15 Jun 2007

Miscellaneous Advice Link Dump

Momentum

I’m quite an extreme example of this with my work, either pottering about getting little done or intensely focussed and productive. However, unlike Robert, I don’t code naked.

Hire only web designers with a website

Although many of the most talented developers I know don’t have sites, getting some kind of online presence is important for anyone looking for a web-related job. It doesn’t have to be perfect; I once interviewed someone who showed us a terrible site, but it was a great talking point and they were open about their limited skills. The conversation allowed them to convey their enthusiasm and they got the job.

How Not to Display Your Artwork on the Web

Over recent years many designers/illustrators got the message and stopped using Flash intros and countless popups, but I still regularly encounter irritating portfolio sites.

How to hire the best people you’ve ever worked with

A pretty good guide (curiosity/enthusiasm is particularly important; working on web stuff with someone who isn’t interested in it is a nightmare). I’d also add that companies should avoid a ‘personality monoculture’; you need a tricky mixture of people who are quiet/loud, cautious/daring, predictable/imaginative, etc., even though that means you inevitably won’t all get along as best buddies with shared attitudes and interests.