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It’s Day #8! Today was supposed to be our launch, but things have been pushed back to tomorrow morning. My end of the work is done, so I’m really just waiting now so that I can finally talk about what it is that my client is doing, cause it’s pretty bad ass!

I had some questions via email today for more details on my process – so I thought I’d take you through what I do. It’s all about managing the project and staying in clear communication with your client.

Since my work really is done now, today is going to be the last day for this video series! Thank you to all of you who have been following along with me on this ride, thank you to any of you who commented, emailed or tweeted about the videos! It’s been fun sharing my experience with you, hear your feedback and getting such warm encouragement from many of you! You have really made the last 8 days awesome! Thank you!

It is day #7! Recorded this video this afternoon – trying to pump things up a bit today, I think the last couple videos have been slowing dowwwnnn.. SO – Today I talk about best practices when rushing a job. Honesty is always the best policy! Let your other clients know what is going on and give your client reasonable expectations for their fast turnaround!

Rush Project Tip of the day: Clients don’t want “YES”, they want honestly!

+ News in after video was made today – the launch had to be pushed to Thursday because of a PR issue – so we got another day people, HANG ON! :)

It’s Day #6, I think my lack of sleep is making me boring? LOL. Anyway, today it’s been all about polishing up the theme, making sure nothing is overlooked. When you’re designing a blog theme, you have to think about not only the information that will be on the site when it is launched, but the information that might be added down the road, the various elements that will need to be styled – just incase they are ever used.

Rush Project Tip of the day: Designing for web means designing with evolution in mind.

Shit, I look tired in this video… Oh well, It’s day #5!!! The weekend has been way less dramatic… than earlier this week. Today I talk about time-tracking and what it means to your bottom line.

Thanks again to all of you watching, I’ve noticed things quieting down the last couple days and suspect that this could be that all of you are out enjoying your weekend! :) Believe me or not, for all the stress of the past 5 days, I’ve still been having a blast!

Rush Project Tip of the day: High stress at the start of a project is easier to manage than stress near the end of a project!

It’s day four… things have calmed down a bit as we finish the design phase and move into development!

Today I answer questions about the integrity of design and rush fees.

Rush Project Tip of the day: If you’re giving something extra, make sure your client is giving something extra too!

It’s Day 3 and I am still here! :)

First and foremost, thank you to all of you who’re following me along on this, it’s been fun sharing the process and I hope that some of this is valuable to some of you! If anything, the hats and do-rags I use to cover my bed head are amusing! :) If you’re interested in hearing stories about crazy work schedules from other freelancers, I have a whole post dedicated to it! Freelancers, You Can Sleep When You’re Dead!

Everyone should check out the Wordpress Theme Framework Kyle left a comment about yesterday, called Thematic, download and save this for jump starting your next theme project!

Today I talk about designing for web with weak identity systems. We have all had to do it and sometimes it’s a fun challenge… a similar issue effecting freelance web designers, Coding Designs That Are Not Your Own (namely bad ones.)

Rush Project Tip of the day: Creating good design is more remarkable than sleep.

Oh …and in case you were wondering, YES! I did set 2 alarms last night.

Thanks everyone for following me on this roller coaster, all your comments and tweets really brighten my day!

It’s day 2 of my RUSH project video diary. I put in a 12 hour day yesterday and had a minor disaster this morning when my alarm failed to go off. I read through yesterdays comments and talk about clients who drag their feet and the benefits of bare-bones Wordpress theme templates. Check out this round-up of low-style themes that can give you a jump start on theme development here.

My RUSH project tip for today: Set 2 alarms!

Bonus!

Here is the Lorem Ipsum Wordpress template I mentioned – Import this .XML file into any clean install of Wordpress and you’ll have a collection of placeholder posts, pages, categories and tags to help you get a kick start on styling all the text elements that a blog will need!

You can see what these placeholder posts look like if you visit the demo version of the FREE Wordpress theme I released earlier this year called Simple Changes.

Just got home from vacation late last night and I am starting a RUSH project! Follow me over the next 7 days as I race to finish a blog theme design and development!

Day #1:

Client supplied me with all the necessary pieces needed to get a running start, client meeting was this morning and from now till 11am tomorrow I am getting the design together!

My RUSH project tip for today: Get feedback sooner than later when time is tight!

Question

The idea of “personal brand” has to do with thinking of yourself as a unique part of your industry, and marketing your one-of-a-kind skills, style and personality as its own brand — and in my opinion, it is NEVER a waste of time to start growing one! Growing your personal brand through the use of social networking tools is something that can be beneficial in many ways, whether you are a freelancer or 9to5er, here are a few…

1. Just because you’re happy and secure at your 9to5 now does not mean you always will be. In the economy of today, layoffs have been widespread over many industries and if a sudden change in economic climate puts you out of a job, having well-laid foundation with your personal brand could give you a leg up in a competitive job market!

2. Future potential employers will look at your online profiles if you are applying for a staff position! This is the case for many industries nowadays, but especially in web design. Being a web designer, it is so important to be educated about emerging trends and technologies on the web and the only way to really understand these tools is to use them!

3. In addition to using social media tools to grow your personal brand, you will also be benefiting your current employer and current clients by educating yourself more about these tools!

4. If you hope to start a business in your future, make an investment in that future and start making your name known NOW. Building a foundation now will only help you when you do break out on your own. Buy your vanity domain name (yourname.com) and secure your name on as many of the social networks as you can.

5. Blogging and social networking will help you connect with other in your industry, which can come in helpful if you need to relocate to another city, outsource a project, ask questions about software or code, get a design critique or business advice, or just to nerd out about a new font you just bought!  Your interactions with those in the design community will aid you in improving your skills at your 9 to 5 and you can make some awesome FRIENDS along the way!

What Do You Think?

These are just a few reasons why I see social networking as valuable to those in the design industry, maybe some of you disagree with me? Leave a comment and give me your thoughts on the matter!