questions for professional web designers >>>

My advice would be to go work for a web design agency or something like that for a while...
It's really hard to start something that big without knowing anything about it...
And it ain't that easy as you think...there are so many things that comes up that you couldn't even possible imagine...
I worked at a comercial agency...is that the right name for it hmm..
Well any way...
I've learned So much under those five weeks I was there doing my intership.

Originally posted by Fig
ignoring the timeline and focusing more on the business side, you've hired about 3 too many people. for a small start-up design/multimedia firm i'd look at:

- another designer, one who can put together sites as well as just design, someone as well-rounded as possible (video, print, etc.)
- a programmer who can handle your sys admin stuff (shouldn't be too tough as it'll only be a few machines and a server or two)
- a business/marketing person to handle sales, generate sales, and run the books

a photographer is something you won't need that often and you'll bill the client for it and hire out when you do.

chris

i wanted to hire a photographer so i can sell stock photos also. my plan is to make the site a one stop shop for everything websites.

and when i said starting it in college, i didnt mean going all out. the people i will (hopefully!) meet and I will just do it on the side to see how it will work out.

College would be a great place for that. Photography, art, programming, its all there and people tend to be less focused on making cash than getting something started. So you should be able to get a group (keep it small though) and start a side business. You might want to focus on parts of the business and build up. re: the photographer bit. It's great to hire out a photographer, but most small businesses wouldn't pay the price to hire one, esp for a web site, and the good ones charge a bundle for you to keep the negatives and have 100% permission to use the work. They keep part of the copyright otherwise, and will sue you if you infringe on this. So find a photographer that knows how to program? hehe....

to compete with the current 'one stop shop' websites will take up 100% of your time.

i'm 17 and i havent done one job and been paid for it yet, i'm building up my skills until i know for a fact that what i produce is professional, i want to do something much like you are, but this is my plan... (based on uk education system...)

just spent 2 years at college studying art, media, english literature and psychology.

going to university for 3 years to study cultural & media studies

after university find a basic earning job like a junior creative assistant at a big firm, probably work around the country for another 2 years building my experience up.

move abroad and start a creative company of my own, maybe italy or america, bring something new to a different culture....

i'll be 24 / 25 before i personally think i'll have the skills to compete with the real companies, have a think about how much experience you need.

i dunno about that. look at this piece of shiz www.gallantrywebdesign.com teh sUx0rz and they make muchos $$$. and IMO dont come over here to america, europe is so much cooler.

i want to keep the core group at around 3-4 people. once we are succesful we will hire more.

You're 17 and have spent two years in college? How is that?

By the way, I am 15 and looking to go into something relating to art and design when I grow up so all this talk about careers and majors and minors is very interesting to me. Where did all of you graduates go to college and get a degree in art or design? I got a letter from Emerson college and that looks really good from the brochure but thats not exactly how you choose a college. Any of you thought about that one? (Jay Leno went there.)

www.emerson.edu if you want to check it out.

tom

i attend ohio northern university in nw ohio. its a really good school, top 50 in the country according to a college magazine. although i love art and design, i do not study it. i study both political science and business and thinking about doing something in english. design is great, but in all honesty, the odds of $$$$$$ sucess isnt in my favor...its not in many peoples. something great to do on the side, and who knows, maybe ill throw away my two or three degrees from college and do it someday. life is soo full of opportunities, its very difficult to plan them accurately.

good call

Hey I'm 15 too woo small world

I'm with censured, Best to join a design company already out.

The thing is, unfortunately, web design is not a job thats very much in demand these days. unless you work for a company already or something, it's probably better to just own a company as a side job to something else.

Remember, the more you know, the more valuable you are. As an artist, try to learn as much as you can... Photoshop, illustrator, 3d progs like Maya or 3ds max or something, flash, etc etc. Learn everything. Even learn some programming if you can handle it, C++ or whatever flips your switch.

Just remember, the more you know, the more valuable you become to an employer.

i am learning PS and Illustrator, but i have no $$$ for 3DS Max or any of those other progs. i bought GoLive and PS and Illustrator as well as a new comp with 3 years worth of paperboy cash earned with sweat and blood. now i can do that any more, b/c i go to a tough private school, so i started web design to make $$$ b/c my parents dont give me anything besides clothes, food, and an education...............why i just gave you a autobiography.......i dunno