In recent post Andy Rutledge writes:

I’m talking specifically about actively displaying clearly conflicting loyalties in our professional practice; e.g.: being employed by XYZ Corp. as a Web designer and operating and promoting one’s own Acme Designz on the side. This practice smacks of irresponsibility and non-commitment. It reflects poorly on both the individual and the agency that employs him. Yet this is not an uncommon practice, even among otherwise respected and highly visible designers. Why?

I must say the article got me thinking. And as much as i’m hearing most of Andy’s arguments, and i actually agree with the perception side of the issue, i can’t help but wonder..

Firstly, a lot of webdesigners have freelance background – freelancers, collectives, companies. Then you get employed as an ‘interaction director’ or ‘senior producer’ and where do your previous clients go? You can either refer them to somebody else, or you can decide that you have built enough of the client relationship (and i mean in knowing the client’s product kind of way) to think you know what to recommend to the client. And while you remain clued in his projects you have the team to actually do the work in the collective/company so it does not require you to compromise your day job.

Secondly, websphere exists on weirdly timed employments, i know a company director, who is employed as an IA for two days a week by an US company and for another two days by a Swedish company. I guess it’s down to him to figure out how to manage his time not to fail anywhere and not to take too much projects on.

Another thing is, sometimes the company that hires you has a very narrow scope of activity and client base and they are not interested in expanding it, and they would actually encourage you to handle the projects out of their time. And i think it’s better if it’s done out in the open on agreed terms.

So all in all i think it’s a fairly complex issue. As i said i can’t disagree that a person who’s employed by one company and has a competitive business on the side looks to be of questionable integrity but at the same time, there might be few factors that you might not be aware of by looking at both.

just my 2p

when lack of inspiration/crisis/rejection strikes, the artist’s survival kit is priceless – i checked and it works a treat :)

As recent figures show there is still a lot of abuse going on in email marketing among UK businesses. 31% of the companies are breaking the anti-spam laws when sending out their email newsletters and building mailing lists. Your customers’ trust is priceless, so make sure you don’t loose it by not respecting their rights. Nothing annoys more than spammy emails, that you are unable to unsubscribe from.
This is something that your webdesigner should always advise you about, however:
- make sure every form on your website that collects the visitors’ data, includes an opt- in or opt-out option
- make sure every email that you send includes the usubscribe information and that this is clearly visible. moreover, make sure it works (and it’s free)

From http://www.trendwatching.com/briefing:

Ah, storytelling, yet another holy grail in the wonderful world of marketing. What’s new in this field? How about companies no longer inundating consumers with their ‘brand stories’, but instead helping customers tell a story to other consumers. Not to promote that particular brand, but to make those customers more interesting to others. Curious?

We have seen this trend slowly catching on in the jewellery world, it’s not the Roberto Coin jewellery these days, it’s the piece that a particular designer has designed and created FOR ME. Brands are big, but they are also strict and rigid. And mass-produced. They seem to think that the audience in London and in Exeter are the same people responding to same tickles. While we are seeing the customer increasingly looking for the unique and original. The companies that will adapt and give the customers something to tell stories about will win.

Standing up for Florida just got a whole lot more violent. In Tourist
Season we see just that, open season for hunting tourists. What’s
really twisted is the terrorists are lovable characters, and they can
almost convince us what they’re up to is right.
And as usual with
Carl Hiaasen we have a whole procession of colorful characters, and the
coincidental twists bringing humor at almost every possible turn. It’s quite not politically correct and the language is pretty colourfull too :) We
finally see sergeant Al Garcia in full swing here.

I have just been lent the Cathedral of the Sea (La catedral del mar) by Ildefonso Falcones, and I haven’t been able to put it down since. Magnificent, intoxicating – although simple in style – the story is simply captivating. From the very first chapter you are brutally introduced to the ways of medieval Barcelona and Catalunya. You follow a tale of father and son as they struggle from slavery through diseases, war and noblemen conspiracies,  never loosing hope. Fate, love, money and Inquisition fight each other for power, while in the background the Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral is slowly being built by the ‘people’ of Barcelona.
This book is a keeper.

As recent figures show there is still a lot of abuse going on in email marketing among UK businesses. 31% of the companies are breaking the anti-spam laws when sending out their email newsletters and building mailing lists. Your customers’ trust is priceless, so make sure you don’t loose it by not respecting their rights. Nothing annoys more than spammy emails, that you are not able to unsubscribe from. This is something that your webdesigner should always advise you about, however: – make sure every form on your website, that collects the visitors’ data, includes an opt- in or opt-out option – make sure every email that you send includes the usubscribe information and that this is clearly visible. moreover, make sure it works (and it’s free)

on saturday i got ambushed on picadilly circus, some kind of a game,
two kids asking me questions and looking expectantly at me while i
miserably failed to answer any of them.
so here the go:
1. the
cheapest student underground fare from zone 1 to 3? – I THINK it’s
£2.00 outside peak hours, as the student discount only applies to
season tickets, but feel free to correct.
2. how much does Big Ben weigh? – as far as i can find about 15 ton, how can you expect anyone to know that??
3. since when are the coronations carried out in Westminster Abbey? – i think since 1066, the coronations of King Harold and William the Conqueror.
(there were more questions but i gave up)

That’s it, i bet YOU wouldn’t have known that.

went to the christmas networking event organised by Girly Geeks and Women in Technology yesterday, it was really nice to meet so many interesting people. being
quite shy i found it much easier to meet people where everyone’s aimed
at networking, AND everyone’s a woman. after few conversations i think
the consensus is that (first) there are only about 20% women in
technology, but it’s really not down to the employers not wanting to
employ females. quite the opposite, if you’re a woman it’s quite easy
to find a job as companies are trying to balance the staff. hence the
very interesting initiative to get 11-15 year old girls interested in
technology and IT, and show them it’s not only for boys. secondly, men
treat a job as a goal whereas women treat a job as a responsiblity,
which also means they take everything much more personally than men.
this sometimes can lead to women being able to resolve issues in a
better way then men, making them good project managers. but only after
they’ve learned not to take work as a personal issue.
all in all a very intersting evening.