (Lovely way to wake up, might I add.) Naturally, I panicked. There was much cursing and wailing (me) and sparking and crackling (the machine) as I tried to figure out what on earth to do. It wouldn’t turn off, and it took my sleep-addled brain a good five minutes to figure out that removing the battery would do the trick. The poor thing was soaked, and ruined. I was in a similar state. That machine was, in effect, the entirety of my business assets, and the tool by which I can earn my living, and it had just crackled out and died on me. (continue »)
Tags: backups, business
Posted in diatribes | 2 Comments »
So since I no longer have internet at home, I’ve become a bit of a connoisseur of free wi-fi zones, alternately known as “a vagabond with an expensive laptop”. I usually tend to alternate between the library, a few coffee shops, and the train station, and I have specific guidelines about what makes for a good place: it should be relatively quiet & empty, it should have lots of power outlets that people don’t mind me plugging into, and the people shouldn’t get cross with me when I’m there for eight hours and only buy a coffee. (Though admittedly, I try to buy a coffee at least every three or four hours, as I’m sure it counts as a utility expense.) (continue »)
Tags: business, client relations
Posted in diatribes | No Comments »
I was recently contacted by a design student at Loyalist College looking to interview a designer for an essay she’s writing. Ego-bloat aside, I do really like it when young(er), just-starting-out designers ask me for a “worldly” view of the industry. (Amazingly, it’s happened more than once!) (continue »)
Tags: career, design, education, industry, interview
Posted in design, diatribes | No Comments »
My job is not stress-free!
I am pretty much a constant bundle of stress. And while I realize your article is more of an advertorial than anything, I still have to disagree. (continue »)
Tags: business, design, stress
Posted in design, diatribes, zen | No Comments »
The last few months have brought about a lot of personal madness. Design work, as I’m discovering, isn’t as accomodating towards mental chaos as other forms of artistic expression are, thus I’ve let things stagnate. Why don’t humans hibernate in the winter? Nothing would make me happier than eating a lot and sleeping through the blizzards, ice rain, and cold winds that give me constant headaches.
My Grande Olde New Years’ Resolution is to spend less time organizing the 4829 songs on my hard drive and more time doing actual design work.
(continue »)
Tags: design, projects, stress
Posted in design, diatribes, zen | No Comments »
RSS Feeds: