Marie Poulin (@MariePoulin) is a Digital Strategist and Web Designer based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Following her early work in a small Toronto-based studio, Marie set out on her own and established a solo web design practice before making a more recent transition to strategy.
Marie has taken on more self-initiated projects, launching Digital Strategy School, powered by Doki, the online teaching platform she helped build. Along the way she’s become resourceful and has had to teach herself a host of new skills.
Marie can be seen on her site, MariePoulin.com
Listen Now
Get The Episode
- Download The Busy Creator Podcast, Episode 16 (MP3, 47:14, 45.8 MB)
- Download The Busy Creator Podcast, Episode 16 (OGG, 47:14, 41.8 MB)
Subscribe to Get New Episodes
Subscribe to The Busy Creator Podcast on Apple Podcasts, on Google Podcasts, on Stitcher, on iHeart
Show Notes & Links
- Marie formerly called herself a “Digital Craftswoman” (because it’s more than just craft these days)
- Lately, Marie does 60% her work; 40% client work
- Oki-Doki
- Digital Strategy School, for designers – 10–12 beta testers
- “To teach is to learn twice”
- York-Sheridan joint program in Design
- Thinkhouse Design
- Getting Things Done by David Allen on Amazon and on Audible
- Work The System by Sam Carpenter on Amazon
- Erica Heinz & Niki Brown, web designer guests on The Busy Creator
- Joel Duggan & Laura Thomas, Canadian guests on The Busy Creator
- Marie is not a morning person, so she’s set up her workflows around this
Tools
- Basecamp, for client management
- RescueTime, tracks what you’re working on
- Systematic Success
- Get Stuff Done Like A Boss: Design Your Workflow and Double Your Productivity in 21 Days, on Skillshare
- Amazon, for lawn-care equipment
- SASS
- Flow app
- IFTTT
- Evernote
- Google Docs/Drive
- Wishlist, WordPress plugin
- TextExpander
- ClipMenu
- TextMate or Sublime Text, text editors for web design
- Timely app
- Pillow Fight
- Squamish, BC
- Gaelic Football
- Fitbit, which nags me during the day
Techniques
- Be mindful of different working styles and personalities in a multi-disciplinary team
- Facebook groups for professional insight
- Share your behind-the-scenes process will help your peers and the industry
- Use Wishlist to have your clients become “members”, with on-boarding and training built in
- Set up a secret Pinterest board to collaborate with clients
- Record your screen to teach staff necessary tasks
- Number tasks and task components for easy organization
- No meetings on Mondays
- Use a Vision Board — a place to list goals for the month or year, big plans and project.
Habits
- Take it upon yourself to learn new skills
- Pick up good habits from the jobs you have; leave the bad ones
- Learn best practices [for programming] from a true developer
- Design your morning routine, even if it’s a later morning
- Share your processes with people, even if it’s imperfect
- Keep a “praise” folder in Evernote, email, etc.
Try Audible.com Free for 30-Days
Visit BusyCreatorBook.com for your free trial
Join the Discussion
Add your experiences in the Comments section below.
Enjoyed this article?
More insight and resources delivered in our newsletter. Sign up below to receive site updates.