Whether you are a web designer or developer I can’t stress how important it is to check, double check and then re check again. As a designer it’s important to be paranoid about the work going out for publishing. After all one mistake and it’s your reputation that could be on the line. I have to admit I have made a few mistakes in my career due to my carelessness. However it is important to learn from these mistakes rather than make them again. After all making the same mistake twice is liable to get you fired.
As an example to avoid uploading a pricing page to the company website, I have come up with a checklist (as with most things I do) to make sure I don’t upload the wrong page or upload a page where a dealer / importer could change the prices. A typical checklist could look like this:
After receiving excel file – check naming convention
Page setup – print to one page only
Protect excel file sheet
Save as – naming convention + date
Upload to websites media library – publish
Link pricing page to website
Seek out manager to check if satisfactory
Although it’s only a small job, if gotten wrong it could potentially cost the company thousands of dollars. It’s developing checklist like these that help avoid mistakes. The idea is to gain as much control as possible over the project or task. If I know what is happening or where it could go wrong and if it does I know where to look back.
They are time consuming but once understood can save you time on costly mistakes.
It’s an interesting question, since sometimes I don’t know what motivates me to get up in the morning. It use to be learning something new. Now it’s developing a portfolio for future employers or to start my business.
This video explains what can motivate us into doing a good job. I do agree with some points, since I tend to think if I didn’t have to work I could a lot done. If you have a spare 10 minutes it’s definitely worth a watch, and it’s entertaining too!
We need more designers that understand the web and can push it forward. Design is no longer about applying the corporate color palette and making it look pretty. There’s a growing need for designers to take the lead in shaping the way we get information. Designers need to realize the role the Internet will play ten years from now, and trying to jump on it then will be much harder than starting now.
The SALA festival is happening again during August. SALA week is a great time to gain inspiration, and to see what other designers as well as artist are up to. There are some great exhibitions on during this time and here is a small list of what caught my eye from the program:
Pros & Cons – The Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) has issued a unique challenge to it’s members, an open brief with no limitations – take a pair of blank Converse® high tops and turn them into a work of art. 30 Professional Graphic Designers 30 Pairs of Converse® 30 Unique creations Far from a straight-laced show, this is an exhibition that explores the very sole of creativity. @ Pipsneak 90 Glen Osmond Road
Adelaide, Athens of the South: I’ll Have It In Polychrome Thanks – Dazzling digitally enhanced colour images of Adelaide’s historic buildings and public art. Colourful, dramatic, different, exciting and enigmatic. ‘Classical’ Adelaide as you’ve never imagined. @ Koppamurra Gallery 32 Unley Rd, Unley, SA, 5061
Monsters – An exhibition of current watercolours @ Mushroom Boutique 2 Elizabeth St Croydon SA 5008
Juxtapose – A fine selection of established artists demonstrating ultimate depth and quality in Nude Photography & Abstract Paintings for a visual experience. @ Juxtapose Studios 6 Cinema Place, Adelaide SA 5000
In Transition – People commute everyday in order to reach their destination. Many mediums are used in their travels. Capturing these means are the basis of this exhibition. @ Wasabi 248 The Parade Norwood 5067
Fantastic Grotesque – Fantastic and imaginary; printmaking and bronzes populated with curious and fantastic creatures, actual and bizarre plant forms, costumed figures, and symbols of chance, death and renewal. @ Adelaide Central Gallery 45 Osmond Terrace, Norwood SA 5067
Next week I will be heading over to Melbourne for a day to see the Tim Burton exhibition. I’ll be sure to post a review as well as photos from my trip.
MASH Design studio in Adelaide are looking for an intern. This could be the opportunity of a lifetime for a lucky design graduate. From their website:
“please be aware of the consequences and that mash is not your regular studio. The position is normally 3-6 months and interns are paid for their contribution depending on the candidates experience and skill set. The concept is an exchange of ideas and skills, where you will work on day to day Mash projects. Applications for the position are to be made to hola@mashdesign.com.au – it is very crucial to look at our portfolio and make sure your work is in line with what we do, if it is then please send us a small selection of your best work”
Lately I’ve been reading on cognitive bias due to further research into “intuition”. I came across a recent study called “The Dunning Kruger Effect”
The Dunning Kruger Effect is described as overconfidence in unskilled people of their abilities to perform above and beyond what they can do. This allows incompetent people rate their skills much higher than their competent counterparts.
What is interesting about The Dunning Kruger Effect, the people with the competent skill set rate their skills lower than average.
The Dunning Kruger Effect in essence is:
Incompetent individuals who overestimate their level of skill
Incompetent individuals who fail to recognise skills in others
Incompetent individuals who fail to recognise their own inadequacy
It has been proven if these individuals are trained they do adjust their skills sets accordingly. Where they once thought they were 10 / 10 , they would now think they are a 6 /10 with training.
In the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt- Bertand Russell
After reading about The Dunning Kruger Effect I could see points in my own life where it had effect me. Before tertiary education I was over confident in my abilites, now even at work I second guess everything.
I think everyone, in any work place or tertiary institute has come across The Dunning Kruger Effect.
A link to the science show article on The Dunning Kruger Effect:
One of my favourite you tube channels happens to be ROCKET BOOM! This latest video from ROCKET BOOM! talks about the Intel products in development or ready for market. Some of the applications are very interesting but I felt Wendy March who presented the project “Sense” understood her demographic perfectly with social media (Think Twitter, Flickr, Facebook, Myspace, etc). People would rather have their privacy compromised than look boring to other people.
I find this techonolgy really interesting and I’m excited for the future of technology.
I have to say I’m not a brand name fan but rather a technology fan. Which probably makes it a little bit harder for companies to sell to me but I’m sure they manage to do it anyway. Currently I have 14 – 16 different devices networked in my house.
As a web designer, I constantly ask myself will I break the archetype or not? Is there a need for something new? Despite what the above clip is saying there is some comfort in staying within the archetype.
What is an Archetype?
Although I say the word archetype what does it actually mean? Archetypes are found throughout society. As an example a chair;
The chair on the left conforms to what we as a society consider to be an archetype. While the chair on the right breaks the archetype.
An archetype refers to an underlying theme and pattern which has been hard wired in the brain over years. Chairs thoughout all cultures look similar, as do tables.
Archetypes can be found in every culture around the world. As an example Hungry Jacks are aligning themselves with the blue collar worker archetype. In commericals Hungry Jacks shows a blue collar worker eating their products, typically on the work site.
As a designer, the question about aligning your design with the archetype comes into place. If you align with the archetype your design may have more success, but you would not be creating something new. Going against the archetype you could create something new but your design may not be commerically successful.
