Pinup Designs Blog

A Goodbye, Change and Inspiration

annam — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:49:47 +0000

A week ago, I said goodbye to an old friend, Borders book store. I walked around the store for hours, browsing and looking for deals but also grieving a little for one of my long time favorite stores, make shift work areas and hang outs. I guess not as many people reading paper books compared to e-books plus the great deals available at big sellers like Amazon are at least in part responsible for the struggles and closures this and other books stores are facing now. And I completely admit, I shop on Amazon for a lot of my own books as well ( Borders was way overpriced in my opinion ) but still, this was a change that made me a little sad.

Book stores and libraries have always been my churches. I love the smell of the books and the calm, quiet atmosphere. They have always been a place of great discoveries for me; I’ve loved to read since I was really young and I’ve encouraged this same love of books in my own children.

Maybe that’s why I can’t seem to get in to e-books. I read a lot online and frequent several other blogs but when it comes to a good size book, I can’t help it – I want to hold it in my hands, use a bookmark, fold pages, underline – probably all things you can do now electronically but it just doesn’t seem to have the same feel to me.

At the same time, I do accept that change is the only real constant in life. It’s always happening and a lot of times, a change we resist can turn out to be for the best later on. So, I’ll try to keep an open mind but I still love my little paper library.

Some change I’m thinking more about and trying to both decipher and embrace is with my own web design work or I guess, the way I think, operate and which direction to take for the future. I think it’s always good to re-evaluate and refocus. Though not always easy, it’s usually needed and for the best.

Because of this, part of my time lately has been spent looking for information and inspiration, both online and off. Frequent recent trips to the library ( and yes, Borders) have actually been pretty successful and I’ve been finding great books lately. Some entertaining, some inspirational, some thought provoking and a few, all of the above.

Here’s a quick list of new found favorites:
Normal Gets You Nowhere by Kelly Cutrone
You Are Here by Thich Nhat Hanh
Gunn’s Golden Rules by Tim Gunn
Crazy, Sexy Diet by Kris Carr

Though there are no web design books on the list, I’ve found truths and insight I can use in all of them. And what’s better than unexpectedly stumbling across something great to read? Something you read in two days because you can’t seem to put it down? As far as I’m concerned, not much.

For now, I’m sticking to my old fashioned paperbacks but who knows, I may be adding an e-book or two to my collection in the future.

Should You Ever Work For Free?

annam — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:05:41 +0000

This week I read a great article at dellcreativestudio.com on the subject of working for free. This question has come up for myself many times in the past, especially when I was just starting out in web design.

Feeling stuck in the middle of the endless circle of “I can’t find work without experience and a portfolio but I can’t build experience and portfolio until I find work”, doing some free work can seem a lot less painful.

Honestly, I don’t think all free work is bad. I’ve given some pretty generous discounts or not counted hours to help a friend or for a project with a low budget that I really enjoyed and believed in. Helping out a good friend, a family member or even a local charity is completely reasonable to me. Gain experience + add to portfolio + donate a few hours to help someone or something you care about can be a win. ( and possibly some good karma!)

The issue I have is when it’s an obvious situation of a business or organization using someone for free labor instead of hiring a qualified applicant and paying them a decent salary.

I see this mainly on job boards which seem to be getting worse with requests for “interns” with 3 – 5 years of experience and all kinds of development knowledge. And there’s always my personal favorite tag line – “current college student preferred – or someone looking to build their portfolio.”

Interpretation: must have skill, knowledge and be willing to work for free.

I’m not sure why people have the misconception that anyone working in the field of web design and development would even have the ability to work for free. I don’t live for free; my groceries are not free, my rent is not free and gas for my car is not free.

With the economy still struggling and jobs remaining few and far between, this just seems like employers taking advantage of an already bad situation for people looking for real work.

Another big factor is – free usually isn’t valued.

There are plenty of posts from other designers recounting clients that are willing to pay the least or that want things for free usually being the most difficult and demanding.

Free can also lead people to think – flawed or low quality.

Recently, I read an article in Sitepoint.com’s awesome newsletter called “So Cheep, I Must Be Bad” about how a developer actually lost a prospect because the quote they provided for the project was so low, it caused the client to wonder if the work and service would be high quality for such a low cost.

So what’s a web designer/developer to do?

The chance to work with experienced professionals in your field can be a great opportunity for learning, even if the pay is not as high as you’d like it to be. I think it just has to be a case where you will truly benefit from the job and experience. And a nice, written reference once the project or job is over will be another big help in you landing a bigger and better gig.

With my own freelance work, I try to create a comfortable middle ground, offering certain services for a lower price or being willing to work with someone’s budget (within reason) on small projects.

For me, the bottom line is: Know the value of your time and talents.

And believe in your pricing and stand behind it.

Helping someone out or lowering costs for a friend or worthwhile project will come up, just make sure it feels right to you. Most of the time, not valuing your time or trusting your gut only leads to a miserable work environment and projects you not only don’t enjoy but may even regret.

Still not sure if you should work for free? There’s a great flow chart by Jessica Hische at

I could not stop watching and was immediately inspired once the episode was over to share my thoughts on this one. (Inspiration really can come from anywhere!)

If you’ve never seen the show: each episode, Joe Zee (creative director at Elle magazine) works with a struggling designer to help them become successful.

He reviews their design process, helps them define their vision, mentors and assists with creating and styling a new collection to present to a large buyer like Nordstrom and brings in an editor from Elle to also view their collection for a possible feature in the magazine.

It’s an incredible opportunity for any struggling designer and helps them understand how to move to the next level in a highly competitive, tough business.

Some of the critiques are painful although I’m amazed by how calm and professional Joe Zee is while working with some of the designers. He doesn’t sugar coat it when the work is just not good enough but in a “head coach” kind of way.

I know from experience how hard that can be to take but I’m also a firm believer in seeing the opportunities in learning from these situations as well.

Letting go of your ego, being open to listening and taking away constructive criticism to come back better, wiser and stronger. Not always easy but totally worth it.

On the latest episode, a 26 year old lingerie designer refused to listen to any of Joe Zee’s suggestions. She took his guidance and critique as insult and basically acted like a spoiled brat. Even up to the day of the buyers meeting with Neiman Marcus he set up for them! She then refused to use the jewelry her business partner/boyfriend selected with Joe’s help and decided to do all the styling herself (which ended up being almost none at all.)

And……They bombed. The buyers complaints were the same things Joe suggested they change and tried to work with them on. The editor at Elle also passed. The designer was even rude and dismissive to the buyers.

Major blow it.

Did I mention the designer and her boyfriend were already trying to live off maxed out credit cards and had exhausted every loan they had. Her boyfriend had even sold his car to support the business.

I think it’s is a valuable lesson in any line of work you’re in and for any kind of business, especially in the first few years.

I understand wanting to hold on to your original ideas or vision and doing things your own way but having the opportunity to learn from those more experienced and successful can be invaluable.

Change is hard and can be scary. Especially having someone who doesn’t really know you, suggesting you do things differently. Everyone is different and has to find their own path.

But – at least being truly open and listening to other ideas can be a gift and great experience.

To me, once you think you know it all, have nothing to learn and are never wrong – that should be your sign – your in trouble and could be missing out on some amazing opportunities.

The Benefits of Being Self Taught

annam — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:44:56 +0000

It’s easy to sometimes wonder what would have been had I realized my passion for technology and design at a younger age and took a more traditional academic route to build my skills. But those thoughts usually creep in on bad days, during a difficult project or when I’m searching for answers or help with some aspect that’s become a challenge.

Most days, I have no problem with the fact that I’m mostly self taught, in fact I’m proud of the fact and at times wonder if this hasn’t actually helped with some of the issues I’ve faced while working.

Being self taught forces you to be disciplined.
Without classes to attend, being able to study with friends or ask a teacher for help, but deicide you’re going to learn something and then learn it – on your own. You have to be resourceful and find information and answers on your own. It means hours spent on tutorials, books, forums and lots of trial and error.

You learn skills and humility
When I first started learning how to code, I joined an HTML web forum and started posting links to web sites I was building for practice to get feedback. Let me tell you, I got feedback. Absolutely, some of that early work was bad. I looked like a noob because I was and was often torn apart for it BUT, I also got some great, really helpful critiques from seasoned designers explaining what the issues with my work were and what I should be concentrating on or learning more to do better work.

I’m a huge believer in this kind of opportunity. Getting to hear from or better yet, work with people high above your skill set can be intimating and humbling but pushing ego aside, really listening and learning from the experiences can be invaluable.

You’re self sufficient
I may not know everything or have all the answers but I’ve definitely learned how to research, find solutions and implement them. Now when faced with a task or problem I’m not immediately familiar with, instead of looking for someone to help or do it for me, I’m on a one woman mission for information. Not immediately knowing does not mean giving up, it means search and/or figure it out. Even if it takes hours or days and depending on the challenge, that may be the time frame.

You want to give back
Maybe this one is just me but I love being able to provide resources and information to help other people just starting now. It helped me the most while I was learning and I still appreciate people who take the time to post free tutorials, videos and helpful articles on web design and development.

I’m in no way saying anyone with a degree is not also resourceful, disciplined, humble and kind. And I’m absolutely not saying there’s anything wrong with pursuing and obtaining skills and knowledge through schools.

For me, the above are just valuable lessons I’ve learned along the way that I think help me work better, deal with road blocks and be a better person.

What do you think? Does it hurt or help being self taught? Leave me a comment, I’d love to hear from you!

The Power of Good Communication

annam — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:36:50 +0000

I’ve been thinking about communication this month; the different ways people connect and share information, what communication really means and how important it is, whether it’s with co-workers, clients or just chatting online or with friends.

Communication is defined as the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs.

All true but I feel it’s really more than this. There is power – not only in our words but in the way we communicate.

Online communication has become a huge part of our lives on both a personal and professional level. With the ability to be more anonymous and the increased speed of information, it seems like this kind of communication has become more casual and unfortunately at times, lacking some pretty basic manners. But I feel it is still important to remember, there’s a real person behind the email you’re responding to or the post you just read.

Sometimes it’s the little things that can make the difference. Think about how you would speak to someone if they were right in front of you. Responding to or addressing someone without any kind of greeting, being short or not answering questions can leave your reader with the impression that you may be difficult, cold or just plain rude.

In business, being able to communicate clearly, effectively and politely is vital and can be more important than any amount of money spent on advertising or SEO. Those things will help get a potential client or customers’ attention but once they make that first contact, if they don’t get a good feeling about how your services can help them as well as how easy and wonderful the experience of working with you is, they may decide to take their business elsewhere.

Online communication can be tricky at times as well. Sentiment can be lost, meaning may not clearly translate through the written word (“Didn’t they know I was just joking/being sarcastic?” ) making it even more important to put thought and care behind your message.

My point is, the way you treat people matters – online and off. How you communicate paints a picture and leaves a lasting impression. It can tell people who you are and what you are all about.

Whether in person, sending an email or tweeting away, take a minute to think about not only what you’re saying but your tone and the way you’re saying it. Make sure you’re sending the right message – about your business or yourself.

Stand and Deliver

annam — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 03:59:32 +0000

Rather unconsciously, at the beginning of the year I decided I was done with the current state of my cluttered, overflowing inbox. My solution – unsubscribe.

It was a little difficult deciding which emails to to get rid of and which to keep. During the last year, I was probably a little overly enthusiastic and subscribed to everyone and anyone interesting or promising, seemingly bursting with with ideas and inspiration.

After the fact, I had to realize just about all the emails I clicked the unsubscribe link on had some basic things in common and shed some light on a few things worth remembering when marketing, selling and servicing clients.

Do what you say you’re going to do.

It’s so simple yet this little fact seems to get lost along the way at times.

If you say you’re offering free advice, coaching or any kind of service, delivering nothing more than a repackaged sales pitch doesn’t count. If you don’t really, REALLY provide the value you’re promising, you lose trust. When you lose trust, people won’t trust you with their hard earned cash if they feel you won’t deliver.

If you promise to write a guest post, make a phone call, have an answer or solution to a problem someone’s having; please be honest, be quick and stick to your word.

Maybe because of the economy, desperation, people trying to “fake until you make it” or a combination of all three but I at least noticed a lot of over promising and under delivering.

2011 is already shaping up to be a much better, much more positive year. Happily, my inbox is no longer a cause of anxiousness and stress. I kept only the email subscriptions with great information and tips, that delivered what I signed up for and I truly enjoy.

Are you keeping your promises and truly delivering?

When You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling

annam — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:31:00 +0000

Maybe you’ve been working on a project from hell, maybe clients are scarce, your steady stream of income suddenly slowed or you’re struggling to make ends meet at all.

Whatever the cause, it happens to everyone sooner or later. Most of the time, you really love what you do and can’t imagine doing anything else. But when things get really tough, that love can start to fade. Struggle and self doubt can creep in and try to set up shop.

So when it feels like things are falling apart and maybe you should just give up, how do you get back that loving feeling for what you do?

Remember why you fell in love

What first interested or attracted you to your career?

It probably wasn’t invoices, contracts and all the other parts of business you handle being freelance. While you can’t just stop taking care of your business obligations, time spent getting back to why you chose this career can be revitalizing and provide great inspiration.

– Feeling lonely and bogged down working out of your home office? Head to a coffee shop or bookstore with your laptop.

– Stressed out dealing with the endless flow of emails? Do a quick morning check, close your inbox and don’t open again until after lunch.

– Give yourself a large block of time to just write, design, edit or create. Get back to doing what you love to do, the parts that make you really happy.

Revive communication

Lack of communication in a relationship is said to be the number one killer.

It’s just as important to have clear internal communication about the direction your going in with your career as well.

As time passes and your skills and experiences grow and change, short term goals may need some re-evaluating.

The way you work or how you manage your time might need to be adjusted.

Sit down and write it out.

Realizing what is moving you forward and what is just not working for you will allow you to keep progressing while feeling more positive and confident.

Start a date night

A date night is a great way to relax, have fun and really get back in touch with the person you feel in love with as well as who you used to be for them.

Remember when you couldn’t wait to dive in to the next project, buy a new book or talk for hours about what was happening in your field? You were probably excited about learning more and sharing it as well. Regardless of how long you’ve been working, there always seem to be new developments and new skills to learn.

- Join a meetup group of your peers

- Research what’s happening in your area of expertise

- Join a forum and discuss it

- Start a blog and use your knowledge to help someone else and connect with other freelance professionals.

Activities that revive the excited, hopeful feeling you once had about your work are steps in the right direction.

Renew your vows

Recommitting your love and dedication can be a powerful thing.

You’ve redefined your direction, goals and focus, now just let yourself know you’re in this for the long run.

There’s no way to tell what the future brings but deciding you’re not going to quit is empowering and even provides some relief. The worry about not knowing what to do or where to turn is off your shoulders once you decide you’re here to stay.

In Conclusion…

It’s true, sometimes you have to recognize when things just don’t work out, it wasn’t meant to be and you have to move on. But usually when you’ve found something you love so much, you can’t imagine doing anything else, a little work to refocus and reconnect can go a long way.

Try to connect with positive, happy people. Successful people who also love what they do can teach and inspire you.

Most importantly, know that everyone goes through trying times, questions themselves and loses that loving feeling. In my opinion, if the love is true, it’s worth the work to get it back.

Beating Holiday Stress – Just Breathe

annam — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:39:24 +0000

How often do you wish for more hours in the day? Beating the clock can seem like an endless challenge. For most of us, feeling overwhelmed and constantly rushed has become an uncomfortable, business as usual.

A long time believer in multi-tasking, I would often be working on one thing and my mind would already be planning the next. It worked to some extent, I often got a lot done.

The problem was, even when I successfully finished all the tasks on my list, I never really felt any relief. What I did feel was hurried, panicked and like I never accomplished enough.

I love the holidays, it’s my favorite time of year. However, added social and family obligations combined with time off from work and the stress of not enough hours can really start to get serious.

(Please know I am not saying or even hinting that you should not take time off at the holidays. I feel just the opposite – take your vacation and enjoy it! Take a few extra days if you can!)

A have a favorite post at Shaboominc.com, about training your brain to recognize the “good and plenty” . In other words – being able to recognize when something is done. Not something I was used to doing.

When always being rushed and trying to cram in one more email or obligation feels normal, no wonder it’s hard to recognize when we’ve actually met a goal, finished work or reached an accomplishment.

I love Shaboom’s awesome advice and have been putting in to practice something a little different as well.

Slowing down, taking one thing at a time and most importantly – breathing.
Taking a few slow, deep breaths and letting myself focus on the present moment. Not worrying about what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow or even 5 minutes from now.

The benefits:

Being in the present moment sets you free to let go of all that worry and stress.

It’s instantly effective, allowing you to relax and focus in a matter of minutes.

Once you’re living in the present moment and fully concentrating on the one thing you’re working on, you’re also able to really see and feel when it’s finished – and to enjoy it.

You can work better, communicate more effectively and feel better doing it.

Stressful holiday social or family situations can even feel less dreaded once you’re no longer worried about past experiences as well as letting go of future expectations.

Remembering to breathe and get back to the present moment throughout the day can have some amazing results. And once you’re used to feeling that peaceful, focused and able to recognize your own accomplishments, who knows what you’re capable of?

During the holidays or at any time of the year, stopping to breathe can help you be relaxed, see the “good and plenty” and feel good at the end of the day.

What tips are you using this year to beat the holiday rush and stress?

Interested in learning more about stress management and great relaxation techniques? Check out my friend Susan Wright at Tranquil Hearts. She blogs about stress relief too!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:
Holiday Downtime, Online or Off
The Work Better – Feel Happier plan

Following Your Gut To Make the Right Decisions

annam — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:12:46 +0000

I’ve been reading some really great articles and posts the past few months about finding your niche; learning to be more specific about your business offerings and using that knowledge to find and communicate with your ideal clients.

The thought process behind this is awesome – realizing what you are really good at, what makes you different and what you enjoy most can help you deliver better services that fulfill your customers needs.

But I also feel, at first this concept may seem a little scary because it can cause you to say a word that some of us feel we are never suppose to say.

It can cause you to say “no”.

Really identifying your strengths, individuality and accepting the fact that you can’t be all things to all people means you can’t say yes to everything. There will be times you’ll have to say no.

You may not be right for every project that comes your way.

You will need to find creative ways to connect with the client base that you are right for.

You may have to make tough choices along the way.

You will have to work harder and think more.

Scary stuff.

It can take a little time and effort to clearly define what you do best and who it serves the most but the exercise is well worth the effort.
(I love Yvonne Bynoe’s steps for success on this at her post – The 3 Biggest Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make When Answering, “What Do You Do?”)

With that said, I don’t think you have to always discount anything that’s not an exact fit.

Something unexpected can come your way that might be a great, new opportunity. Outside the box can be a new adventure and chance to learn. So how do you know when to dive right in and when to just say no?

Here comes more scary stuff – sometimes you just have to follow your gut.

Rules are made to be broken, unexpected things happen all the time that can end up being blessings we never saw coming. But if your gut is screaming NO, whether it makes logical sense or not, maybe you need to listen.

Will you be miserable, struggling and grow resentful?

Is this something that goes against the grain of who you are or what you believe in?

Do you see this as a chance to learn something new you can use to help others within your business or daily life?

Is it anything you’re even interested in or feel is “you”?

Know yourself (a very powerful thing!) and don’t be afraid to do what’s best for you.

How have you handled a tough decision lately? What guided your direction?

Thanks so much for reading!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy:
The Work Better – Feel Happier plan

How to Rock at Being of Service

annam — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:41:24 +0000

I recently had great experiences with some very small businesses (fellow freelance and entrepreneurs really). The people I worked with really impressed me, not just with the service they provided but with the way they provide it.

Because of the great personal service I received, I’m a satisfied customer who will bring them referrals as well as my own repeat business. And isn’t that the slam dunk we all strive for? Because those are the keys to keeping your business alive and constantly growing.

For me, these experiences were the perfect reminder of the services and treatment I value and want to make sure to include in my own business. It made me think about how important even the seemingly small things can be, things that can be easily missed or forgotten but can also have a big impact.

Here’s what they did and why I loved it:

They listened
Not only to which service or product I was interested in but they really paid attention to any questions I had and what I was really in need of. I never felt any kind of sales pressure, I felt like they cared about what my needs were and how they could meet them. I felt like a valued customer.

They delivered
I received exactly what I’d asked for and more. They not only met but exceeded my expectations and maintained a friendly, upbeat and positive attitude throughout, even when I had more questions.

They followed up
Several days after my business with them was over, I received an email just saying hello, asking how things were going and to make sure I didn’t have any further questions they could assist with. Although I didn’t need anything, I was happily surprised and impressed with the contact and offer.

They kept offering support (but not selling)
The email kept the same tone as their awesome service – positive and friendly. There was no mention of money, nothing for sale, just wanted to check and see how things were going. Love it!

Although they didn’t ask, the service I received has kept them at top of mind. I’ll recommend them to anyone in need and brag about them to my friends and family.

Think about some positive experiences you’ve had lately as a consumer or client.
What did they do that made you the happiest?
Are there any opportunities you might be missing in the way you service your own clients?

Every day can be an opportunity to learn more about your own success and all the great ways to rock at being of service.