I am now a self-employed web designer! The time felt right to leave my part time job in a printing company to set up on my own. I was working so many hours before, that it began to affect my health. I was unhappy and realised that if I actually got any business I wouldn't have the time to do the work! So being a determined and focused person I decided to just go for it!
I like the freedom and independence of working for myself. It sounds very cliché but that really is what drives me - the power to make my own decisions
I dislike too many commitments, being tied down, people who abuse their power, hidden agendas, monotany and most of all I hate fish!!!
2. Which area of the graphics industry suits me?
Web design is definitely my forte. I love reading up and learning things about the specialism eg web hosting and search engine optimisation. I am becoming more confident in the graphics side with the completion and satisfaction of a logo for the company called Drivespeed PLC. I'm also extremely happy with the design of my own website and corporate branding. The technology and coding that went into the new website took so long to learn but it was also very rewarding when it did what I wanted!
3. What research have I undertaken?
I have read up on:
- Search engine optimisation and Google Adwords marketing
- Marketing (for Personal Project 5)
- "Elastic" design in CSS (allowing website to be scalable and therefore accessible)
- Accessibility (for Graphic Design in Context module)
- Interview with Pivotel Web in Brighouse
4. Where did I visit as part of my research?
The majority of my research has been done on the internet since this is the main part of my business. I have been to see Phil Hatfield of Pivotel Web in person, in his new office in Brighouse. It was good to be taken seriously as a web designer in my own right and to discuss the pitfalls and highlights of running a successful business.
5. What did I learn from my research?
This course has brought about the biggest learning curve for me that I think I have ever experienced! Initially the Graphic Design in Context brief made me realise just how important accessibility is as an issue for web designers. Previously I'd just given it no thought whatsoever! The majority of my research and development has stemmed from this one project. I have taught myself "Elastic" design which enables the websites I build to scale up or down according to whatever text size the user selects. It also preserves the design and keeps it looking the same regardless. Another bonus is that it looks virtually identical in other browsers - something that I have been bugged about for years!
After being asked by a previous customer to "get his site to the top of Google", I have dedicated a lot of my time and effort into learning all about search engine optimisation. I studied an "SEO for dummies" book until it made sense to me and I did manage to do what he asked! I'm currently working on getting my own website as high up in Google as possible. I recently spoke to a customer whose website I built a couple of months ago and she said that someone found her on Google and was very happy and impressed
6. What skills do I need in my career?
- Patience (when waiting for money to come in!)
- Self belief (that this business will work)
- Strength of character
- Sales skills (not a natural talent!)
- Good rapport building skills
- Organisation (for keeping the accounts and enquiries up to date)
- Time management skills so customers get their work done on time, and prompt when visiting clients
- Technical skills in computers, coding, software and the internet
- Attention to detail (especially with coding - the slightest mistake and take hours to find)
- Maths and excel formula knowledge (for the accounts)
- Driving! So can go and see clients
7. What project will I undertake for the Personal Project 6 module?
I already have the project which is Stepping Stones Day Nursery. This is a revamp of the existing website which does not bring the brand together. Currently the website has scanned PDF files on which are very bland and the client has to do all the updates manually through Adobe Contribute. As he is not particularly computer literate this is more of a bind and therefore has bits missing and also contains outdated information. This makes the company look unprofessional and disorganised. I aim to make the website lively and exciting to look at and at the same time engaging with up to date information
8. What project will I undertake for Final Project?
All three of us in the final year of the degree course have come together to devise a project where we can all work together. It has been difficult to think of one thing large enough that has enough scope for us all to hit the module criteria. We have decided to design various things for Gavin's daughter's band Fragment of Imagination. The name may be changing too. I will design the website as long as it doesn't become too cliché
9. How will new technical skills help me in the design industry?
For the final project I will learn more about Flash and how much it is still used in the industry or if there is an accessible alternative. This will be extremely useful and quite a challenge to see if I can come up with something that still sits with my corporate mission to keep things simple yet eyecatching. I will also look into the use of AJAX which I think is user friendly Javascript. I would prefer to use Flash however as there will be more design involved than coding. Using Flash will also broaden my repertoire and help me appeal to both the younger age groups with trendy websites and older age groups with my existing skills
10. Where will I find a real design job to use in the last Personal Project 6 module?
I found the Stepping Stones project whilst in Halifax. My son used to go to the nursery so I know the manager. I told him all about what I was doing and said if he needed any web design or graphic design work then I could help. He approached me on a graphic design basis to see if I could redesign the PDFs which could be loaded up onto his website. I however quoted him for a website instead as I felt it didn't do a very good job for him as it is now
11. How will I approach finding work after finishing the course?
I aim to start some marketing at the beginning of the new year which I will continue when I finish the course. I'll target small local businesses from the internet and Thomson & Yellow Pages. I plan on targeting types of companies in sectors eg solicitors, then mortgage advisers etc so I can see which yields the most response. For this marketing I will send the leaflet I've recently had printed along with a personalised letter (my business account manager's recommendation I do this). Once I use up all my business cards I will get the degree initials added onto my name, as hopefully this will give me added credibility.
I have already passed on business cards and leaflets to a recruitment manager (she found me a part time position after I was made redundant). She said she meets with companies all the time and goes to conferences & exhibitions etc. She is going to take my marketing materials and recommend me which is fantastic. I've also put cards and leaflets in Brighouse Computers who I use for web site hosting services.
I will contact Business Link and see if there's anyway they can recommend me. I think it's unlikely they will but it's worth asking. Maybe they can add me to a list of recommended people if they have such a thing. I've been to see a man there twice so I'll see if I can get an appointment with the same person as he was very helpful in the past. I think it will give me extra clout if I have my degree so I'll wait until I've finished this course.
12. What new skills will I develop after leaving the course?
I want to learn how to code an e-commerce website using PHP and MySQL, so I will teach myself once I've finished this course as I'll have more time. If I don't receive an order for an e-commerce site in the meantime I'll rebuild the Inspired Card & Gift website so it's accessible, scalable and contains my own shopping cart system. As I'm part of the company I can take as long as I need to build it and I can test out lots of different options! I'll also develop more technical programming skills like PHP, Java, Ajax and Javascript so I don't need to outsource any complex websites to other developers. Having to outsource would obviously cut my profits substantially which I don't want to do at this early stage of the business.
Christine (Inspired Card & Gifts) said she would spend some time with me on Sales techniques which will be invaluable to my business. Sales and marketing are the two skills/activities that will progress my company forward. She has a very comprehensive background in Sales, and she is very good at it, so I welcome that essential training
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