10 things you didn’t know about the Chicago Web Designer.
I recently had my personal blog, Creative in Chicago, reviewed in an anonymous review process. The reviews were great but it did get me thinking as to how much I share about myself. In general I like to keep my personal life to myself and am not one to share what I had for lunch on Twitter or announce my exact location via Foursquare.
But in the essence of giving a little more of myself I thought I’d share with you today 10 things you never knew about the Chicago web designer!
- First off my name is not Chicago Web Designer, it is Zoe Feast. It is amazing how often it is mispronounced. I recently received a phone call from someone asking to talk to Zoo Fest!
- I originally come from the UK but became a US citizen in 2009 . I have yet to lose my English accent despite living in the States for over 15 years.
- I am passionate about what I do and love the ying/yang aspect of my job; putting on my creative hat for the design part and swapping it out for a technical one when it comes to coding a project. I sometimes dream about coding which is the geek in me surfacing.
- If that wasn’t geeky enough I have a degree in Physics and a Masters in Engineering.
- My favorite type of project is building brand imagery from the ground up. Everything from a logo, to establishing a color palette and typefaces then putting it all together in an engaging website. Fun!
- I moved to Chicago 18 months ago and live in the North suburbs. For the first 6 weeks of so I was completely reliant on my GPS … Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Deerfield, Lincolnshire, Highland park and the other North Shore suburbs are now my friends!
- I am most productive in the morning and dynamic weather such a thunderstorms or wild winds really help me focus my creativity. Weird right!
- I work on a PC not a MAC
- A friend help me come up with the name of my company ” Indigo Image” . We were eating curry at the time.
- I cook from scratch nearly every night. I have eaten horse, kangaroo and ostrich but never snails.
The Eye of the Chicago Web Designer
I can’t help myself, it seems it is not enough for me to be creative during the day designing websites, logos and the like. My creativity spills over into my spare time too. The outlet for my endeavors is my personal blog “Creative in Chicago” which is just sky rocketing along.
Here is one of my latest creation, a piece of String Art where the negative space does the talking!
© 2012 Chicago Web Designer
Chicago web designer tip of the day: Check you Google Ad preferences
The Chicago web designers tip of the day.
Here is a little short and sweet thing for you to check out on this amazingly warm Chicago afternoon, it’s 40 deg F and I have just been out WITHOUT a coat on!
If you have a Google account click HERE and see if the profile Google has of you, is correct. They use information gathered from your web browsing history ( if you have that enabled) to show ads more relevant to your interests.
But it seems not all profiles are correct.
Here are the categories and demographics of my profile.
Amazingly I only seem to have three interest categories which is a little odd as the very nature of my web and graphic design job, means I run a huge gamut of searches across a wide range of subjects and industries. Secondly they have me pegged in the 25-334 age range …which is sweet … but incorrect. Just about the only thing they got right was my gender.
Google allows you to remove or edit anything you like and also opt out of the tailored ad system completely.
Does Google have your profile correct?
© 2012 Chicago Web Designer
Chicago web designer: Creative balance
The old saying goes “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” If all I did was work, work, work I know for certain my digital creativity would dry up. I keep my passion for web and graphic design alive by balancing work and play. You will NOT find my chained to my computer screen day and night. Oh, I also have no interest in having a data plan on my phone so I can check my email etc. where ever I am. When I step away from my computer I like to step away from the electronic world.
It seems however I am unable to step away from the creative world. Here are a few of the fun non computer creative things I have done in the last year.
- Invested in an SLR digital camera, while my photos are far from professional I did qualified for a profile on istockphotos.com
- Built some sand sculptures in the gorgeous white sands of Florida.
- Learnt how to tie the fantastic monkey fist knot
- Enjoyed the creative eye candy of down town Chicago. From the wonderful impressionist painting in the Art Institute of Chicago to the amazing reflections from “The Bean“
- Transformed a dungeon basement room to a teenage penthouse complete with painted skyline mural
- Made an igloo in the garden after the spectacular snow storm in February
- Got creative with food with some doggy cookies …for humans.
- Got inspired to buy some watercolor paints after discovering a painting I’d started at age 17 and never finished. Brushing up on some seriously lost skills!
- Planted a vegetable garden …that our resident garden critters enjoyed very much.
I am looking forward to many more creative adventures in 2012… digital or not.
©: 2011 Chicago web designer
in Chicago Graphic Design, Chicago Web Designer, Random Thoughts
Free Facebook cover graphics: Facebook Timeline
Facebook will make it’s new timeline approach to profile pages default on December 22nd. The look and feel of the profile page will change and additional functionality to visit past posts via a timeline, will be introduced. If you don’t want to wait you can easily get the new timeline visiting here , a clicking the “get timeline now” button.
The new profile page features a large cover photo which you will need to set. You can use one of your existing photos or upload something new.
The dimension of the cover photo is 850px by 315 px, if the image you select is smaller that that it will end up being stretched and not sharp.
I created a montage of contemporary graphics for my cover photo, they are the same as the ones I used to create the “Color Punch” igoogle theme.
To get you started I am offering three contemporary graphics you can use on your own Facebook profile. Download by clicking on the image and saving to your computer. They are sized correctly and ready to go.
Color Splat
Color Punch
Rays
© 2011 Chicago web designer
The Chicago web designer on istockphoto.com
As a web designer I know an image can sometimes say a thousand words and stock photography companies like istockphoto play an invaluable tool in my web designers’ tool box.
I recently got approved as an istockphoto photographer and while photography is something I only dabble in, I like to challenge myself to take photos worthy to post online!
You can view my collection so far at www.istockphoto.com which feature photos taken in the North shore area of Chicago this past fall. I am the first to admit I am no Ansel Adams but I find the creative process fun.
© 2011 Chicago Web Designer
in Chicago Web Designer, Design Snippets, Miscellaneous, Random Thoughts, Stockphotography
Looking for a Chicago web design company?
A quick Google search for “Chicago web design company” producing a whopping 68,700,000 results. This is a big town and there are lots of players. Not every design firm will be right for every project and finding a company you are comfortable working with and a good fit for your project, can be a challenge.
Here is a brief snapshot of what we offer
- Design Services
- Web site design
- Web redesign, we can rework what you already have to bring it up to date
- Blog design
- Wordpress templates
- Identity design, including logo, letterhead and business cards
- Complete corporate branding
- Graphic design for projects such as brochures, posters, trade show banners, advertisements etc
- Presentations, powerpoint
- Email templates
- Banner ads
- Web Services
- Domain registration
- Web hosting
- Website coding – need a design turned into a working website?
- eCommerce
- Marketing Services
- Search Engine Optimization ( SEO) and keyword analysis
- Pay per click programs e.g Google Adsense
- Social networking e.g Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
- Video internet marketing
We have been in business since 2000 and have many very happy clients under our belt, see what some of them have to say here
We are located in Lincolnshire, in the North Shore area of Chicago.
© 2011 Chicago Web Designer
in Chicago Branding, Chicago Graphic Design, Chicago Web Designer
Wall art for a web and graphic design office
I am lucky to have a fabulous office with large windows, wonderful light and enough space “to swing a cat” or two. I keep the decor simple and modern and came across this fabulous wall art today that I think must adorn my walls soon.
I think any graphic or web designer would appreciate this excellent piece by Peppersprouts
© 2011 Chicago web designer
Eye of the Chicago web designer: Nature as inspiration for design
I often turn to nature when looking for inspiration for design elements, everything from color, texture, contrast, focus and shape.
Here are a few examples I have shared over the years.
- Call to action
- Using nature to create a color palette for your brand
- Color Sampling
- Color Palette
- Shapes in nature
As a designer I am am not alone in using nature as inspiration and yesterday, via another designer, I came across this wonderful video, nature by numbers. It is definitely worth a watch.
Eye of the Chicago web designer: Creativity on my Desk
As a web and graphic designer it is my job to be creative, to come up with new a novel ways of presenting things, to create designs that a visually alluring and engaging.
Well the creative aspect of my job tumbles into my everyday life and there is nothing like this little pop of color on my desk to make me pick up one of these lovely home made pens and start sketching out logo ideas or architectural wire frame details.
© 2011 Chicago web designer
