Published on July 2, 2009 / Finance
As a freelance web designer, a consistent stream of incoming work is not always present. Saving money for times of drought and keeping studio expenses to a minimum becomes increasingly imperative.
Given the state of the economy, it is important to recognize the declining value of the United States dollar. Without getting deep into this topic, note the 97% drop in dollar value over the past century. With numerous causes for inflation transpiring, including bailouts, government “stimulus”, and foreign spending, one can only expect a greater loss of purchasing power in the near future. So what specific steps can a web designer take to plan for continuous currency devaluation? The three strategies below can help cut costs in the long-term without sacrificing the level of work and service delivered to clients.
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Published on June 8, 2009 / News
The current economic downturn has impacted and depleted countless positions of employment, including web designers and developers. Mainstream media sources and the government often point the finger at capitalism as the culprit and big government regulation as the solution. So let’s look at the US economy as it would exist in the form of web browsers, using Internet Explorer and Firefox as optional economic scenarios.
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Published on March 25, 2009 / Freelance
A project proposal documents the working relationship between client and designer. It is a contract providing the client with a clear understanding of the scope and cost of work to be done, while protecting the rights of the designer. Below are some sections I’ve chosen to include in a project proposal.
Summary of Work
This statement introduces the proposal to a client and briefly describes the contents of the document.
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Published on March 14, 2009 / Client Resources
Choosing a web designer can be a difficult process, especially for a client with a limited technical understanding. This guide outlines five essentials for a client to look for before settling on a web designer.
Essential 1 / Solid showcase of past work
A detail-driven portfolio gives an idea of the caliber of work a designer is capable of delivering. Be cautious of template designs and ensure that the designer has examples of custom work designed specifically for clients.
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Published on February 24, 2009 / Web Design
I like the idea of breaking things down and building from the ground up. So I designed a new layout, and took on the task of converting my portfolio to WordPress and created a custom theme from scratch.
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