Ian Lunn

Going Freelance: One Year In

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 09:36:23 +0000

Today my business is one year old and I’m still here to tell the tale! I’m returning to my “Going Freelance” diary to discuss my year, hopefully to give you some helpful pointers and insights into…

JavaScript Parallax Effects: A Deeper Look

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 02:52:52 +0100

JavaScript Parallax Effects: A Deeper Look:

Earlier this year, I wrote a tutorial explaining how the Nike Better World website was created and how you could use jQuery to create that effect on your own website. Since the launch of Nike…

Ian, I'm curious whether you still plan to release the optimized NBW parallax script (as plug-in) you posted back in February. I am anxiously awaiting. (The nav ul list doesn't function as a fixed element on the iPad. I'm hopeful that will be addressed). Thanks, and keep up the great work!

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:24:51 +0100

You can find a very slightly updated version of the script here:

http://ianlunn.co.uk/plugins/jquery-parallax-1.1/

I haven’t really advertised this plugin yet as there’s a lot more work I plan to do to it, hopefully within the next few weeks. Keep an eye on my blog for updates.

Greetings~

I am contemplating in starting College for Web Design. My goal is to go freelance. I have some questions: how stressful is being a Web Designer per se? How stressful is going freelance vs working for a company?

Thank you!

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 09:36:21 +0100

Going freelance is more stressful than working for somebody else as every aspect of your work is your responsibility. Providing you’re dedicated, good at what you do, and charge a sensible price though, there’s no reason why you should be stressed about freelance work.

Working for a company is easier but will you be achieving everything you want in a restricted environment?

jQuery Deck Shuffle

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 03:39:30 +0100

jQuery Deck Shuffle:

In today’s tutorial we’re going to develop a small script that allows a user to switch between product cards. It’s not the usual jQuery slider script though! In this demo we’ll use CSS to carefully…

Nikebetterworld Parallax Effect Demo

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:20:58 +0000

Nikebetterworld Parallax Effect Demo:

A couple of months ago, I created a jQuery Vertical Parallax Demo that manipulated CSS to make multiple backgrounds move at different speeds relative to the users movement of the scroll bar. This…

jQuery Rich Media Dropdown Menu

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:09:51 +0000

jQuery Rich Media Dropdown Menu:

Today’s tutorial combines two good friends, jQuery and dropdown menus! “That boring old combination”, I hear you cry. But wait, this is a dropdown menu with a difference! It takes away all menus…

Going Freelance: Getting into a Stride

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:39:11 +0000

Going Freelance: Getting into a Stride:

This month, I feel I’m in my stride and my future as a self employed web designer is much clearer and more determined. A lot of my initial plans however, don’t seem to be coming to fruition —…

Offering price quotes to no-budget design clients

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:35:00 +0000

Offering price quotes to no-budget design clients

How to Use the Web Without Losing Your Mind and Time

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:10:19 +0000

How to Use the Web Without Losing Your Mind and Time

7 Reasons Why Your Business Card Gets Thrown In the Bin

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:34:00 +0000

7 Reasons Why Your Business Card Gets Thrown In the Bin

Interview with Premium Pixels Founder Orman Clark

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:03:13 +0000

Interview with Premium Pixels Founder Orman Clark

From concept to launch in 24 hours and why there’s no reason you can’t do this too

Fri, 07 Jan 2011 10:00:20 +0000

From concept to launch in 24 hours and why there’s no reason you can’t do this too

Build your design business by supplementing your design skills

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:35:03 +0000

Build your design business by supplementing your design skills

How to Be a Purple Cow Among Designers

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:34:11 +0000

How to Be a Purple Cow Among Designers

3 Simple Tips to Keep Your Client Pool Full

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 15:26:49 +0000

3 Simple Tips to Keep Your Client Pool Full

Going Freelance: 6 Weeks In

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 12:04:21 +0000

Going Freelance: 6 Weeks In:

Freelance Web Design: One Month In

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 14:47:30 +0000

Thursday was the one month birthday of my web design business, woohoo! How do I feel it’s gone? Different to what I expected!

When I started I gave myself 2 weeks to finish off doing the necessary set up — website design, getting business cards printed etc. It actually took 3 so my first month really only consisted of 1 week to actually take on work.

Everyone I know has asked how business is going and there’s nothing worse than saying you haven’t taken any business yet. It gets stressful very quick just knowing your not taking any money. I decided to spend 3 hours a day trying to get work and the rest of the day doing work (I have plenty of unpaid work to keep me going — such as writing my blog and finishing off my website design).

On the second day of doing this, I won a small project doing some outsource work for a design agency overseas. I cancelled my weekend plans and concentrated on delivering what was expected of me. They were pleased with the outcome and I was offered another project that was slightly bigger than the last.

I’ve always been insanely hard working and very proficient. In my commercial web design experience I’ve dealt with many projects that have had tight deadlines but despite that, I felt nervous. It got me feeling stressed even though having to deliver on time is something I’m used to.

I didn’t expect to take on work so quickly, outsourcing was never a part of my plan but when you first start out, money is money. I’m glad I’ve done it but I already feel I’ve gone off plan a little. It’s something I’ll need to decide for next year; whether I want to keep on doing outsource work or really concentrate on trying to get my own clients.

I think in the long run doing too much outsource work will be detrimental to my company. My current portfolio work is that of projects I’ve completed in my previous jobs so I really would like to get that updated as soon as possible, to show what my business truly offers rather than what I did under different companies.

7 Essential Red Flags to Watch Out for in New Clients | Webdesigner Depot

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 20:02:56 +0000

7 Essential Red Flags to Watch Out for in New Clients | Webdesigner Depot

Ten things I’ve learned (so far) about starting a freelance design business

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 16:16:53 +0000

Ten things I’ve learned (so far) about starting a freelance design business

Ian Lunn

Going Freelance: One Year In

JavaScript Parallax Effects: A Deeper Look

Ian, I'm curious whether you still plan to release the optimized NBW parallax script (as plug-in) you posted back in February. I am anxiously awaiting. (The nav ul list doesn't function as a fixed element on the iPad. I'm hopeful that will be addressed). Thanks, and keep up the great work!

Greetings~ I am contemplating in starting College for Web Design. My goal is to go freelance. I have some questions: how stressful is being a Web Designer per se? How stressful is going freelance vs working for a company? Thank you!

jQuery Deck Shuffle

Nikebetterworld Parallax Effect Demo

jQuery Rich Media Dropdown Menu

Going Freelance: Getting into a Stride

Offering price quotes to no-budget design clients

Offering price quotes to no-budget design clients

How to Use the Web Without Losing Your Mind and Time

7 Reasons Why Your Business Card Gets Thrown In the Bin

Interview with Premium Pixels Founder Orman Clark

From concept to launch in 24 hours and why there’s no reason you can’t do this too

Build your design business by supplementing your design skills

How to Be a Purple Cow Among Designers

3 Simple Tips to Keep Your Client Pool Full

Going Freelance: 6 Weeks In

Freelance Web Design: One Month In

7 Essential Red Flags to Watch Out for in New Clients | Webdesigner Depot

Ten things I’ve learned (so far) about starting a freelance design business

Greetings~

I am contemplating in starting College for Web Design. My goal is to go freelance. I have some questions: how stressful is being a Web Designer per se? How stressful is going freelance vs working for a company?

Thank you!