Design projects update, freelancing and web theft
I haven’t been posting regularly, but unfortunately, that’s how it will probably be for a short while. I’ve been fairly busy with the usual things away from the web, like housework and learning to cook (as silly as it may sound!), and in my spare time, I’m designing and/or coding something.
I thought I would do a quicky on what has been happening on the design side of life for me. I recently finish www.soundslikerain.com. It’s a simple XHTML and CSS website for fellow photographer Kay Hulbert. My tasks included both the design and XHTML/CSS.
I recently did a mock/concept design for a mobile hairdresser. It was fun and very pink but that just seemed to work for the whole hairdresser thing. Have a peeky at My Mobile Hairdressing (at deviantART). I’m currently in the middle of coding it up, so I can sell it down the line sometime.
Other projects include turning my open source theme, The Garden, into a full blown WordPress theme. It will be widgetized and have in-theme options. Of course, there have been some slight adjustments from the open source template itself, though not too much different. The graphic in the top left hand corner (you can see in the open source demo) in the open source version has one of my old logos within the graphic. It has now been edited so there is no longer that “nb” but retains the garden-ness. So yes, I’ve already started the WordPress porting, but probably won’t be released until I get back to Australia.
Very shortly, in about a month to be more precise (when I get home), I will be putting myself out there officially as a freelance web and graphic designer. I have already thought of my target audience thoroughly. To start with, since it will only be part time, I will be targeting:
- Small businesses and individuals (especially artists) seeking a web presence
- Bands and musicians seeking a web presence
- Any of the above seeking a web “upgrade”
- WordPress users wanting unique and custom themes
I already have a few jobs lined up for when I return home, so I guess I’m on my way to something. I’ve never really tried to push or advertise my services at all, except for a small section on my about page. People have just approached me and wanted to know what I could do for them. Pretty good considering I’ve done little commission work so far.
Since I will be “going freelance”, I’ve been working hard on my new design. Yes, I’m redesigning again, though I do feel it’s neccessary. It will still be my blog, though will incorporate my portfolio and a few other things, which everyone can wait for when I launch it (again, after I get home).
Onto another, but similar, subject. Web theft. I was passing by ndesign-studio.com the other day and came across Stealing Trend in the blog.
So, what is the next web trend after the Web 2.0 trend? Steal.
It’s sad and disgusting to see, but as I posted in a comment, it’s something that can never and will never be stopped. It’s happened to me but I’ve let it slide, simply because there actually was nothing I could do about it.
And funnily enough, a day after reading the post, I was browsing through referrers to my website. One caught my attention and it was sad to see that there was a site that wanted to look somewhat like mine. But not much I can do. Shame too, I can’t seem to find the link, not that I could actually read the website.
Have you had any of these experiences? I’d love to hear them and what you did about it.
Sidenote: I’m now using my WordPress.com blog for other blogging topics (life etc).
Your work is looking awesome, as usual. :)
As for theft, I have not experienced it myself. However, my girlfriend’s artwork is constantly being stolen, some even go to the extent of claiming that my girlfriend is a fake. Of course this is not true, and she just has to contact site owners and hosts to have the content removed.
I know of a tool which supposedly tracks for exact copies of your sites, I haven’t found any yet so I can’t comment on it’s effectiveness, but hey, it’s worth a try! Copyscape
Thanks, Mike.
That’s shocking really. If that was happening to me, well, I’d be extremely upset. Being accused of being a fake isn’t very nice, I imagine. :(
I’ve checked out Copyscape, though as far as I can see, it just looks for copies of the actual content (text), as it shows MyBlogLog and Ziki for me, and they show my recent entries through the feed. So.
Ah, I was wondering about that. Oh well, still handy for checking for stolen content, and it has given me an interesting idea…
It is handy, definitely. An interesting idea eh?….
Stealing :(
Well best of luck with the cooking :P its fun isnt it :giggle:
I cant wait to see this new design :drools:
@Kym: Oh yeah, it is quite fun. We’re cooking a roast chicken today hehehe
I think you’ll like the new design =D
Hi Nyssa,
How are you doing? Just got back from Turkey.
I checked out the new design on this website and the work you did for your photographer friend. They both are great. I really like the little side tabs on soundslikerain.com.
I also really love the look of your website, it’s got green and blue, two of my favorite colors :-)
I’ll pump back some life into web and the city pretty soon, I hope to see you there.
Cheers,
Stéphanie
Stéphanie, I’m doing well. Good to have you around again ;)
Glad you like the design here. Too bad I will be changing it (for the better of course!).
Can’t wait to see a kick of life back in watc :)
Your work is awesome. I can’t wait until your “out there” to do design work. I would love to have you design my site. :)
Thanks Jenny. Subscribe to my feed to see when I get “out there” officially ;)