From this week we are going to be commenting on the ongoing projects, which I think is a good idea. It may open people up to talking about their thoughts and feelings about how things are going.
The 1 challenge maybe not to drone on and keep it interesting, after all there are other things, some of us, would like to say!
The CiSSy Project
The CiSSy project is not going as well as I would have liked at the moment. I need to generate some more layout ideas, and quickly. I part of the reason I have become side tracked is because of the responsibility of being a project manager, though as a manager, I will have to learn to 'juggle' tasks.
There is a little re-writing of the web plan to do also, I feel the base is okay but there needs to be some substance to it. The 'delivery requirements' is a particular concern. I think currently the plan lacks defined information, regarding the technologies involved in the production of the CiSSy site.
I intend to put this right by Sunday 3rd December though.
The iMe Project
The web plan is again my main concern with this project, and also the delivery requirements again. Similar reasons to the 'CiSSy' project really.
But enough web plan misery, I am actually quite happy at where I am at with regards to layout and site design. I feel I have come up with some decent ideas but I need to get some feedback on them, this of course is 'EVIDENCE', I emphasise this because it helped me to get a 'merit' in the 'culture vulture' project.
I want to get into the production of the 'iMe' site as soon as possible really, I think with the other projects we have on going it would be a good idea to get a site up and running before the 19th Dec deadline. It may ease the pain later!
The 'On the Job' Project
Well as I stated in the previous blog, I am actually quite enjoying the responsibility, in a weird way, of being Project Manager. It has its challenges such as making sure the team produces what they should, when they should, but I think they are doing me proud at the moment. Keep it up 'me Daves'!
It has been interesting to meet a client and have to take down all the information, then relay it to the team. There have been a few meetings already and I do not mind them, but it does mean I have to sacrifice some of the other more creative tasks.
I hope by next week our team will have in place a full web plan, rough designs and digital designs. My Gantt chart says we start production on Monday the 4th Dec, so if the Gantt chart says so, it shall be!!
Peak of the Week!
Yes it's back!!
Well I would say my peak has been getting the 'merit' (though technically that should have been last weeks peak) but I also got a nice letter from the college this week, it informs me that I have been received an award for 'best interactive media' student.
I will have to attend a ceremony to receive my prize, which makes me nervous, but it made me very proud to be nominated. It made my day! So two peaks then, just how I like it! Hopefully lots more to come.
Aims
1. To have our team where I want us to be, i.e web plan, rough designs, digital designs done, ready for production on Monday.
2. To have CiSSy web plan finished for Sunday this week.
3. To have iMe web plan finished for Sunday this week.
Just the 2 aims, but big ones. If I can get these aims done, I will be a happy student next week.
Thanks for reading, and as usual, FEEDBACK PLEASE, talk to me people!!
Mark
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Team Leader, Good or Bad?
My 1st week as Team Leader / Project Manager, and what a week!
It feels as though we have a lot to do work wise at the moment, not just with the 'On the Job' project but with the 'CiSSy' and 'iME' projects too, the problem being the juggling of work.
I do not want to get my team doing too much so that they fall behind with other projects, but I also want us to do a good job. I think we can achieve better than a 'pass'.
I feel it is going okay, this team leader business, though a little stressful, I think there may be a need for a bit 'quiet time' to collect my thoughts and organise myself. I am trying to be fair with tasks delegated but I feel as though I am bogging myself down a little. Maybe more delegation is required!
I do not seem to mind the responsibility of managing a team, even if I did have initial reservations about it. These may sound odd but I kind of like the pain!! It does stress you out a little, but I also think it is good for character. Taking charge of something, involving team members in decisions and creating something together is quite a good feeling.
If anyone has any advice on team management, please chip in with it, my ears are open to anything that may help. I think this is a good attitude to have actually, being open minded to advice from team members, peers, tutors or any outside bodies can only help in the long run. If 2 heads are better than 1 then surely the more heads the better!
Well thanks for reading, and remember to leave feedback on any posts.
Mark
It feels as though we have a lot to do work wise at the moment, not just with the 'On the Job' project but with the 'CiSSy' and 'iME' projects too, the problem being the juggling of work.
I do not want to get my team doing too much so that they fall behind with other projects, but I also want us to do a good job. I think we can achieve better than a 'pass'.
I feel it is going okay, this team leader business, though a little stressful, I think there may be a need for a bit 'quiet time' to collect my thoughts and organise myself. I am trying to be fair with tasks delegated but I feel as though I am bogging myself down a little. Maybe more delegation is required!
I do not seem to mind the responsibility of managing a team, even if I did have initial reservations about it. These may sound odd but I kind of like the pain!! It does stress you out a little, but I also think it is good for character. Taking charge of something, involving team members in decisions and creating something together is quite a good feeling.
If anyone has any advice on team management, please chip in with it, my ears are open to anything that may help. I think this is a good attitude to have actually, being open minded to advice from team members, peers, tutors or any outside bodies can only help in the long run. If 2 heads are better than 1 then surely the more heads the better!
Well thanks for reading, and remember to leave feedback on any posts.
Mark
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Yet More Joy....I'm on a Roll
Hello all,
It has been another decent week regarding the CSS stuff we are doing with John, I feel like I am making some progress with the understanding of it all. This will be helped by reading my CSS books when I can squeeze it in. It is a nice feeling though to have the penny drop, from being fearful of it I am now a bit more excited about it.
That can be said of the new project also, 'On the Job' will start Monday, and I have been nominated as team leader. At first I did not really want it, but I think it will be okay, I think I may actually enjoy it, but 'Daves' let me know if I get power crazy!!
We do not know yet what the project entails but I think it is going to throw up some 'interesting' problems, for me definitely. I am not sure yet how I am going to be a 'leader' (again team, let me know if I do anything you don't agree with), I do not want to come across as 'bossy' but also I want to do the best I can, and hope my team feels the same way.
I think the next blog regarding the 'On the Job' project will be a good read!
I am dropping my 'peak of the week' because I feel pretty much, on an even keel, and it would probably be a repetition of the last one regarding CSS.
Aims
To get off to a good start with the new project. I want to ask the right questions, be presentable and involve my team as much as possible. I do not want 'distance' between team members. If we communicate I think we can do a good job. RARRRR well that's my rallying cry!
Thanks for reading
Mark
It has been another decent week regarding the CSS stuff we are doing with John, I feel like I am making some progress with the understanding of it all. This will be helped by reading my CSS books when I can squeeze it in. It is a nice feeling though to have the penny drop, from being fearful of it I am now a bit more excited about it.
That can be said of the new project also, 'On the Job' will start Monday, and I have been nominated as team leader. At first I did not really want it, but I think it will be okay, I think I may actually enjoy it, but 'Daves' let me know if I get power crazy!!
We do not know yet what the project entails but I think it is going to throw up some 'interesting' problems, for me definitely. I am not sure yet how I am going to be a 'leader' (again team, let me know if I do anything you don't agree with), I do not want to come across as 'bossy' but also I want to do the best I can, and hope my team feels the same way.
I think the next blog regarding the 'On the Job' project will be a good read!
I am dropping my 'peak of the week' because I feel pretty much, on an even keel, and it would probably be a repetition of the last one regarding CSS.
Aims
To get off to a good start with the new project. I want to ask the right questions, be presentable and involve my team as much as possible. I do not want 'distance' between team members. If we communicate I think we can do a good job. RARRRR well that's my rallying cry!
Thanks for reading
Mark
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
CSS Joy...........At Last!
Its been a good week if, for nothing else, that some CSS pennies have started to drop. It seems my fear of CSS is lifting a little. After Tuesdays tutorial with John, when the miracle occurred, I felt a lot better about using CSS, the 'box model' makes sense to me and I can see how using CSS can be beneficial for designers and the user. Not bad for 1 lesson!
I am yet to do CSS tutorials online but that is going to be my intention as part of my self learning and my 6 month action plan regarding that. At least now I do not have the scary feeling of not knowing what I am doing completely, I feel I have a little knowledge!
The other thing I have been giving thought to is my future as in the last post. I am getting the impression from talking to people in 'the know' that if an employment opportunity should arise it should be grasped.
I am actually coming around to this way of thinking as the sooner I get on the web design 'ladder' the sooner I can start to move up it. I have also started to play down working for myself in my own head. I think it would be wise for me to gain employment and get some experience, use the employer as a way of finding my feet, then gradually start to do my own work and if it takes off then consider my best option.
The downside to this theory is that I may not gain employment immediately and so I may have to do my own work straight after leaving college, with no business experience. But that bridge will be crossed when I come to it.
Peak of the Week
CSS! it has to be, it has been bothering me for so long and now I feel good about it, hopefully it will continue!
Thanks for reading and don't be shy with feedback and comments.
Mark
I am yet to do CSS tutorials online but that is going to be my intention as part of my self learning and my 6 month action plan regarding that. At least now I do not have the scary feeling of not knowing what I am doing completely, I feel I have a little knowledge!
The other thing I have been giving thought to is my future as in the last post. I am getting the impression from talking to people in 'the know' that if an employment opportunity should arise it should be grasped.
I am actually coming around to this way of thinking as the sooner I get on the web design 'ladder' the sooner I can start to move up it. I have also started to play down working for myself in my own head. I think it would be wise for me to gain employment and get some experience, use the employer as a way of finding my feet, then gradually start to do my own work and if it takes off then consider my best option.
The downside to this theory is that I may not gain employment immediately and so I may have to do my own work straight after leaving college, with no business experience. But that bridge will be crossed when I come to it.
Peak of the Week
CSS! it has to be, it has been bothering me for so long and now I feel good about it, hopefully it will continue!
Thanks for reading and don't be shy with feedback and comments.
Mark
Monday, November 06, 2006
It's a Plan, But is it Fullproof?
Hello again,
As a student and future designer you need to look at software and skills you need to learn. I have done a little bit of research into this, I signed up to a job website that emails me with details of current vacancies and what the employer requires. It is quite an eye opener because there are software applications I have not even heard of.
It was interesting to see what some employers also expect for their money. In one instance the vacancy required you to have 2 years experience with PHP/MySQL, HTML, CSS, CMS and then a list of 'like you to have' skills all for £20,000-£24,000 a year.
Then I found a vacancy that required experience in Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash that paid £30,000-£45,000. Bit of a difference eh?
I don't know if this means that some employers take you for what they can, or just that there are more and more web designers out there and so we are not such a valuable commodity.
Of course looking at employment is all well and good but it isn't the only option. I have also been looking at universities, local ones in particular. Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford all seem okay but it is going to be a question of how many more years to get the degree.
I have to admit that another 2 years does not sound great at the moment, partly because I want to get earning and partly because it means only been nearly half way through my education.
If I had no other commitments and was 10 years younger, I probably wouldn't have any issues with 2 more years (so some of you should realise how lucky you are) but I feel as though I should be further along a career path than I am.
It may be possible to achieve the degree with just 1 more year but there are a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts', so we will see!
Ideally I would like to get a degree, partly to prove something to myself and also I think it puts you in a stronger bargaining position with prospective employers.
So, what will I do? I think the best plan of action for me is to keep trying to do as well as possible on the course, learn as many software applications as possible to make myself saleable, talk to universities and maybe apply now.
If I do find employment I can always try and fit the degree in, if an employer will not allow that, then I will have to make a decision on which is the most important, the degree or the money.
For now then its a case of keeping a look out for possibilities.
Bye for now, Mark
As a student and future designer you need to look at software and skills you need to learn. I have done a little bit of research into this, I signed up to a job website that emails me with details of current vacancies and what the employer requires. It is quite an eye opener because there are software applications I have not even heard of.
It was interesting to see what some employers also expect for their money. In one instance the vacancy required you to have 2 years experience with PHP/MySQL, HTML, CSS, CMS and then a list of 'like you to have' skills all for £20,000-£24,000 a year.
Then I found a vacancy that required experience in Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash that paid £30,000-£45,000. Bit of a difference eh?
I don't know if this means that some employers take you for what they can, or just that there are more and more web designers out there and so we are not such a valuable commodity.
Of course looking at employment is all well and good but it isn't the only option. I have also been looking at universities, local ones in particular. Huddersfield, Leeds and Bradford all seem okay but it is going to be a question of how many more years to get the degree.
I have to admit that another 2 years does not sound great at the moment, partly because I want to get earning and partly because it means only been nearly half way through my education.
If I had no other commitments and was 10 years younger, I probably wouldn't have any issues with 2 more years (so some of you should realise how lucky you are) but I feel as though I should be further along a career path than I am.
It may be possible to achieve the degree with just 1 more year but there are a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts', so we will see!
Ideally I would like to get a degree, partly to prove something to myself and also I think it puts you in a stronger bargaining position with prospective employers.
So, what will I do? I think the best plan of action for me is to keep trying to do as well as possible on the course, learn as many software applications as possible to make myself saleable, talk to universities and maybe apply now.
If I do find employment I can always try and fit the degree in, if an employer will not allow that, then I will have to make a decision on which is the most important, the degree or the money.
For now then its a case of keeping a look out for possibilities.
Bye for now, Mark
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