Ok, I have only ever really read football blogs, however I have decided at the ripe old age of 24 and a half that there maybe something to be gained from begininning my own adventure into the world of blogging.
I split from my girlfriend today. Not sure if that has anything to do with it, maybe I am feeling lonely and still need to share my world with someone directly or indirectly. Who knows.
As well as talking about my life, the main reason prompting me to start this up is that I am starting my own business and I am looking to chart how it goes. And so I will tell you a little about myself.
As I said, I am 24 years old. I am studying business at Brighton University, however I hate it. I have always enjoyed computers, particularly software and have picked up things relating to this interest extremely quickly.
My skill set revolves around graphic design, however I am looking to expand into programming and advanced web design. I am hoping to chart this expansion and hopefully help others who are trying to learn web design for whatever reason through this blog.
Up until this point as well as the graphic design I have taught myself flash animation as well as html. Today I built my first website for a business. Honestly, I charge very low prices, however this is justified as I use a lot of pre made templates which I mix match and edit to create professional looking websites for customers. I am a bit worried about this. The end result seems completely inconspicuous, however in my heart I dont know if this is normal practice, and whether i can actually even call myself a web designer. F.uck it, my flyers are awesome!
I am not going to give personal details out here other than that I am from North London. I currently reside in Brighton, however after splitting with my girlfriend of 3 years who I lived with, I am back home at Mum and Dads. I am also not going to give my design website out here. Not yet anyway. I think if people have a chance of knowing who I am I wont be able to speak openly here about my personal problems along with the trials and tribulations of being a graphic / newbie web designer and especially the difficulties of going it alone and starting your own business. I think this will detract from the point of the blog.
Before I start boring people with the business side of the blog I will tell a little about myself. I love football. I have supported Arsenal FC and never miss a game. Thank you internet and justin.tv! I myself have had a chequered past. Although I have always been interested in computers I did not really start getting serious until around the age of 22. I was a bastard before then. Not really horrible, but always in trouble. Usually relating to drugs or fighting. Made my parents very unhappy. Leaving London changed me for the good and is when I started really getting in to self teaching.
What really kicked everything off was when I started playing computer games online. I had always played a shoot em up called Counter Strike Source, however at around 22 I began playing it competitively, as in online leagues and cups etc. What started things off for me was watching counter strike movies. The effects used, and the graphics etc., I knew I could do it all if I had a guide to help me. I downloaded a program called sony vegas and found that after using it for about 20 minutes without instruction, I could do it. Other players I knew filled in the gaps in regards to getting the footage from the game and I was soon on my way.
I already had experience with Photoshop, however playing a online computer game had given me the opportunity to design banners and forum signatures for other players and teams and I found myself learning new and advanced techniques so I could improve my graphics. From here I progressed on to using Adobe premiere pro and after effects to make more advanced video.
I gained some work making flyers for a few promoters in London, however these were only every now and then and were done really for experience. What really interested me was the web side of the business. However I couldnt programme. At that point I couldnt even do simple html.
Next I learnt basic html and also improved my graphical ability to the point where I was able to gain work designing for a business man. This is where I am now. I have designed a leaflet which I was paid for and today have completed the first draft and quoted for a website. My aim is to first of all produce a website and business card for my company. Second will be to go out and actually get enough work so I can make a living. Thirdly i wish to go from being able to edit html templates to being a fully skilled programmer in several script types. My fourth and ultimate aim is to create a website which will make me financially independent for life. I believe I had the idea and the vision, I just need the know how!
So you know a little about where I am and what I want to do. I belive that anything is possible, you just have to be able to conceive it. It is because of this that I am writing this blog. I believe that I can achieve all of my goals, and maybe if i document my progress I can inspire others to go from nothing to being a success. Who knows.
I have to admit I have had a drink tonite. However i am sure this is not a drunk moment and feel i will keep this up. I think expressing myself is something I am not good at, other than on a computer. Hopefully this will do me some good.
TO be honest I could write forever here, tell you everything, where I have been, stuff I have done, even talk about football and my life problems at the moment. But I cant be bothered now. I am drunk, tired and my stomach is churning. Tomorrow I should be getting feedback on the first draft of the website i have produced. Maybe I will log in and post how it went. Night night.
