When you come across posts and articles teaching web design the focus is usually on how to do one specific thing. A tutorial on creating an effect in Photoshop or a tutorial on how some specific css property works.

These posts are often helpful and I learn from many of them myself. However you usually don’t find a lot of good articles on the abstract concepts that drive a design and combine the various parts into a unique and successful whole.

Hopefully this post will help you with a few higher level thoughts and ideas behind creating a design for your site.
Continue reading →

You’ve heard the term, but do you know what microformats are? Do you know how to use them or even why you should?

Microformats are relatively easy to use. In fact if you can code a web page you already have the skills. The goal of this post is to introduce you to the what, how, and why of microformats and point you in the right direction so you can begin using them where appropriate.
Continue reading →

One of the questions I get asked a lot is how you get started as a freelance web designer. Many designers will tell you that word of mouth is their best source of new clients, but you need to have some clients to get the word of mouth going. How do you land your first few clients to start the ball rolling?
Continue reading →