I am a web designer/developer. I need a reliable host. About 6 months ago I got fed up with my old host because of the excessive down-time I was experiencing. So I decided to look around.

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They only have 1 price. It’s not the cheapest plan, but I thought the added value was definitely worth it. Give it a try.

I recently completed my typography course here at school as I am working on B.S. in Information Systems. The most valuable thing I can remember from my course is the idea of having a concept. Having a concept before you start sketching, before you think the layout, or the colors, or the fonts.

Why a concept?

A concept gives a designer a vision to work with. A theme to follow. A goal to aim towards. It is the subconscious end that will(should) guide all of your decisions. If your concept is “A rainy day”, you will font that expresses that. You might choose blue as your main color. You might choose a layout or certain effects that make you think of sadness and rain. Suddenly you find yourself having ideas based on this concept, and you have a definite direction to go towards. If you have new ideas, you can always compare them to the concept, and see if it fits.

Your concept will guide and inspire the sketching process. You won’t choose blue because you like blue, or a 1 column layout because you like it, but because it fits with your concept. Suddenly, you have a completed piece, with it’s fitting parts that make up that piece. Not just different parts that are trying to fit like puzzle pieces that don’t belong together. The difference is immediately apparent and powerful.

How do you get a concept?

If happen to be designing a page about an artist, you need need to research that artist. Write down words that come to mind. Words like powerful, dressing, provocative, words that are descriptive. I have found time and again, that I will write these words down, until the words cause images to flash in my head. Images of possible designs. I then sketch these images on paper, and explore those options if I like them. If I don’t I keep going on with my concept.

Once I have my concept, I should try to stick with it as much as I can. The finished piece will be better if I do, because each part will have a sense of belonging. It will feel like it is adding to the piece by being there. Not just there as decoration, or as a crutch, but because it helps express the overall theme or emotion of the piece.

My newest pet peeve: Blogs that don’t allow you to comment.

It’s human nature to need interaction in a time of ever decreasing social abilities.

I enjoy reading blogs. I enjoy reading the comments that go back and forth. I enjoy reading about Design and other teachnical stuff.

Two blogs I have started reading regularly have sparked this: Northtemple and I hereby Decree.

Both are very much worth my time. Oftentimes I have questions. I don’t understand what’s being referred to. Or, I feel strongly on the subject. Let me talk to you. Let me give my opinion. Let me interact with you. Let me be human. So please, give me a voice. Allow commenting, and I promise, I will comment.

As as UI designer I am in a field where I am constantly trying to find new solution to existing problems. These are problems that other people either don’t even think about fixing, or they think it’s too hard, so they don’t bother.

Frequently when I ask somebody if Task A “can be done”, I get the typical ” No, that can’t be done.” or “I would require a LOT of work”. Well, here’s my declaration to the world:” People who say it can’t be done are usually dead wrong“.

I can’t even count the times an “expert” has told me something can’t be done, and (oftentimes) with just a little research I figured a way to do, what “couldn’t be done”. So here’s to you. Don’t take no for an answer. Ask why it can’t be done, and then try to solve that hindrance. You will have amazing results.

Please, leave me a comment and tell me how you feel about this.

I just updated my Wordpress version. Some of my “custom” styles went whacky. I apologize if the blog doesn’t look like it should. I will fix it later today or tomorrow have now fixed it. Everything should be back to normal