Astley, I think you are on the right approach. I like to call it 'deconstructing' vs reverse engineering (this is more for code projects). Take a look at sites/applications and ask yourself how it works or doesn't work and why. Then, design a different solution for it that you think would make it work better. Also doing non-profit work is great experience, but if you do take something, make sure you finish it even if you do receive a paid gig. As a newbie designer you need to build not only your skillset, but your brand and reputation. Sticking to your projects and finishing them will position you much further ahead than if you drop a project because a paid one came along. You will lose a lot of credibility if you don't stick to it.
HTH, Good luck! David On Tue, Jan 26, 2010 at 4:55 PM, Astley Le Jasper < [email protected]> wrote: > I'm pretty green in interface design. I've read quite a lot but > often sit down to start a design and have a complete block. I realise > that there are a lot design patterns on the web, but it can be > difficult to really get a deep appreciation of them. > > I'd like to build up some experience. Of course, the best way is to > 'just do something'. However, students and newbies, such as myself, > perhaps don't have any real projects or sometimes long gap between > projects. > > I was thinking about reverse engineering a couple of sites. This > would give me a chance to build up some skills creating wireframes as > well as getting a feel for how these interfaces are put together. > > Perhaps doing some free work for charities might also be useful, > although you if some paid for work came up, it would be unacceptable > to just drop them. > > Are there any other learning approaches might be useful in gaining > experience? > > ALJ > ________________________________________________________________ > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > To post to this list ....... [email protected] > Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe > List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines > List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help > -- "Making peoples lives easier daily... since 1969" w: http://weatherdude.wordpress.com ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
