I have been into web design and development for seven years now. But my forte has always been in designing. I have been involved in several web development projects that used PhP and MySQL. I agree that I’m not a programmer in terms of the development process, so I seek advices from PhP programmers and in the net but I have done several projects already that involved PhP and MySQL. With regards to tips in coding, I found the tutorials in the net good but it seems that I am not always able to apply in the PhP codes that I make. Although I have snippets from them applied in one way or the other. I had always wanted to learn more about PhP, ASP and even JSP that’s why I often do researches in the net.
With regards to web designing, I use more of Adobe Photoshop and some small applications that are free to download in the net. When it comes to rendering my ideas and applies my creativity in a particular design, I am more proficient using any tool combinations available. In terms of familiarity on the menu items or shall I say the “site map” of Photoshop, I rank myself average. It has always been easier for me and more familiar in the usages of tools than answering a question like, “What comes next after CROP under the IMAGE main menu item?” You see, I even opened my Photoshop before I finished the quoted sentence I mentioned.
Now, to the application. It’s a great thing that I have enough imagination and creative ideas in designing a website (well, that’s my decision, hehehe) but sometimes we go into being “blank”. What I do when these times come is get off my chair, walk a bit farther from my place, look out the window or even go out the building and try to look for something “inspirational”. What I always like to look at are on trees or plants that are present near my work (if there are). It really relieves me a lot. Sometimes also, getting a short nap or closing my eyes a few minutes will do. Also, I do visit other sites most especially those that provide tutorials on anything with regards to web design and development. There are lots of websites that you can go to in the internet for ideas. But of course, I warn you, don’t copy, and just get ideas. Well, I think there are websites that gave out free templates for designers (I haven’t tried one yet and I don’t want to do it). I believe that I can do better enough than getting all the way the design from free templates. And I feel that when I do that, I’m useless, I feel that I haven’t done anything. More posts for this category to follow….
Jefferson Danipog