2010 & 2011

Not blogged in a long time. Its been a crazy end to 2010. Certainly not the year I was expecting but things have changed for the better.

The year has seen me become a father for the second time to Hana and has seen me go from working in Chester to working from home on a permanent basis.

Losing the job was a blow, the way I lost it however, to this day makes me think I am better off out of that environment. Was there 5 years and to be frank, was rotting away. A company with no respect for design or its staff or the industry its in… well I’ll leave it there.

I was very lucky to be given a chance and a challenge by the company I work for now. It’s taken me a bit of time to adjust to a different pace and new systems and to step out of my comfort zones which I’ve had for 5 years, especially where design is concerned. Always felt I could do it but was never really give the chance before. Always room to improve which hopefully I am doing.

It certainly fills me with hope for 2011 anyway. 

Also, in 2010, I finally popped my conference cherry and got to 2 events this year. Barcamp Blackpool and Shropgeek. Was great to meet fellow web people and swap stories. Hope to do more in 2011.

I also started a project for a website of interviews. Started out as a few but it grew to the point where I decided it needed its own place to live. The response was amazing. Sadly, it came about the same time the job went Awol and I havent had the time to devote to getting it done. Its there, but needs a bit more time to get it ready. I can only apolgise for not getting it done and hope I’ve not wasted anyone’s time. I will get it done.

I’ve been very lucky to have been supported by some very good people both on Twitter and in real life. Too many to name individually but the Chester Geeks, Scouse boys and the Shropshire lot were a rock and of course my new work colleagues. I owe everyone who supported me, spoke to me, passed my CV around, made me laugh. Community is great and Twitter has been amazing.

So…2011

Well I’m buying a Mac so thats a great thing ticked off my list. I want to blog more and get the interview site up and running.

And I’ve got to clear the garage too

On behalf of myself and my family, have a very good Christmas and a very happy new year.

A new beginning

Anyone need a designer?

As of yesterday, I became available for work. So if you need a web designer who can design, build in XHTML & CSS give us a shout.

dandavies.bagillt@googlemail.com

A new venture

Making it formal

Following on from some great success, I’ve decided to make the interviews that I did with various designers into a website. Its not complete but a couple of snippets are on dribbble http://dribbble.com/shots/41888-Interviews

Should you know of anyone that may fancy a go or you yourself fancy a go at some fairly simple questions, please do get in touch.

The site wouldn’t exist without the help and co-operation of the people who answered the questions, so a big thank to you and a big hello to the new people who hopefully have a go.

Designer Interviews Pt6

What! More Interviews?

Latest round of designer interviews. @AllanMcAvoy @WhistleCreative @robin_parker @simon180 @emergestudios

Read their interviews here

Few more to go yet :) If you want a go, dont forget, email me dandavies.bagillt@googlemail.com or if you want to recommend someone, just shout.

Designer Interviews Pt4

This is a fourth installment of the interviews I have collated over the last couple of months. Today its the turn of designers Rachel Shillcock, Abid Din, Luke Jones and Jack Franklin.

Read their interviews here

If you fancy answering some questions, just shout

The Theory of (R)Evolution

#shropgeek

ok, so its nearly a week since the event happened and I haven’t written about it. That’s slack Dan, slack.

Right, where to start?

Well the event was setup by two of my twitter friends @KirstyBurgoine and @salt_events along with @zbeauvais who could pass as Russell Crowe’s double. It was held in Shrewsbury in a great venue called The Boathouse. I went down with a good friend @jon_atkinson and his mate @bryns.

There were 3 talks.

Zach Beauvais who talked about linked data, graphs and spaceships.

Katy Cowen talked about her website Creative Boom, her story on how she got to where she is and promised to put my interview back on the site ;) 

And Dan Catt who talked about Flickr, his job at the Guardian and how newspapers are evolving. He has an amazing beard.

I managed to meet up with some twitter friends too. It was great to meet Kirsty, Katy and Heather as well as @AnilAmrit and @danjwilkinson. I managed to miss @PurpleFrogIT though so next time…

This was my second event after Blackpool Barcamp and its given me an idea for something else so watch this space. I’m hoping to see more of Shrewsbury too. A lovely town.

So well done guys and gals. A very good event and roll on next year.

Oh and we have photos here http://www.shropgeek-revolution.co.uk/gallery

All quiet on the western front

Its still business as usual though

A few weeks ago I started doing some interviews for my blog. I then decided to create a new site just for said interviews. Well due to work and home commitments, the site is still not complete, its nearly there but for a few amends and some content.

I’ll let you know when its complete whether you care or not :)

Nice site

armitageonline.co.uk rebrand

North West agency Armitage Online has recently launched their new company website. It’s a bold move by Armitage but the impact on the page is great. Really stands out. 

See more of Armitage Online

Designer Interviews Pt5

More lambs to the slaughter

Tonight featured on the site are @MrCairney @cmyk_me and @doodliciouslfc

Read their interviews here

Few more to go yet :) If you want a go, dont forget, email me dandavies.bagillt@googlemail.com or if you want to recommend someone, just shout.

Designer Interviews Pt3

Designer Interviews

This is a third installment of the interviews I have collated over the last couple of months. Today its the turn of designers David Robinson, Ste Johnson and Nick Toye.

Read their interviews here

I’m really thrilled with the response for these interviews. Some questioned why a wannabe freelancer would showcase other designers but I think its worked out really well. Its been really great getting to know people as well away from the 140 character limit.

So as long as you guys want to continue reading them, I’ll do them.