Fixpert

Just getting back from a phenomenal trip to California. ‘Twas the WOW Web Design and Project Management Workshop and I could not have imagineered a better trip. This was just what I needed — to take a step away from my work, share experiences with like-minded individuals, and generally refresh my state of mind.

Burnout has become an issue for me lately, I’ve been working 60 hr weeks (minimum) on high-intensity projects for several months now with no end in sight. This trip was just what I needed to sort of remind me why I’ve been working so hard, and why web designers that are passionate and committed to Web Standards are important.

It’s hard when you work in isolation as an in-house designer to feel like you are a part of a larger community of designers. Sure, I get my coffee and read the cool kids’ blogs every morning (including Molly and Andy from this week’s workshop), but I still felt like a bit of an outsider, longing for a day when I would work on projects where Web Standards are assumed, and not something that I am constantly struggling for. When that glorious day comes, I will be able to focus my energy on good design and good user experience, rather than fruitless elevator pitches for Web Standards ROI. Will it have been worth it? Absolutely.

Thanks to the presenters this week, Molly Holzshlag, Aaron Gustafson, and Andy Clarke. They sent me back to the east coast with a renewed sense of optimism about what I do. I hope to bump into them at SXSW with cheery reports of the aforementioned “glorious day” having come and gone! Thanks also to WOW for putting together this event, and everything that they’re doing to spread the Standards word. Holla back y’all!