HTML and CSS - a continuation

We've been working on applying our base knowledge of html and css this week. I'm very excited to have built and posted a webpage.

http://www.mgardiner.x10.mx/portfolio/

I'm working on rebuilding a portfolio site and I will post that when it's ready.

The amazing power of LinkedIn

I think I've been on LinkedIn for about two years now.

This week, I was very excited to reconnect with an elementary school classmate who moved away--around Grade 5, if I remember correctly. After all these years, I thought it was pretty cool to reconnect. More importantly, I was able to hook him up with someone I know who can offer assistance to his new company that he's starting up.

That's the amazing power of LinkedIn!!

***

A while ago, I put an add-on from Behance on my LinkedIn profile which I think is a great feature. It's a handy on-line portfolio for creatives.

I've posted a new project:

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Calendar-2012/3107703

More to follow!

HTML and CSS

Next up in the program that I'm taking is Website Design which will include HTML and CSS.

I'm looking forward to these courses. I've had some exposure to HTML and CSS but I've always felt that it would be nice to have a proper class about them. 

No pressure, Matt! 

;-p

C# is pronounced, "C Sharp"

Recently, I've been learning C#, a programming language.

Once upon a time, I took Basic in high school. Now, maybe I'm dating myself, but a lot has changed since I took those classes! However, I do remember the satisfaction and the joy I would feel when my program would run, without errors.

The programs that I've been creating are far more impressive than those that I remember building back in high school -- and I've been pretty excited that they work!

I think my new home will be at:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/hh388566.aspx

online job search

Online searching is a big part of looking for a job in today's market.

Here's a list of websites that I use for the Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario region (listed by category):

Job search engines:
Career Jet http://www.careerjet.ca/
Indeed http://www.indeed.ca/
Beyond http://www.beyond.com/
Wow Jobs http://www.wowjobs.ca/
Eluta http://www.eluta.ca/
Career Builder http://www.careerbuilder.ca/CA/Default.aspx
Job Shoppe http://www.jobshoppe.ca
Twit Job Search http://www.twitjobsearch.com
Job Shouts http://jobshouts.com/

Government job banks:
Service Canada http://www.jobbank.gc.ca
Ontario Public Service Careers http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/
Federal Public Service Careers http://jest-orae.psc-cfp.gc.ca/JEST-ORAE/advsrch.do?lang=en

Job banks:
Local Work http://www.localwork.ca/

Waterloo Tech Jobs http://jobapp.waterlootechjobs.com

Workopolis http://www.workopolis.ca/
Kijiji http://kitchener.kijiji.ca/f-jobs-W0QQCatIdZ45
Job Shark http://www.jobshark.ca/
Job Serve http://www.jobserve.com
Monster http://jobsearch.monster.ca
RGD Ontario http://www.rgdontario.com
KW Job Shop http://kwjobshop.ca/
KW Careers http://www.kwcareers.ca
AG Careers http://agcareers.com/
Media Job Search Canada http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com
Masthead http://www.mastheadonline.com
Design Edge http://www.designedgecanada.com
Jeff Gaulin http://www.jeffgaulin.com
Creative Niche http://www.creativeniche.ca
Thingamajob http://www.thingamajob.com
My Career Fair http://www.mycareerfair.ca
Work in Culture http://www.workinculture.ca
Marketing Magazine http://www.marketingmag.ca/jobzone
The Working Centre http://www.theworkingcentre.org
Print Jobs http://www.printjobs.ca/
IT World Canada http://jobs.itworldcanada.com
All Star Jobs http://www.allstarjobs.ca/
Career Beacon http://www.careerbeacon.com
Startup North http://jobs.startupnorth.ca/
Job Boom http://www.jobboom.com/
Omni Jobs http://www.omni-jobs.com/powersearch.asp
How Design http://howdesign.com/joblist/
Dova Jobs http://www.dovajobs.com
Creative Hotlist http://www.creativehotlist.com
GoodWork Canada http://www.goodworkcanada.ca/

Job placement agencies:
Mandrake http://www.mandrake.ca/career_centre/AllJobs.asp
Dean Group http://kitchenerjobs.deangroup.ca
PMG http://www.pmg.on.ca/
The Burke Group http://www.theburkegroup.com/
Team Recruiter http://www.teamrecruiter.com/
Coda Consulting http://www.codaconsulting.ca/opportunities.html
Randstad http://www.randstad.ca
Conestoga Personnel http://www.conestogapersonnel.com/
Pure Staffing http://www.purestaffing.com/
Express Pros http://kitchener.expresspros.com
Wellington Partners http://www.wellingtonpartners.com
Winter Staffing http://www.winterstaffing.com
Premium HR Solutions http://www.premiumhrsolutions.com
Creative Group http://www.creativegroup.com
Robert Half http://www.roberthalf.ca

Good luck!

reflections of being a client

In addition to being a project coordinator in a marketing department, I have had the opportunity to be both a client, and a designer over the years. The things that I have learned are:


Internal processes will ease some stress and impress your client:

• Meeting Notes--as the designer, take notes and write them up afterwards to document what the client's wishes/expectations/needs are.
• Project Information Sheet--a quick overview of the client contact information, the business, general description of the project. I like to add ad specs, and corporate colours/fonts so that they're handy. Check out these resources from Smashing Magazine:
  http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/11/26/web-design-questionnaires-project-sheets-and-work-sheets/
• Detailed Project Questionnaire--ask questions... lots of questions. Start a document of questions that you ask. Here's a link to a list which is a great stepping stone for developing your questions if you're designing a logo for a client: http://www.thedesigncubicle.com/2009/07/20-questions-to-ask-clients-prior-to-designing-a-logo/
• Develop a Project Outline/Project Contract. In this, you can outline the scope of the project, functionality, cost, deadlines, when client-supplied materials are due, payment schedules and terms, and copyright details. http://speckyboy.com/2010/08/12/5-free-to-use-freelance-design-contract-templates/

Photoshop and Fireworks: workflow

During the past two weeks, I finished up my Photoshop course, and started learning about Adobe Fireworks.

What is Adobe Fireworks, you ask? Simply put--it's a tool for getting client approval on website design. I have found that it's challenging for clients to visualize a finished project and it's important to get buy-in from the client at an early stage to make sure the work is headed in the right direction. Even with a creative brief, a creative department can interpret the direction in a way that the client was not intending. It's also important to keep the project on schedule, and on budget while avoiding project creep.

For my own work flow for web design, I see Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Fireworks fitting in as follows:

1. Receive project direction or creative brief (http://elise.com/web/tools/creativebrief.html) from the client or project manager
2. Plan project schedule
3. Research
4. Develop mood board http://www.webdesignerdepot.com/2008/12/why-mood-boards-matter/z
5. Rough out ideas and concepts 
6. Map-out site architecture diagram
7. Wireframe in Adobe Fireworks--ensures that all the elements and behaviours are in place
8. Receive client approval on the mood board, the site architecture diagram, and the wireframe
9. Build a prototype in Adobe Fireworks to develop concepts that a client can see/approve, using Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator to develop graphics and images
10. Receive client approval before development begins 
11. Begin to build and code the website