CMD+Shift Design

It’s Day #8! Today was supposed to be our launch, but things have been pushed back to tomorrow morning. My end of the work is done, so I’m really just waiting now so that I can finally talk about what it is that my client is doing, cause it’s pretty bad ass!

I had some questions via email today for more details on my process – so I thought I’d take you through what I do. It’s all about managing the project and staying in clear communication with your client.

Since my work really is done now, today is going to be the last day for this video series! Thank you to all of you who have been following along with me on this ride, thank you to any of you who commented, emailed or tweeted about the videos! It’s been fun sharing my experience with you, hear your feedback and getting such warm encouragement from many of you! You have really made the last 8 days awesome! Thank you!

It is day #7! Recorded this video this afternoon – trying to pump things up a bit today, I think the last couple videos have been slowing dowwwnnn.. SO – Today I talk about best practices when rushing a job. Honesty is always the best policy! Let your other clients know what is going on and give your client reasonable expectations for their fast turnaround!

Rush Project Tip of the day: Clients don’t want “YES”, they want honestly!

+ News in after video was made today – the launch had to be pushed to Thursday because of a PR issue – so we got another day people, HANG ON! :)

It’s Day #6, I think my lack of sleep is making me boring? LOL. Anyway, today it’s been all about polishing up the theme, making sure nothing is overlooked. When you’re designing a blog theme, you have to think about not only the information that will be on the site when it is launched, but the information that might be added down the road, the various elements that will need to be styled – just incase they are ever used.

Rush Project Tip of the day: Designing for web means designing with evolution in mind.

Shit, I look tired in this video… Oh well, It’s day #5!!! The weekend has been way less dramatic… than earlier this week. Today I talk about time-tracking and what it means to your bottom line.

Thanks again to all of you watching, I’ve noticed things quieting down the last couple days and suspect that this could be that all of you are out enjoying your weekend! :) Believe me or not, for all the stress of the past 5 days, I’ve still been having a blast!

Rush Project Tip of the day: High stress at the start of a project is easier to manage than stress near the end of a project!

It’s day four… things have calmed down a bit as we finish the design phase and move into development!

Today I answer questions about the integrity of design and rush fees.

Rush Project Tip of the day: If you’re giving something extra, make sure your client is giving something extra too!

It’s Day 3 and I am still here! :)

First and foremost, thank you to all of you who’re following me along on this, it’s been fun sharing the process and I hope that some of this is valuable to some of you! If anything, the hats and do-rags I use to cover my bed head are amusing! :) If you’re interested in hearing stories about crazy work schedules from other freelancers, I have a whole post dedicated to it! Freelancers, You Can Sleep When You’re Dead!

Everyone should check out the WordPress Theme Framework Kyle left a comment about yesterday, called Thematic, download and save this for jump starting your next theme project!

Today I talk about designing for web with weak identity systems. We have all had to do it and sometimes it’s a fun challenge… a similar issue effecting freelance web designers, Coding Designs That Are Not Your Own (namely bad ones.)

Rush Project Tip of the day: Creating good design is more remarkable than sleep.

Oh …and in case you were wondering, YES! I did set 2 alarms last night.