Words

20.01.17

Hi, my name is Amber and I like words. Words like cognizant, parallel, and stupefy. English is my native language and I enjoy its nuances. I also enjoy other languages, especially German. I can't explain where my love of language came from. I didn't enjoy English classes at school and I took German classes on a whim. Playing with language makes me happy, no matter which one it is. Reeling off long, complicated sentences is fun - even more so when you have a friend to bounce them back at you. Is nothing in this world free? Words seem to be. #

22.01.17

"Capture the mind and the heart and the body". This is something Don Norman said about designing things for people. I recently discovered this man after his book was recommended by Steve Krug in his book 'Don't Make Me Think'. I have seen videos of both men speaking and was really captivated and impressed by their humble natures and humility. Both seem really engaging, passionate and down to earth. These are qualities I really aspire to and I feel so happy I can learn from such people. The way design is entwined with psychology is so significant. This fascinates me. #

24.01.17

Once again my mental capacity cup runneth over with all the stuff I am trying to learn. Content management, conversion rates, static sites, blogs, CSS, SEO, databases, semantic code, JavaScript, user experience, logos, branding, analytics, design, what to do, what not to do, etcetera. The list goes on but these are things that immediately spring to mind. My mind, as it always has, constantly screams 'LEARN ALL THE THINGS!, while flooding me with the excitement this involves. Sometimes, I feel like I live inside a skydiving machine, with pieces of information flitting and floating about. Pieces eventually come together, relax. #

26.01.17

Does every person assume that others think how they think? This is something to watch in user research design. One of the many psychological intricacies one must consider in all steps of the design process. The job is not for one person in the team, but all members. A collective empathy is infinitely more powerful than when it is confined to one individual. However, empathy is not overt. It cannot be physically observed, so naturally has less emphasis and respect placed upon it. Empathy doesn't only form great products but also makes us better people. Put yourself in another's shoes. #

28.01.17

Something incredible about nature is the feelings it brings when all one does is quietly observe. If you want to clear your mind, soul, or lungs, nature is there. As well as bringing peace, nature brings me focus. On the occasional day I feel confused or unlike myself, stepping outside helps me. If I'm feeling reclusive, time spent outside among people can reignite my urge to connect with others. It reignites my passion and motivation. A person is a person because of people. It pays to remember we are an innately social species and connection with others is incredibly important. #

30.01.17

Apps are all the range. Some people say Apple's App Store values quantity over quality too much. What is needed to create a quality app? I don't know the answer, although I'd like to learn. Indeed, I constantly feel my web-naivety slipping away. I'm slowly learning that a quality app is not built in a day, by a single developer, on a single system. Most importantly, I now appreciate that a good app needs maintenance. This point taps into the life-long learning ethos of programming. Systems change, new ideas arise, fierce collaboration occurs. Loving learning sets you in good stead. #

01.02.17

Why do people work the way we do? We are a social species. Many of us search for what makes us different. I believe the greatest harmony arises by focusing on similarities. Isn't it a wonderful thought? To be able to say that some traits are shared amongst us all. 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' is nice to think about. He lists physiological wellbeing, safety, love, belonging, and self-esteem as traits we all share, or at least long for. There may be others, too. Knowing what unites us fosters respect, understanding, and tolerance for any type of person we may meet. #

03.02.17

Human nature can be depressing at times. So much anger, hatred, irritation, annoyance, passive-aggression, jealousy, name-calling, shame, guilt, etc. The list goes on. In a world that is becoming more connected, we may expect negativity to diminish, but it seems these primarily virtual connections don't always encourage positive emotions. Add in the mounting pressure felt by a constantly stretched world, and its ever-stretched population, and there leaves even less room for positivity. It is the responsibility of each individual to advocate positivity in their own lives. A little positivity spreads to the next person, then the next. Positivity can snowball. #

05.02.17

What does it take to insert positivity into your lifestyle and be able to keep it alive and kicking? Perhaps if we visualise ourselves as robots with some SD card slots. Picture inserting the positivity card, installing the programme, and keeping it quietly running in the background. Things like social or cultural updates might periodically become available to help keep algorithms running smoothly in pace with real world events. Would such a robot seem inhuman? Of course. Nobody is endlessly positive, are they? As people we can't be expected to be, but we can do our best to promote positivity. #

06.02.17

I watch a vlog on blogging that mentioned Tumblr. I check out my old Tumblr account that I am certain is around eight years old by now. I love the first picture on my homepage, no surprise there. The picture belongs to a portraits blog. I scroll through the images and am captivated. The beautiful way people are captured in the pictures breathes emotion and clarity. They are gorgeously sculpted yet fragile and delicate depictions of the physical attributes common to us all. Lips, eyes, ears, noses, hair, clothes, jewellery, scars, etc. We can relate to these pictures. See http://pursuitofportraitsblog.tumblr.com/ #

08.02.17

Yesterday, a developer at Codebar Brighton helped me implement a responsive navigation bar for my site. Due to my HTML and CSS being messy, the navbar did not work. I was advised to clean up my code to see if it helped. I'd been planning to do this anyway. Today, I created new files and copied over all non-obsolete code into them. I implemented the navbar code once more, and, voila! It worked. I achieved something today. A small victory but enough to get me publishing on Github once again. There's so much still to do, and not enough time! #

10.02.17

Today I feel overwhelmed. I remained calm. The only way I can achieve something is to keep on working and learning. Managing my emotions is just a small part of life, really. Emotions are the things that drive most of what we do, which can lead us to naturally place large precedence on them. These primal, lizard-brained, atomic influxes of feeling can feel domineering and controlling. We need to show emotions that we are boss. We can still respect them, consider their opinions. After all, they exist to guide us. However, our rational side can be the leader. Just persevere. #

12.02.17

Blogging. A mystical, magical, sparkly way to reach umpteen gazillion viewers from the confines of dark, musty room. A skilful foray into clicking your mouse button whilst sitting in one spot can ensure connections and networks are formed, agreements made, content published and big bucks brought in. I just ordered a book on blogging, looking forward to reading it. I have some small experience vlogging about learning German. I gained Youtube subscribers. Time and priorities zapped the energy I needed for the project. Now I regret I didn't keep it up. People want content, let's find how to provide it. #

14.02.17

It seems to be easy to connect emotionally to the physical aspects of others. It is interesting that we can struggle to connect emotionally to the non-physical aspects. I wonder if it is that we are afraid of what we can't see. It could be that we fear having to deal with the emotional baggage of others, and that it may influence our own feelings in a negative way. I am reminded of the iceberg analogy where what we see is just ten percent of the real picture. Ninety percent of a person is below the surface. Invisible but there. #

16.02.17

Tiny bits of information. Thousands go into code. Programmers build applications up with miniscule strings of letters and numbers. Or is that arrays, or variables, or booleans? JavaScript terminology is a topic for another day. What I mean is that programmers are masters of information architecture. They can build you a beautiful house. They have frameworks at their fingertips that can cause a fully-formed, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom detached with a garden and a view spring up from the earth as fast as you can blink. Maybe an over exaggeration, but the process is nonetheless as exciting as it sounds. #

18.02.17

There are plenty of moments where life seems ordinary. Occasionally, quite a different moment may permeate our consciousness. Unique to each person, a sudden feeling that life is wonderful and contains boundless opportunities. We feel we can change the world and want to seek ways to do it. The difference between the ordinary and wonderful moments are quite striking. I'd like to experience more of the latter. Although it's hard to write a solid list of ways to do this, I believe feeling happy and fulfilled in life is at the heart of everything. Like the drummer in a band. #

20.02.17

One of the things I love most in the world of design, amongst many, is architecture. Zipping along the railway towards London I am privy to fleeting but detailed views of people's houses. In a split-second, I get to observe a dwelling where the occupants have spent countless hours. I feel almost as if I've been invited in for tea. My favourite part, though, is the opportunity to appreciate each house's collective history. The location, proximity to other houses, condition, windows, bricks, roof, garden. Wondering why it was built, when and by whom. What different story could each house tell? #

22.02.17

Keeping a creative flame burning requires more than fuel, say in the form of food. As people we also have advanced CPUs to run (our brains), and for this we need plenty of sleep. A need is quite a particular thing. User experience designers can explain the difference between user's needs and wants. What people want may not always be in line with what they need. On one hand, carefully researching and listening to users through a series of planned questions can help distinguish the two. On another, merely observing how people interact with their environment can say a lot. #

24.02.17

There are capabilities available to us that escape the vast majority of life. The ability to ponder decisions, actions and situations and arrive at one of an infinite number of conclusions. Recently, a friend engaged me in conversation around such things. He explained how amazing it is that we're blessed with our cognitions. I believe life is something wonderful and precious. It should be enjoyed and relished. Hard work is important, but play is as well. A developer speaking on a podcast I heard today reiterated this. We can't realise our full potential unless we are happy in all aspects. #

26.02.17

Travelling is something I do that brings me what nothing else can. It is impossible for me to say what could be more life-giving. However, it may increase my awareness of the world that I know too much. Residing permanently and happily in one country must be a soothing bubble. I haven't done so for eleven years, and never in my adult life. I still believe life is too short to be happy remaining in one place. Life and wonderful experiences await those who are hungry to jump into the unknown. There are billions of people, let's meet them all. #

28.02.17

Is ambiguity ever something to be afraid of? Would most people like to live the same every day, with no changes or challenges along the way? There might be something desirable about a comfort bubble. Though, in my experience, I've never learned much while being in one. Pushing boundaries at home, not just in work, might be important. I jumped out of my comfort bubble by travelling and living in different countries, meeting as many people as I could. I learned and grew so much doing it. On top of this, I can enjoy having a worldwide family for life. #

02.03.17

I have lived in Brighton almost 9 months now. The longest I have lived anywhere since I studied in the Netherlands in 2014. The longer I live here, the more at home I feel. Leaving for holidays and coming back requires some adjusting though. I am getting closer to being able to complete my career shift. Leaving Brighton for a few days throws me off this focused course slightly. After the wobble, I slowly but surely gather momentum and can really put my foot on the gas peddle. Although, I will of course drive carefully and watch out for hazards. #

04.03.17

My friend describes JavaScript as logical and CSS as creative. And she prefers the former. It made me wonder if my preference for the latter was due to a difference in our brains. Studying psychology, I learned about the apparent contrast between the left and right halves of the brain. Is one side really more logical or creative than the other? I found a book recommended on a tweet called 'A Whole New Mind'. I ordered it straight away. It is written by a former Obama speech writer called Daniel Pink. His writing is so engaging and down to earth. #

06.03.17

I want to write a post on words. Words, to me, are magical. To me, they breathe culture, history, emotions and knowledge. Everyone, everyday, uses words. Words bind the world together in so many ways. Their fascinating nuances and rich histories hail back to when our species first gained the ability to use them. Countless thousands of languages, some now lost forever, developed over thousands of years. In no one language does one express themselves the same way. "To have another language is to possess a second soul" - Charlemagne. Learning a new language brings you outside yourself, an exhilarating process. #

08.03.17

There is planning to be done but how do I fit it in? I keep asking myself this question. There is so much I want to learn. I really want to learn all that I can about the world of web and software development. In an attempt to organise my learning I write myself goals but these pile up and are hard to follow. I have begun writing down the things I do every day. The lists are long. Information comes at me from all angles. I love it but it's exhausting. I just need more hours in the day. #

10.03.17

The talks at SheSaysBrighton made me realise that there is no one set path to success or changing the world. Even if you begin your journey later than others did. Does the old adage 'better late than never' ring true? Yes it does. Rejoice in the sound of a thousand bells, encouraging you to achieve what you really want. Step back, look around and observe the beautifully diverse film reels that are everyone else's life paths. Strength comes from diversity. Multitudes of different experiences foster shared understanding, connection and knowledge growth. We are stronger together. Always encourage others to succeed. #

12.03.17

Making a conscious effort to be positive can promote happiness. Simply being yourself is another way to do this. Being yourself is often overlooked or undermined. I have been told that if you want to be good at public speaking, try to be yourself. Others want to see the genuine you. They don't want to see a copy of someone else. Everyone is unique and that's a wonderful thing. Bring yourself to the table and people will be able to learn from your one-of-a-kind perspective. Don't put on a show, be a show-stopper. It requires so much less effort, really. #

14.03.17

Speaking to people in the tech industry can also be intimidating. People with many more years of experience than me seem like giants. Towering above me, it seems their head and shoulders are shrouded in opaque, soundproof clouds, through which I can discern fast-paced mumbling but not much else. At times, they bend down, look you me the eyes, and talk to me. Eventually, they inevitably end up in the clouds again. Goodness knows what they are doing up there. What exciting topics they are discussing. I like giving visual explanations. Perhaps my vision is complete nonsense. What is yours? #

16.03.17

I am trying to be more and more productive every day. How can productivity be defined? Put simply it may mean getting as much done in a short a time as possible. How, then, can one measure productivity when there are no set goals? Learning about web development and the massive umbrella of skills that covers it makes it hard to set tangible goals. There's simply too much to learn. How can new developers (who are also very curious beings) feel productive while learning? I make lists of small tasks I want to achieve. This helps me focus my time. #

18.03.17

Let me take a quick foray into the topic of success. There can be much said about it. It can scare some people. I wonder if it is really so scary, or elusive, or undefined. Maybe people get worked up pursuing it. Perhaps it's easier to obtain than many think. Stepping back, taking a deep breath, and spending a few moments thinking realistically can bring your path into a clearer view. Note in simple terms what you want and, much more importantly, why you want something. The honest and unique reasons behind why you want something are important to know. #

20.03.17

As a budding developer, is it more important to read a lot, practice a lot, talk to lots of people, have your own site, build a stunning portfolio, worry all the time about the skills you'll need to be hired? I am realising more and more that there's no prescribed path, and there's no one thing that's more important than another. In the world of development it might, just infact, be most important to show passion, willingness to learn, kindness, empathy, openness, honesty, etc. A genuine, fiery, popping enthusiasm for the world of web development gives you the best start. #

22.03.17

All the emphasis is architect or designer, scientist or engineer or whatever, as opposed to where do you want to live? What kind of life do you want? I saw this quote at a job fair. It spoke to me as I've always been primed to think of jobs in rather black and white terms. Study this to be this. If this prescribed path isn't followed, success can't be guaranteed. I believe this stifles creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, which is a big shame because the world needs more of that stuff. I'm finally starting to ask myself the right questions. #

24.03.17

The phrase 'out-of-the-box thinking' seems quite ambiguous to me but I think it'd be fun to analyse. For me it conjures an image of a brown, nondescript, cube-shaped cardboard box. The box is shut, but quietly humming and occasionally twitching. Through the cracks I see a bright, colourful light seeping through. Wrapped messily around it is a yellow tape reading 'caution, do not enter'. I pick it up and realise it's heavy. I hold it up just high enough to peer through a tiny gap on the side. Inside are a million thoughts whizzing around with no place to go. #

26.03.17

Ever wondered how to tell if you've learned something well? A good marker is the ability to explain it simply, concisely and confidently to anyone who asks. This is a lot harder than it looks. It requires deep understanding. Explaining an intricate or complicated topic in one hundred rather than two hundred words may appear easy at first. Trying it is another matter. In web development, where content is key and user/stakeholder time is short, this ability is much appreciated, and is often essential for good business. I practiced it a lot during my Master's. It's a fun challenge. #

28.03.17

Words and the web, what a wonderful combination. What there is to learn about the web, it's history and intricacies, is almost as engaging as the content of the web itself. Even more exciting, there is a solid group of smart and sparkling individuals whose vast, combined knowledge helps advocate for the continuation of a strong and fair web. A web that's accessible by all, regardless of age, gender, status, disability. One that's secure. One that can be used as a platform for free speech. I'm so thankful for these people who fight for a web that belongs to all. #

30.03.17

The best way to challenge a status quo is to stand your ground. The best way to do that is being sure of yourself and know who you are. In tech, people talk of learning. Love the process of learning, feel the fire for it, and you'll go far. Many may assume this refers to new programming languages, design techniques, web strategies, etc. It does. But, something just as important receives far less attention. The need to learn about yourself, iterate your own thought processes, morals, and wishes. We need to constantly development ourselves, not just the technology around us. #

01.04.17

Worrying about things can give you mind block. It doesn't matter what the things are. Worry begets worry. To-do lists pile up. The demons of procrastination and fear snuggle up on your shoulders exchanging sly grins. The simple truth is, though, that nothing gets done where worry exists. Analysing where your worry comes from is essential. Find it, and explain away your reason for it. Write your divs, write your code, read your books, talk to people, and refine everything later. Rome wasn't built in a day. You want to build a lot, I'm sure. Do it little by little. #

03.04.17

Slowing down in your work is good advice, but it applies even more so in your non-work life. The foggy mind and lapses in judgement acquired from rushing can affect your work but also affects how you take care of yourself and others. This brings to mind the phrase work-life balance. It seems we don't just have to balance the boundary between life and work but also the boundaries within each one. Slowing down can be hard for some, me included. I imagine that if I don't have things done really fast, people will be irritated. Is this always true? #

05.04.17

I've been offered an incredible opportunity to speak at a very meaningful web conference in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It's a huge responsibility, and one I will in no way take lightly. I need to find a topic and write something for a 20 or 30 minute slot. I'll be brainstorming in the coming days. I'd really like to weave in the quietly pertinent matter of slowing down and what it might mean for the future of the web. I'm excited to write something that will spark a healthy discussion on where the web will go. #

07.04.17

I was offered an internship by a design agency today. Now I can tell people that I work at a design agency. It's still a bit of a dream come true. Although it's a dream I didn't know I had. Things have materialised in the past ten months that I didn't plan for. A year ago I was in Warsaw and planning to pursue a doctorate in psychology in the UK. There I experienced tiny sparks of interest in web design, but nothing more. Now my career has done a total 180. Life is a circus and I'm an acrobat. #

09.04.17

Today I was reminded how important connecting with others really is. There's never been a time I've been able to prove this wrong. What I'd like to do is prove it right much more often. In my short time living in Brighton, I've become friends with so many great people. Their willingness to share and advise has brought me to where I am today. When I am unsure of or nervous about something, I gather advice from as many friends as possible. The amalgamation of their different perspectives makes me feel I can do anything. Connection is the way forward. #

11.04.17

I wonder if analogies are effective at helping people understand events or circumstances in their lives. I think they are. Analogies are simply a different perspective on things. They lift you out of holes that you've dug over time. They grant you different ways of looking at problems, often allowing you to leave behind frustrating thoughts or ideas that weren't getting you anywhere. I now find it easy to understand why experts value the contributions of newbies. Nobody at any level of expertise can thrive in isolation. The best work is accomplished when many angles are considered. Perspectives are powerful. #

13.04.17

What draws people to web development? Reasons are plenty. People often reason they enjoy it. But, which aspects? Web development as a career is broad and multi-faceted. A fantastic thing about it, echoed in a talk by Terri Trespicio, is that you don't need to specialise and focus right away. Terri tells us not to feel pressured, but just to do things. To grab as many experiences as possible. We shouldn't follow our passions, but rather let our passions follow us. The world of web development is all about connecting, communication and contributing. Enjoy the experiences, it's a fun time. #

15.04.17

The distinction between work and play really interests me. It reminds me of the line separating childhood and adulthood. In my opinion, this should never take the form of a line. It's best when play and work are interwoven, even in very young children. This way, a child is prepared to face adulthood, and when said adulthood is reached, the magic of childhood is not entirely left behind. The immense joys of childhood - discovery, learning, adventures, fairytales, close and loving relationships... should those be forgotten? Not at all. Embracing our inner child makes us better in life, love and business. #

17.04.17

What's the best way to get ideas out? The most important step is surely writing down the ideas in the first place. Writing an idea so that people will understand it and leave thinking about it. Perhaps this is the most stressful part of the process, full of worry about coming across as boring or out of context. Mindmapping could be a good technique to get ideas out and link them all together. For this, it's best to shut the computer and begin drawing. Maybe putting technology to one side and grabbing traditional pen and paper would work written wonders. #

19.04.17

What can we learn from slowing down? It's a difficult task to accomplish and one that requires lots of conscious, effortful willpower. Especially for those of us whose minds move a thousand miles a minute, who lust for knowledge, who feel a deep need to piece information together and understand the universe we live in. There have, in the past months, been several divs written on the importance of slow design. The idea is to be deliberate about what we do. Why work hard when we can work smart? A lazy person can find an easy way of doing things. #

21.04.17

A lot of success boils down to confidence. Being sure of the things we do is really important. We do so many little things every day and they all end up interconnected. When sure of ourselves, everything flows more smoothly and allows us to progress in desired directions. Having respect for ourselves means we don't only look out for ourselves but also others. We're able to be better learners and teachers. We can more easily contribute value - something I'm sure many have the urge to do. Being ourselves is the best thing we can do for us and everyone else. #

23.04.17

What you write may or may not be useful or valuable for other people, but it will always be so for you. It could be that not everyone really 'gets' it, but that's okay. If your thoughts make just one person out of hundreds think about things slightly differently, then I think it's worth making them public. I'm coming to the end of my 100 day 100 words challenge but don't really want to stop, so I'll think up another writing challenge. I tend to cringe a bit when I read what I've already written but that doesn't bother me. #

25.04.17

I seem to have a nack for meeting and making friends born in different countries. I might be drawn to their language, their knowledge, their culture. Brighton is a fantastic place to be if you're like me and enjoy friends from distant lands. Most recently I met a Bulgarian man and a Spanish lady. They both exclaimed how English often surprises them. One played with and tripped over words in English that have multiple meanings, for example crane, rose or date. The other wrote and gave a talk in English. An impressive feat when English is not your first language. #

27.04.17

I'd like to piece together little fragments of memories, whether mine or someone else's. Perhaps if I take enough little shards of glass from very different places, I'd be able to craft something beautiful that nobody has ever seen before. Maybe someone would be able to relate to this person through their own experiences. What could this do for such a person? Bring their own suffering into perspective, let them know they aren't alone? Help them understand other people don't just get but have also experienced similar things. I think these are some of the greatest things writing can do. #

29.04.17

Today is the last day of my writing challenge. I can't believe I have written ten thousand words. If I were to read everything out it would take me almost an hour. Yet, one hundred words seems like such a small amount. An amount that only takes a few minutes to write. This teaches a great lesson. Do a little, achieve a little every day. Small steps do lead to greater things. This is something essential to remember in the world of web development where tasks and learning can appear to be never-ending. Don't stress out, just keep doing stuff. #