NateCreates.com

In reviewing the top keywords that were bringing visitors to my site, I noticed something that seemed odd. After my name, one of the top keyword combinations bringing visitors to my site was, “freelance portfolio”. My first response “wow!”, was quickly followed by “how?”. Looking closer I noticed a misspelling. Instead of “portfolio” I had ” portoflio”. (I quickly fixed the misspelling.)

This does bring up the question though, is it ever worth placing carefully hidden common typos in your page for Google to index? In fact, is it worth running spell check at all? (Ok - if you read this in the first 15 minutes you’d know the answer - always run spell check.) I realize from a professional standpoint, text littered with misspellings is bad, however a few key typos here and there might actually help. You wouldn’t be the only one misspelling those words, right?

In the case of “freelance portoflio”, I rank 5 out of 33,000 results. For the correct spelling, “freelance portfolio” with 2,560,00 results, I gave up after realizing I wasn’t in the top 150.

I was recently referred to useit.com. My first impression aside - I started to dig deeper, when I realized - hey, this is the guy that hates Flash. Yes, Jakob Nielsen, protheletizing web usuabilty guru.

This brought me back to a something that’s been bugging me lately - web usability and web standards. I’m tired of these terms thumped with self-satisfaction whenever someone chooses to ignore them.

I understand the reasons for web usability and standards. I’m just not convinced that they should dictate the web. In fact I’m pretty comfortable trusting that the web will develop in both usable and unsuable forms and the two will happily co-exist.

Back to Jakob. He feels Web 2.0 is neglecting good design. In reading more I see a bit where he’s coming from. From a Web 1.0 perspective, where the experience truly was, “get in, get it, get out”, customization, and community tools must seem silly. However Web 2.0 isn’t about “get-in-it-out”, but “existing”. Users are engaged with a web site, much as we engage with software, a video game, or even a good book. Web 2.0 usability is less about how easy things are than what can I do that I really enjoy doing. Just because something isn’t valid or complaint or accessible doesn’t make it bad, unworthy of pursuit.

Blogcatalog has let me down.

My little network of friends and neighborhoods disappeared.

My avatar evaporated (ok that’s probably not a bad thing - especially since I’m not really smiling right now).

Information that I’d spent the last week building, adding to and watching grow - just swept away.

Ok, if you’re a Blogcatalog user you’re probably experiencing the exact same let down. If you’re not a Blogcatalog user, you still likely use Gmail, Google Apps, MySpace, Linkedin, or one of the many other virtual apps for working, connecting and socializing.

So this event made me think - how do I backup my information that’s hosted on these free spaces. What happens when your entire network disappears. (For some, this is a significant chunk of their life). Thank-goodness for the real word because you could find yourself literally friendless in seconds on the web.

It seems there should be a way to backup your data on these sites, some XML file that gives you a bit of insurance that you’re not going to be going back to the same sites and authors you happened across before and thinking…haven’t we met before??

P.S. I guess one positive - it gives you an opportunity to reinvent yourself.

A list, in no particular order. If I had to give up their use, I’d probably give up design…ok, maybe a little dramatic, but fun to say either way.

1. SNAGIT! - Screen Capture Software | $38.95

Snagit screen capture software is superior to anything on your Windows OS, your Mac OS, or any OS for that matter. It’s like having a digital camera in the virtual world. Don’t worry about processing. Just click, click, click.

Snagit Screen Capture Software

2. Adobe Creative Suite 3 Premium Design Edition | Upgrade $599 | Full Pkg $1,799

Don’t try to design without Adobe. It’s like trying to sing without a voice. And now that Adobe bought Macromedia, I actually saved money when I upgraded. There’s no software out there for designers that works as well as the tools in this package. (By the way, I’m including prices because it helps illustrate to potential clients the cost of getting setup to do serious design work…not to mention the years necessary to build up a good intuition.)

Adobe CS3 Design Premium

3. Moleskine Pocket Sketchbooks | $9.95

A designer should never be caught pulling anything else out of their pocket to jot down an idea. It just doesn’t look good.

moleskines.com

4. Nikon D70 (D80) SLR Camera | Pkg $1299 | Body Only $999

I realize this camera is ancient by today’s standards, however I’ve never, in the time I’ve used it, ever felt like, Gee, I which it would do that. I’m sure the D80 only better.

Nikon USA

5. Old Fashion Lightbox | $170

Ok, I’ve designed for years without one. Just purchased the Porta-Trac 18×24 last week. I knew that once I had one…well that’s why it’s on this list.

6. Powell’s Books | $$ Varies

Or any great bookstore (although I’m not sure one exists better than Powell’s). If you’re a Portland native, you know. If you’re not, and you ever visit, definitely visit Powell’s Books.

Powells Books

7. Diet Coke | $0.60 x many

After Starbucks in the A.M, a steady stream of dangerous chemicals are needed to reach full creative potential - namely more caffeine.

8. Electric Eraser + Electric Pencil Sharpener | Approx $50

The one needs the other in the quest for efficiency.

9. A Book/Copy Stand | $20

After years of peering over flat books while trying to learn how to do this or that thing, my neck is now in much better condition, thanks to this cheap little desktop assistant.

10. Gigads of RAM | $100 +

More, more, more. I need more.

The idea for this post was inspired by El Decor Magazine. Each issue they feature some famous designer I’ve never heard of and their 10 things they couldn’t live without. I’m not famous, so I had to post on my own blog, but if anyone would like to link to their own “10 Tools ______ Couldn’t Design Without”, please feel free to share.

Wow!

I just spent the last three hours searching for the Windows Holy Grail - how to quickly create a new folder with a keyboard shortcut. I understand Mac users have never had this issue. They’ve been given Shift-Command-N (or Command-N). For Windows users the best solution I could find was the suggestion to memorize Alt, F, Enter, Enter. As anyone who makes their livelihood behind an LCD panel knows, keyboard shortcuts are the key to efficiency and memorizing long keyboard combinations to navigate menus is not a shortcut.

So after searching long and hard, I decided to test something. I tried Adobe CS3 Bridge as my default file manager.

Guess what. In Bridge, it’s as simple as Control-Shift-N. Voila, I have a new folder. I name it. I move on.

I hope by sharing this tip other designers out there using PCs (I know we’re a small crowd), I save you 3 hours of your time.

P.S. This post is the sort of post I’d like to run on my new blog, MonkeyintheMachine.com. While the blog is in it’s infancy, I am open to guest writers if your submission pertains to the topic of how to survive as a cog. Excuse the lack of design so far. I’ll be working on something good this summer.

While hiking this weekend I stumbled upon this doe and her two fawns.

At 50 yards I wasn’t at a perfect range for my Nikon 18-70mm lens, but I decided to snap a shot before I got too close. That’s when I realized how absolutely loud the shutter is on a digital SLR. Ughh! Luckily I was able to get this picture, because the next second they were gone.

Perhaps someday the engineers at Nikon will take the single-lens-reflex out of the digital SLR.