Whatchoo Know ’bout a Blue Beanie Fool?! (and other lamentations about Fixpert.com)
It’s Blue Beanie Day. Let someone else explain what that means:
“Monday, November 26, 2007 is the day thousands of Standardistas (people who support web standards) will wear a Blue Beanie to show their support for accessible, semantic web content. … Don a Blue Beanie and snap a photo. Then on November 26, switch your profile picture in Facebook and post your photo to the Blue Beanie Day group at Flickr.”
…this is my half-assed Blue Beanie thang (sorry I’m really busy today, I know it’s weak). Which brings me to…
Fixpert is Starting to Bum Me Out
Sigh…this site really needs some work. I know, I know. I have lists upon lists of things I’ve been wanting to do for the last year, it’s starting to bum me out, I need to set some time aside to devote to improving and updating the site. Perhaps that will be my Christmas-break project.
I used the Wayback Machine to track the progression of Fixpert since its inception in 2004. In the early days, I saw incremental design improvements month-by-month. But, in 2007 effort in this area basically froze. I continued to post, but no significant site enhancements.
Fixpert, What ARE You??!
What is this site even about? When I naturally post about what I’m interested or involved in, I really tend to write about bikes. What does this site have to offer to my colleagues in the Web industry? Um…unless they ride bikes, I’m not really sure. Should I even worry about that? I feel that the Cycling community is in more need of content online than the Web Professional community, so I feel I can be more useful if I write about bikes.
Also, I’m just getting tired of the same design. I think it was reflective of the type of work I was producing several years ago, but I need to re-define my own personal style online. Offline, my style uses a LOT more illustration, both traditional (hand-drawn) and digital. I feel my drawing style isn’t really reflected in the design of this site. So, I’m rambling…thinking outloud…screaming into the chasm. We’ll see what happens.
November 26th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
yes, the cycling community needs more online resources… stick with it! That’s why I recently sub’d to your feed.
November 27th, 2007 at 1:11 am
Thanks Jesse!!
November 27th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
sally,
thanks for including us in your “what does it all mean” slash “website identity crisis.”
i offer this sound/pirated advice:
follow your passion.
and - you should go here, it’s really fun;
eatpoopucat.com/
November 27th, 2007 at 8:22 pm
I frequently grapple with the same issues, Sally. I’m not sure if I want my site to be a one-stop interface nerd shop, a narcissistic this-is-my-life shop, or an outdoor sports insane-awesome OMG!!1! shop. Why, these days when I talk about “my site” I don’t even know which one I’m talkin’ ’bout!
Anywho, I’m totally pro illustration on this one. A redesign that incorporates it, or posts that share it, or whatever. I think there’s tons of room for more illustration on the web. And hellz, who says you can geek out about bikes and web design in the same space? I frequently make the mistake of censoring myself on such issues, with the fear of alienating my audience.
What I always forget is that people themselves are great at filtering out the information they don’t want. Leave it up to your visitors to decide whether they want to read about your latest bike rally, or hear about an infuriating design issue! I’m sure yo’ peepz are more loyal than you think, and you could rant and rave ’bout bikes and pixels equally without losing anyone in the process. Sometimes it’s not exactly what you create, but the fact that you’re creating something in the first place, that is most important. Dig?
November 28th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
I like to check in to see how things are going for you on the other coast and what kinds of things you are into. The pics are great and I like hearing about the velodrome and stuff like that. The hardcore web content stuff…I’ll admit I glaze over a bit, BUT it never turns me away.
I can respect the fact that you want the site to reflect you. Maybe you’ll get inspired and the new design will come to you…yeah…somewhere on that commute to work something will hit you and fixpert will be reborn.
Bah, what do I know?
Peace out Salballs!
November 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
Thanks guys, this is good feedback.
@James - I’ll be lucky if inspiration is the only thing that “hits” me as I ride my bike to work!! :)