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So, this is kind of... seeking mentorship? Advice? Feedback? I'm not even entirely sure what. Basically doing styles work for Dreamwidth has rekindled my enjoyment of doing design work, which kind of got buried under university for a number of years there. And I've been having a hell of a time finding any kind of job, and know already I don't mind working to spec (a few of my DW designs have been like that, actually) or working with other people's code. I also know I'm good at fluid design and CSS.
The problem is that I have no sense of how 'good' my work is. I mean, I've been doing this for over a decade, but most of the old stuff is dreadfully mired in fandom trends popular in the mid-2000s. I'm also not a graphic designer - I will spare you all the second-hand embarassment of my drawing attempts at the moment, but suffice to say original art past simple vector designs are right out. And, well, I also have no idea how to start this.
Help?
The problem is that I have no sense of how 'good' my work is. I mean, I've been doing this for over a decade, but most of the old stuff is dreadfully mired in fandom trends popular in the mid-2000s. I'm also not a graphic designer - I will spare you all the second-hand embarassment of my drawing attempts at the moment, but suffice to say original art past simple vector designs are right out. And, well, I also have no idea how to start this.
Help?
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This is Luna, btw
Date: 2012-09-26 01:22 am (UTC)From:Another good thing is to go out and there and look at other people doing the same thing as you. Search for design firms or online portfolios and explore. And just because you can't draw doesn't mean you aren't a graphic designer.
I would start here, and, if you can, find some professionals and request 'portfolio' reviews nicely in an email. Some may not reply, but some might be nice enough to critique and give you help - and honestly, they should. That's part of being in the design community, right?
These are a lot of processes I'm doing right now as I near graduation, so I think they can work for you too. You can also try finding design events in your area and attend them, making connections and such. AIGA is very good for this, if you're part of that, though I know there are other groups out there.
*g*
Date: 2012-09-26 01:32 am (UTC)From:Re: *g*
Date: 2012-09-26 02:45 am (UTC)From:Re: *g*
Date: 2012-09-26 03:27 am (UTC)From:Replication is almost a no-brainer for me, though - I actually cleanroom-replicated (ie, never looked at the original code) an LJ layout as my first DW layout.
Re: *g*
Date: 2012-09-26 03:38 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-09-26 02:34 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-09-26 02:46 am (UTC)From:Wordpress I keep meaning to poke at and then I get distracted by all the other things I have half-started.
no subject
Date: 2012-09-30 08:16 am (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2012-09-30 09:06 am (UTC)From:And I happily have O'Reilly's 'Learning Javascript' and 'jQuery Cookbook' care of cashing in on my dev perks ;)