Friday, August 1, 2008

My Other Project

As most of you know, I'm a graphic designer by day, or at least I was before we moved to Mexico. I haven't done much actual designing since we've been here, but it's what I know and I don't plan to abandon it just because I'm writing.

Last winter I bought Adobe's Creative Suite 3 (CS3) because I needed to upgrade my Photoshop and Illustrator. Since these programs are quite expensive, I went ahead and bought a package that includes web software, figuring I'd want them eventually and it would be twice as expensive if I bought them individually.

I loaded up the programs in February and went to town with Photoshop and Illustrator, but never opened Dreamweaver or Flash, the two web design programs. Well, this week I finally got off my butt and started Dreamweaver tutorials. I didn't actually get off my butt, I just opened new programs, but you know what I mean.

I had some web training several years ago at my old job, but never did anything with the information and quickly forgot most of it. Fortunately the software has become more user friendly with each successive version, and bits of my old training are still clinging to my noggin. The information is pretty dense, but so far it's making sense and I'm hopeful I can turn this into one more way to pick up freelance work.

Ibis is already excited to go out and drum up business. I hate marketing myself so I'm very lucky to have such an enthusiastic husband. I have no problem closing the deal once I'm talking to a potential client; it's getting myself in front of that client that's hard for me.

I'll keep you posted on my progress!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mel... that is wicked awesome. I'm also a graphic designer.. LOL And I heart Dreamweaver and Flash.. so if you have any questions or anything just give me a holler!!!

I heart Photoshop and Illustrator so very much I'd be lost without them.. LOL

You go girl!! I'm wicked proud!!!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Ooh, you might come in handy. :D

Zoe Winters said...

That's so cool! I someday want to upgrade to the Photoshop and Illustrator thing. For me it's very hobbyist, I haven't been to proper school for it and I know I don't know all the finer points, but it's still something I very much like messing around with. Right now I use GIMP in Linux (think free, low-rent photoshop.) Doesn't translate to commercial printing but works fine on the interwebz.

Nadine said...

You could build a website for your business and link it to your blog. Since you get hits from around the country, you might be able to attract more freelance work.

Anonymous said...

Congrats! Dreamweaver was the first program I used and I'm still partial to it.

Anonymous said...

Does this mean you will design one for the Hooyenga family web site? I might even break down and pop for some greenbacks!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I meant spending money while in Michigan?

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Nadine, that's exactly what I'm thinking!

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Gary, I'll do it, but I need to learn a little more first.

Spy Scribbler said...

Good luck! I admire you. I could use Microsoft Frontpage, but I don't understand Dreamweaver. I tried, but then I disabled everything and handcoded. I realized Dreamweaver was a bit expensive to be used as a handcoder, LOL.

I do love Rapid CSS. It's perfect for me, although, I again ignore every feature and handcode, LOL.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Yeah, handcoding is not something I'll be doing. I'm already getting bored with all the reading - I might have to start playing around with something for myself.

Janna Leadbetter said...

How exciting! And now I know what you were referring to last week when you mentioned Dreamweaver on the boards. Good luck!