Trails of Learning Web Design

Pet Projects Updates.

#1) Create a Website that used Javascript to make a website for a friend – Done. Waiting on more information before polishing it off. Friend is really busy with work right now, so it’s going on the back burner for now.

#2) Make a WP Theme: Turned out Project#1 was over my head to turn into a WP theme because the Javascript split screens. Making a simple html + CSS site to making into a WP theme with underscores.

#3) Plugin: Going to take Hello Dolly and change it bit to a plugin that I’ll share with you when it’s done. I just check and I can submit my plugin into the WP Plugin Repo as long as I give credit to Hello Dolly.

Friday Check In: Aug 26, 2016

Project Check In:

StudioBeLee.com:
Phase I: Rebrand + Wire Frame –
Phase II: Update content + photos
Phase III: Build
Javascript (JS): Make a JS driven intake from for Studiobelee.com
Phase I: Design + Wire Frame – Next Week
Phase II: Content
Phase III: Build
Build a WP Theme from Underscores w/ a simple plugin.
Phase I: Split Screen (JS) Site:
3 issues:.
- Icons for the social media
- Author’s name getting cut off on the desktop break
- gallery code only working in mobile break.

Phase II: Turn Project #2’s Split Screen (JS) Site into a WP site using Underscores.
Phase III: Make a simple WP plugin for the site

Friday Check In: Aug 19, 2016

Project Check In:

Overall: Had a bunch of fires to put out this week but at least did an hour of work each day. Baby steps till this starts paying my bills full time.

StudioBeLee.com:
Phase I: Rebrand + Wire Frame – Still working on it
Phase II: Update content + photos
Phase III: Build
Javascript (JS): Make a JS driven intake from for Studiobelee.com
Phase I: Design + Wire Frame – Next Week
Phase II: Content
Phase III: Build
Build a WP Theme from Underscores w/ a simple plugin.
Phase I: Split Screen (JS) Site:
3 issues:.
- Icons for the social media – Still working on it
- Author’s name getting cut off on the desktop break
- gallery code only working in mobile break.

Phase II: Turn Project #2’s Split Screen (JS) Site into a WP site using Underscores. – Decided to start this phase of the project next week, as I’m still working out the bugs of Phase I.
Phase III: Make a simple WP plugin for the site

Friday Check In: Aug 12, 2016

Project Check In:

StudioBeLee.com:
Phase I: Rebrand + Wire Frame – Next Week
Phase II: Update content + photos
Phase III: Build
Javascript (JS): Make a JS driven intake from for Studiobelee.com
Phase I: Design + Wire Frame – Next Week
Phase II: Content
Phase III: Build
Build a WP Theme from Underscores w/ a simple plugin.
Phase I: Split Screen (JS) Site:
3 issues:.
- Icons for the social media
- Author’s name getting cut off on the desktop break
- gallery code only working in mobile break.

Phase II: Turn Project #2’s Split Screen (JS) Site into a WP site using Underscores.

Phase III: Make a simple WP plugin for the site

Project #1: Set back

I was told by the potential client that one of her designer friends would build it her a membership site in four hours and for free. So she decide to go with that. It didn’t sound right, but I have never build a membership site before so I wished her the best of luck.

Decide I’m going to redesign my StudioBeLee.com site as my Project #1. Redesign with a premium theme from design to execution.

Design:
Branding – Create a style guild + Logo

Content for Services:
WordPress Packages
Conculation
Teaching Basic WordPress + Web
Aftercare

Blog:
Each Month First Monday at 10am – Pre write 6 blogs on questions about WordPress as a CMS.

Project #1: Working on Replacing Project #1

My originally project was growing a basic WordPress site that I build a while ago. I met with the client and they decide that didn’t really want any thing add, so we just need to update the content from them before we push the updated site live.

Had anther person approach me with a basic membership site. We talk for a bit but we need to hammer out the details before writing up a contact to move forward. During the talk, the client decide that they also wanted a redesign so it’s going to be a full website instead of just a membership plugin integration.

Update on my project:

Update: My progress has been slowed dramatically down since my mother got her surgery last week, and I’ve back running errands for her. I’ve been working at least one of these projects and working on my Javascript for an hour a day. Slow and steady. Learning to be kind to myself. Life happens.

Project One: Meet with Client. Right now waiting on content from client to drop in and we are basically done. The client like the way I set it up simply and didn’t want to add any thing

Project Two: Working on more Javascript Classes. Will be trying to put together a start of draft intake form next week.

Project Three: I’m not sure how to start with creating my own WordPress Theme from underscores but will be googling it 30 min a day to figure out a game plan.

Project #3: Learning to build a WordPress Theme from Underscores.

Intake: Meet with Client.
Design: Style Title + Wire Frame + Client Feedback
Development: This well the challenge.
Test:
Launch:
Time Frame: One Year from Start Date
Goals:

Learn to understand what goes into making a very simple WordPress Theme from Underscores.
Make a very simple plugin
Work with a real client

Project #2: Pre Screening Intake Form – Completed WireFrame

Project #2: Coding a Pre Screening Intake Form using Javascript for my StudioBeLee.com site.

Checklist:

Wireframe: Create a wireframe
Game Plan: Figure out what I need with Javascript to hand code the page.
Code: Work on coding the page
Blog: Document it and blog the trails + errors
Research: how to add JS into a prebuilt WordPress Theme.

Time Frame: Ideally at the end of the summer.

WireFrame: I’m going to build it out and then go back and work tinker with the design + ux.

Notes: I posted it on FB and received some feed back. I adjusted it to the current version.

Next Week: Game Plan

To do this week to set up what I want to learn…

with my own lessons/internship this summer.

This week:

1 hour coding lessons + reading web related stuff
1-2 hours researching and planing out what I would like to accomplish aka scooping out my projects. Keeping notes on what works and doesn’t work.

Starting next week – Four hours each day:

1 hour learning to code and reading up on web tech
2-3 hours working on project. I need to learn time manage my projects and document my time, so that I get a better idea on how long things take me.

I will have 3 projects:

Updating a WP site for a client, that including working with a real client.
Work on creating a JS site that has a funtioning registration form to take client information. It would be nice to use it as my intake form for people who are interested in hiring me.
Work on learning to use Underscores to build my own WordPress Theme. This dose not need to be completely done but help me learn about building a custom WP theme and plugin.

I must document all 3 projects and learn to use Github as version control. Write a blog weekly on what I learned. Need to learn to project manage in time allotted. These projects will go on my resume portfolio site (beleestudio.com).