Comments on: Stretch Yourself with Personal Design Projects

By: Myo Han Htun

Myo Han Htun — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:35:20 +0000

Nice Article. Anyway, we have to learn from the experience and look for new technologies. I used to test designs even that is not for commercial in my spare times. So, I can get experience from that.

By: Go Media

Go Media — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:10:21 +0000

I have php for dummies book and it taught me lots about the more complex php problems.

By: dini

dini — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:11:22 +0000

hi…I have the CSS Mastery Book though thanks for the suggestion.

By: LaurenMarie - Creative Curio

LaurenMarie - Creative Curio — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 16:53:57 +0000

Very cool, Tara! Glad to hear things are still going with the Weather Pops!

As for personal projects, I’m working on my blog redesign these days. I’m really enjoying experimenting with different looks and picking up some good Photoshop techniques along the way.

I also like doing the PS tutorials from PSDtuts, not just reading them. I pick up on how or why they do certain things and that allows me to apply them in other situations.

By: Fubiz

Fubiz — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:48:18 +0000

Excellent blogpost

By: Web Design Lincolnshire

Web Design Lincolnshire — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:15:34 +0000

I couldn't argee more, if you need to increase your portfolio, then design some work for yourself or a club that you maybe involved with. I am a student of aikido, so the created a website, I needed some more sites for my portfolio and I want to work in SEO now. Here is the aikido site for general interest Aikido Instruction

By: logomania

logomania — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 13:30:38 +0000

I thin I wanted to have my own design shop of crafts:) I love designing ornaments of different variety.

By: RickNunn

RickNunn — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:35:06 +0000

It’s a really good book, I read it cover to cover in 3 days.

I’m on a Mac as well so I might have to have a go with Cheetah. It looks quite cool.

By: Tara: Freelance Designer

Tara: Freelance Designer — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:07:46 +0000

Hi Rick

I have the CSS Mastery Book though thanks for the suggestion.

For 3D I am loving Cheetah 3D though its only for mac. I also use Strata but I find its not great at organic modeling but good for packaging, exhibitions – more geometric stuff. I have tried soem of the heavy weight packages I bought Lightwave a few years ago but found it over complex and it kept crashing. Cheetah 3D is quick to pick up and has a small but friendly forum (and its cheap!)

By: RickNunn

RickNunn — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:58:08 +0000

I couldn’t agree more with this. I think it is really important to keep active & keep learning. I do a lot of work for the same sort of clients day in day out so I try to always have at least one ‘personal’ project on the go at a time. This might be just re-skining my website, a new piece of artwork for around the house. Any thing I can sink my teeth into & do something a bit different with.

Me & a few friends are about to start a BIG new project for our selves. We don’t know if it will go any where, but just the act of doing it will keep ideas flowing, & hopefully get us thinking a bit differently.

Oh by the way, if your serious about learning HTML & CSS, you can’t go wrong getting these books:
HTML Mastery
CSS Mastery

I got them both when I wanted to stop ‘playing about on the web’ (ie letting dreamweaver do all the work) and get serious about making proper websites. They changed my life.

Also, (sorry to go on) how are you getting on with the 3D modelers? It’s some thing I keep meaning to have a go at, but never know what program to start learning with.