Hello World

I started my design career in 1997 as a deluded, self-taught ignoramus, armed with a stolen copy of photoshop and a rented computer. Once I had mastered the art of seamlessly superimposing my own head on to the bodies of porn stars I figured I was ready for the big time. I am a designer! Hear me roar!

"What the hell is CMYK?", "Why do my brilliant designs looked crappy when they're printed?". I once drove a few hours to the big city to get some CD artwork printed. I was so proud of my bevels and glows! Upon arrival at the printer, I was informed that there was no way they could print the artwork. This was when I learned what DPI was.

In 1998, armed with my stolen photoshop and a legit copy of Frontpage (legit frontpage? is that an oxymoron?) I launched my first website. You can still see the wreckage over at archive.org.

I screwed up a lot in those first couple of years, as I guess most self-taught hacks do. But I loved it! The move from print to web eliminated some of the headaches I'd experienced. Bleeds? Bah! High Resolution? Bah! As a Trekkie the Internet also satisfies some of my futuristic geek fantasies. Today Firefox, tomorrow Lcars.

Most importantly, the shift to web based design gave me the foundation I needed to go forth and get a job. This was when I really learned the ins and outs of the web.

My First Job

I spent five years working at an advertising agency, Bush branding & marketing. Talk about getting thrown in the deep end. I can remember one of my first days, I had no idea how to delegate a domain. DNS? huh? I was lucky to get that job with such a limited understanding of the web.

During my time at Bush I moved from a design focus to being very much tech oriented. I don't know how many web applications I've worked on in that time. From Content management systems, e-commerce, mailing lists, forums, and on and on. Install, test (play), delete, repeat. I love web applications and I'm particularly fond of Open Source and the brilliant community that revolves around it.

Working with Greg Cromwell, an advertising guy, it was inevitable I would get neck deep into SEO and online advertising. I never thought keyword research could be so much fun! Seriously I love it. I wouldn't call myself a SEO in the strict sense - I can do without the tail chasing. Everytime Google tweaks their algorithm the "professional" SEOs have a fit and scramble to update their projects. Black hat, white hat, link farming, whatever! In the end content is king! Keep it relevant, keep it fresh.

While at Bush, we developed (and acquired) our own small network of travel websites. They were content/advertising driven and quite specific to the region we were based in ie. Byron Bay and Northern, NSW Australia. Our main site Bayweb held a special place in my heart and I spent a lot of time on the site, particularly on the messageboard interacting with locals and visitors to our area.

Moving On

Our tourism sites were eventually acquired by a bigger fish. I went on to work with the new owners, Byronbay.com and Travel Promote. The work there was interesting, if a little repetitive. Each travel destination website was also a reminder that there was life outside Byron Bay.

I enjoyed working with the two Ricks. They share a similar obsession with all things Internet as I do. We had many energised discussions about emerging technology and online developments. In that office the air was always heavy with geekery. It must have been so boring for the non-tech folks that worked there.

I eventually moved on from that job and moved back into freelancing. I'd taken a nip or two from the travel bug and in 2007 I packed up my laptop and spent three months in India. Working from India proved somewhat unproductive. Between the electricity blackouts and bouts of "Delhi belly" I didn't get much work done.

Who Moved the Goal Posts?

On returning from India I took some time to take stock, looking back on where I'd come from and where I was heading. I've had to face some truths about life here in "the bubble".

Regional clients generally have low budgets and unrealistic expectations borne out of a limited understanding of the technology. This can spell doom for smalltime web designers (like yours truly) who hope to maintain a strong business in rural Australia.

It's easy for small business owners to go out and DIY themselves a website, albeit often with amateurish results. Seriously, for $200 you can go out and buy a design template, domain name, and hosting. Sorted. Ultimately, web design is not the black art it used to be.

Where To From Here Then Mister Grey Skies?

I love the Internet and working on web projects - no question. I've got hundreds of projects behind me and I'm excited at the prospect of working on hundreds more. There's so much cool stuff happening out there on the web and I'd like to get a bit closer to the action. I need to find some bigger challenges, forward thinking clients, peers!

So I'm off to the big smoke (Melbourne) to find something to sink my teeth into. I don't know what form that will take and the mystery is as exciting as it is frightening.

Wish me luck.