Mr. Right and I had an interesting conversation yesterday. A conversation that we have kinda sorta had every once in awhile over the last few years.
Out of the blue, Husband will ask "Why don't you make websites for a living?"
Way back when (around 1995, at the ripe old age of 12) I made my very first website. I signed up on Angelfire (hey - it was free) and researched the bare bones of HTML. I had no purpose... I just LOVED the internet. My father had purchased our second computer (a Hewlett Packard Pavillion) and the whole house was swept up in madness. I, forever designing and redesigning sweet little websites at geocities and tripod, and reading source code of everyone elses websites to try and understand how they made theirs look so good. Its really silly, but my favorite website was called Tina.net, and it seemed like the coolest place every for a tween to be. As it turns out, it was a website sponsored by Tampax, lol. Go figure.
Anyway, in one way or another, I've had a website for a very long time. While Josh and I were still dating, but not yet married, I PURCHASED my very first domain and hosting package through siteflip. Josh-Kerith.com. I used it for hosting pictures and music and also began exploring all the various blogging programs (wordpress, typepad) as well as Content Management Systems (CMS) like PHPNuke, Joomla, etc. After awhile I decided to move in a new direction and registered rightwife.com. I wanted to maintain a website or blog about me, my family, and politics. Some where along the line life got the best of me, and I opted to just use a free service (Blogger) and forgot all about rightwife.com.
I forgot about it, that is, until Mr. Right brought it up. "Why don't you design websites for a living?"
I had no answer for him. Why don't I? Why didn't I? Why did I waste 4 years of my life getting a degree that was not pertinent to my passions in life. Why did I then pursue a Masters Degree? All I have now (career wise) is a pretty typical office job with no chance of promotion since not only is my company not really hiring, but trimming back.
I've always been a digi-junkie. I love digital photography, making websites, blogging and reading others blogs. So, Husband's question really hit home with me. Why not? I asked what he thought I might need to do in order to get the ball rolling? He suggested UAT (University of Advanced Technology) and a couple of people I could talk to that work in the field. So, as it turns out, UAT offers a four year program (a bachelors degree) in Web and Social Media Technology. Duh. Where the heck was this place in 2001?
Anyway - the wheels in my brain have started turning. I don't know if I have the heart to go back to school. Yet, at the same time, I have a feeling that I would love every minute of the subject matter at hand. I was stressed out trying to balance work and school and my husband before - and how on earth will I be able to balance all of that PLUS my sweet baby? Part of me wishes I could just read up on everything, learn it all on my own and go into business for myself that way. Do I really need a degree to have a career in web design and development?
I'm also worried that the field might already be too saturated with these folks. Is the pool really deep enough for another web design fish?
Husband told me to request information, go speak with advisors, and once I had the information then we could make a decision together.
What do you all think?
Hmmm... Kerith, you have my mind whirling. You wouldn't ever be interested in forming a freelance business with someone all the way accross the US would you? I have been a graphic designer for ten years and think that if you have the ability and the desire, the rest comes naturally. Check out my portfolio and let me know if you would ever in a million years be interested, http://brookerochonportfolio.wordpress.com
ReplyDeleteI don't do web design, but I could handle anything print and design wise that you could not. It could be VERY lucrative.
I know we don't know eachother, but having a common goal of staying home with our kids, is something. But, I'm sure you already know some folks locally, so good luck with all the possibilities.
Brooke - that would be awesome - something definitely to look towards doing in the future. Right now everything I know about Web Design I taught myself. It takes a LOT of time for me to get things right because I don't have the education. So, while I have the luxury of spending months tweaking my website, if I start doing it for moolah, I'm going to need to be able to turn around completed products in a much shorter amount of time.
ReplyDeleteSo, yes, I totally love the idea of a collaboration, but unfortunately I'm just not there yet. However, I think I'm going to take a step forward and re-start rightwife.com and I'm seriously considering starting school for this in the very near future.
How exciting to imagine the possibilities!
Girl, you sound like me, except you got further into it. I taught myself HTML and looked at source code too. Back when marquee scrolling was cool, haha ;) I learned just enough CSS to try to make my own header with WP, but just didn't have the time to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the market being saturated, BUT that means you have to find a niche. It would be good to talk to those people and then do your personal research to brainstorm of areas that aren't being filled in the design world. If it's something that you really want to do then you and Mr. Right can find ways to make it work. Being realistic about the time constraints, etc. Is only good though.
Have fun!!!
Hey Kerith,
ReplyDeleteUnlike the other two ladies that commented, I know nothing about web design. But I loved reading your blog. I'm excited about the possibilities for you too! Go for it girl!
And two thumbs up to your husband for encouraging a passion of yours. That's great that he is so supportive of you as a person. I wish you good luck!
P.S. I did it. I started my own blog. Now you can know a little more about me too, instead of the girl you don't know from Chi-town who leaves comments sometimes. :)
Vicki - Thanks for the encouragement! You are right - there have to be areas that are not being met. Plus, if I can't work for myself, there may be a firm out there that contracts web design jobs out (assuming I had all the requisite certifications/education).
ReplyDeleteHeidi - I am so stoked that you decided to start a blog! Your first posts have been excellent!