Artisan Talent Blog » training http://www.artisantalent.com/blog Matching talent with success Thu, 23 May 2013 05:00:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Today’s Value and Venues of Additional Training http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/todays-value-and-venues-of-additional-training.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/todays-value-and-venues-of-additional-training.aspx#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:05:21 +0000 Jeff Orloff http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/?p=104564

For many creative and tech freelancers, taking time away from projects to learn new skills or even brush up on old ones equates to taking the day off. After all, you don’t typically earn money while you’re sitting in a training course. However any resume that does not reflect skills and abilities that are current in today’s market will likely wind up in the “do-not-contact” bin.

A decade ago, computer-based and online training really couldn’t compete with being in an actual classroom for direct instruction. Nowadays, though, virtual training is often more effective and efficient than having to sit and listen to a lecture all day.

There are many different training opportunities available for you to take advantage of to make yourselves more competitive. A few places to start are:

YouTube and Vimeo
These video sharing sites are filled with videos that walk you through tutorials, tips and techniques for just about any type of skill. Want to learn how to design a website template in Photoshop? Curious how to leverage SEO for your website? These topics, and countless more, can be found here. But because these resources are so easily accessible, make sure to only pursue credible ones with cautious selectivity.

Vendor Websites
Product vendors like Adobe and Microsoft provide users with training videos on just about everything you can do with their software packages, and most of the time  they are free. Better yet, like video sharing sites, these training videos can provide a quick walk-through for a task, giving you a perfect excuse to take a “break” from working on that project.

Paid Training
While other methods of training are great for someone looking for a simple tip or how-to, there are times when you need to turn to formalized training. Not only are these more comprehensive, but often times you can work towards a certification in your skill as well, which is a great resume booster. Be prepared for formal, paid training to be a bit expensive – but the outcome is usually worth it.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/todays-value-and-venues-of-additional-training.aspx/feed 0 Develop a Specialty http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/develop-a-specialty.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/develop-a-specialty.aspx#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:30:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Develop-a-Specialty.aspx At a day and age when supply outweighs demand, and everyone needs to  differientate themselves from the rest of the resume pool, we recalled this post of career advice that we want to add to the “become an artisan at your job” school of thought:

Freelance web design jobs are all unique — each one is different. So it’s important to keep up your skills in all the basic web technologies.

At the same time, it can be lucrative to develop a specialty. Interface design — the process of making a website or application easier are clearer to use — is one area where contracts are widely available.

Another kind of specialty might involve one specific area of content. For instance, if you know a lot about opera and have a great portfolio, you might market yourself to popular opera singers, opera companies, and singers’ agents to build opera-related sites.

Designer and blogger Andy Budd describes the ideal skill set as being like an inverted T — a base of expertise plus one (or maybe more) deep specialty.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/develop-a-specialty.aspx/feed 0 New York Skill-Building http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/new-york-skill-building.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/new-york-skill-building.aspx#comments Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:43:00 +0000 Catherine T /blog/post/New-York-Skill-Building.aspx There are eight million people in New York City, and some days it seems like at least a million of them are freelancers competing for the same jobs you want. If you need to add some software to your resume or want to refresh your creative eye, try these institutions:
  • 3D Training Institute
  • Fashion Institute of Technology
  • Katharine Gibbs School
  • New York School of Design
  • New York University
  • School of Visual Art
  • Art Institute of New York City
  • City College of New York
  • Columbia University
  • Cooper Union
  • City University of New York
  • Parsons The New School for Design
  • Fordham University at Lincoln Center
  • New York Institute of Technology
  • New York School of Interior Design
]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/new-york-skill-building.aspx/feed 0 What is PHP? http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/what-is-php.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/what-is-php.aspx#comments Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:31:00 +0000 Catherine T /blog/post/What-is-PHP.aspx If you want to learn how to become a freelance Web developer, knowledge of PHP is an important part of making yourself a marketable commodity. PHP originally stood for "Personal Home Pages," and freelance Web developers today know it as a flexible server-side scripting language that allows interaction between the user and the website that uses PHP. To understand where PHP fits into Web design, look at its place in the scripting world. HTML is the basic structure that creates a static, unchanging Website. PHP is a command language that gives a Website the ability to accept a reader's inputs and let the Website respond to that input.

PHP is what allows a site to change. If you want to build an e-commerce site as part of a freelance Web developer job, PHP allows you to set up the shopping cart, calculate taxes and shipping and other features. PHP allows you to create photo albums or slide shows. Knowing PHP allows you to give today's customer what they want; a destination on the Internet that responds to a customer or reader in a variety of creative, fun to use ways. Today's web technology trends include demands that can be met by the features you can create using PHP or modifying the PHP already in use on that site.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/what-is-php.aspx/feed 0 Advance Your Design Skills http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/advance-your-design-skills.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/advance-your-design-skills.aspx#comments Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:52:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Advance-Your-Design-Skills.aspx It doesn't matter whether you are trying to come up with creative graphic design concepts or simply learn more about how to be a better freelance Website designer, continuing education is key. In order to stay on top of what is going on in the field, you need to continually advance your design skills and keep up on the latest trends. How can you do this? There are a variety of ways, but here are three that anyone can employ:

  1. Follow someone better than you on the Web. These days there are blogs, Websites and tutorials everywhere. From Photoshop tips to Illustrator software, you can learn a lot from someone who has more knowledge than you do. Find someone on the Web who has good information on their site and keep checking back for more.
  2. Get yourself a mentor. This is especially helpful if you are new to the design field, but mentors can help no matter how far along in your career you are. Having someone show you how they use some of the more complex Illustrator tools or walk you through how to create Web pages will really broaden your perspective.
  3. Utilize social media. If you want to know where to find a good Web tutorial on the latest Photoshop brushes, or have a question about how to create a tri-fold brochure, Tweet your question on Twitter or post it on Facebook. Someone out there may have the answer you are looking for.
]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/advance-your-design-skills.aspx/feed 0 Platform-Specific Design http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/platform-specific-design.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/platform-specific-design.aspx#comments Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:40:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Platform-Specific-Design.aspx One of the most helpful qualifications of a web designer is the ability to create platform-specific design. Imagine how in demand you will be with the ability to design iPhone-friendly applications. Just as with the ability to customize content management system templates and graphics, freelance web designer jobs that require specific knowledge of iPhone-compatible design can be plentiful, but they require specific expertise. As more companies recognize the importance of mobile technology, and creating web-based media to cater to mobile users in new ways, freelance opportunities are available for those who have the know-how.

If you already have skills in this area, consider doing a few small projects and see how you like it. Can you build a 100% mobile-friendly WordPress template? Create a new app for use with an iPhone? You can do it as a hobby as you continue your journey through web design until you feel ready to market those skills to an ever-expanding list of clients. The iPhone isn't the only platform-specific opportunity for freelance web designer jobs, there are plenty of other platform-specific needs. Choose one you are familiar with and start from there.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/platform-specific-design.aspx/feed 0 Photoshop: Staying Up-To-Date http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/photoshop-staying-up-to-date.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/photoshop-staying-up-to-date.aspx#comments Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:49:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Photoshop-Staying-Up-To-Date.aspx In order to maintain an edge in the field as a creative, it helps to stay up-to-date on the latest trends that are out there. This is also true of using Photoshop–there are so many different things you can do with this program. Knowing what is hot is crucial for everything from graphic design illustration to designing brand identity. How can you keep up with the ever-changing industry? One great way to stay on top of things is by checking out the most current Web-based tutorials. Be sure to subscribe to these sites if you can or bookmark them so that you don't miss out on the new information. It can also be helpful to actually schedule in time for learning new techniques as part of your work week.

Another thing you can do is just take the time to play around a bit on your own. Sometimes learning is all about the "lucky accident," and you just might find a new way of looking at things by allowing yourself the time to create. Who knows, you may wind up being a trend-setter yourself! Another simple way to stay up on the latest trends is to subscribe to a Photoshop or design magazine. These publications try to uncover the new directions that they see emerging, which can be your first clue as to where the industry will be going next.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/photoshop-staying-up-to-date.aspx/feed 0 Help For Photoshop Users http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/help-for-photoshop-users.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/help-for-photoshop-users.aspx#comments Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:48:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Help-For-Photoshop-Users.aspx Can't decide what brush to use for a particular project? Are you having problems understanding how to create an animated GIF for a Website? Learning all the things that you can do with Photoshop can seem overwhelming, but the good news is–there is help available. It doesn't matter whether you are a production designer or the president of several graphic design firms–if you want to learn more about the program, all you have to do is make a little bit of time to check in with Adobe.

Besides tutorials, Adobe provides a selection of articles and troubleshooting information on their Website. This can be a life-saver if you need to find quick information. In addition to that, there is also online help offered if you have a specific question in mind or want to double-check your progress. Adobe also provides forums and blogs that have tips, tricks and solutions for those who are needing a bit of help getting things done. Examples of forums you can join include the Photoshop techniques forum and the photography forum. There is also information that is provided specifically for Windows users, and some for Macintosh users.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/help-for-photoshop-users.aspx/feed 0 Build Your Design Skills http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/build-your-design-skills.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/build-your-design-skills.aspx#comments Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:44:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/Build-Your-Design-Skills.aspx Chicago's reputation for excellence in graphic design means there are many options if you want to get a degree, learn a new program, or explore a new area of design in an academic setting. Institutions offering programs for Chicago graphic designers include:
  • Columbia College Chicago
  • Illinois Institute of Art
  • Institute of Design (Illinois Institute of Technology)
  • Art Institute of Chicago

If you work through a freelance agency, you may also be able to obtain training through the agency or your employer.

]]> http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/build-your-design-skills.aspx/feed 0 How to Become a Freelance Web Designer: Your First Step http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/how-to-become-a-freelance-web-designer-your-first-step.aspx http://www.artisantalent.com/blog/post/how-to-become-a-freelance-web-designer-your-first-step.aspx#comments Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:24:00 +0000 Artisan /blog/post/How-to-Become-a-Freelance-Web-Designer-Your-First-Step.aspx If you want to become a web designer, chances are you've already explored some of what you need to learn to get freelance Web designer employment or full time work. If you haven't, the first thing you will need to learn are the basic skills. How do you design a new Website? What does it take to become a freelance web designer? These questions can be answered at least in part by taking one simple step–design your own personal site and use it as your laboratory.

Try starting out simple; get a free WordPress site and explore the art of modifying and customizing the PHP code and CSS to make the site do what you want it to do. These are baby steps, but you'll be surprised at how many freelance Web design jobs are available for those who know how to do these little things. Once you start to master one content management system such as WordPress, you can move on to Joomla or another system and try your hand at that. The beauty of starting this way is that it costs you nothing except any research manuals you need to purchase to grow your skills even more.

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