Entries by Prescott Perez-Fox

Programmer & Developer Ben Borowski explores the creative side of software and shares his recent personal projects - The Busy Creator Podcast 62

2015.07.20 /0 Comments/in /by

Ben Borowski (@TypeOneError) is a software developer and programmer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. In past years, Ben run a small studio doing web development for top agencies, but has recently made a move to create his own project, and is working on that full-time.

Ben is one half of Oki Doki, along with Designer & Digital Strategist Marie Poulin. Together, the duo are hard at work on Doki, a web platform to build and run online courses and communities. In this conversation, Ben discusses the creative side of programming, the definition of a “coder”, and the challenges of putting aside client projects for the endeavor of building your own app. […] Full post →

Friday Links, vol. 6

2015.07.17 /0 Comments/in /by

The week in Internet. Useful resources for creative professionals.

Tools

  • Lucid Chart is a tool for flowcharts and diagrams
  • Cushion is out of beta. Freelancers, check it out (especially if you get “too much work”)
  • Micro Snitch detects whether your mic/camera are secretly being used
  • Check out what [Industrial] Design Students had to use in centuries past

Techniques

  • Amy Porterfield drops some serious calendar-fu in her latest podcast episode.

Habits

  • The Pope’s 10 Tips for a Happier Life

Everything Else

  • Neuroscientist John Kounious argues deadlines encourage productivity, but destroy creativity
  • Are you a “Full Stack Designer“?

[…] Full post →

Friday Links, vol. 5

2015.07.10 /0 Comments/in /by

The week in Internet. Useful resources for creative professionals.

Tools

  • Coffitivity will play the ambient sounds of a coffee shop. If that’s your thing.
  • Slimvoice allows you to build super-simple invoices
  • Lynda.com walks us through the new Acrobat DC, which, let’s face it, is a hot mess.

Techniques

  • How to Deal With Rejection
  • Design your logos with black-and-white in mind
  • Upload your InDesign files to Behance, slideshow style
  • Create a workflow to get screenshots from your iOS device to your Mac

Habits

  • Lessons learned in Design School that still apply, via JustCreative
  • Create a Folder Structure you can rely on.

[…] Full post →

Woodworker & Furniture Maker Matt Cremona discusses self-teaching and doing a solo video show - The Busy Creator Podcast 61

2015.07.06 /0 Comments/in /by

Matt Cremona (@MattCremona) is best known for his woodworking video channel on YouTube. Primarily self-taught, Matt challenges himself to build beautiful furniture, going so far as to cut and prepare the timber, documenting the forest-to-finished-piece process along the way.

Matt’s background is diverse, with previous work in software development, interface design, and economics. Together we discuss wood, carpentry and essential tools, and producing a weekly video show. Check out his videos and some of his work at MattCremona.com

Listen Now

[…] Full post →

Friday Links, vol. 4

2015.07.03 /0 Comments/in /by

The week in Internet. Useful resources for creative professionals.

Abbreviated this week due, in part, to Canada Day and Independence Day celebrations!

Tools

  • Browsy is a stripped-down, distraction-free browser for iPad and iPhone

Techniques

  • Avoid using the word “just” in your written correspondences.

Everything Else

  • Crazy flow chart showing how the Walt Disney Company used to work
  • The Creative Sector in New York City is nearly 7% of all jobs.
  • Facebook has updated its logo. Very slightly.

[…] Full post →

Friday Links, vol. 3

2015.06.26 /0 Comments/in /by

The week in Internet. Useful resources for creative professionals.

Tools

  • Take this eye test disguised as a game
  • Watch this free video from lynda.com to better understand PDF Standards, via InDesignSecrets
  • Remove unused CSS Styles with UnCSS
  • Brian Hoff is switching from Photoshop to Sketch, and blogging about it
  • Kiwi for Gmail is a new desktop email client for Gmail.

Techniques

  • 37 Secrets Only Successful People Know
  • Andrew Warner shares his True Mind Meditation technique
  • How to Tweet From Terminal on a Mac. Careful, it’s nerdy.

[…] Full post →

Copywriter, Author, and Journalist Kristen Fischer Discusses Life as a Freelancer - The Busy Creator 60

2015.06.22 /0 Comments/in /by

Kristen Fischer (@KristenFischer) is an independent copywriter, author, and journalist living and working at the Jersey Shore. Following a stint as a cub reporter, she turned to freelance writing, making efforts to diversify her professional practice along the way.

A proponent of freelancing and professional issues around independent creatives, Kristen co-hosts Freelance Radio and has written When Talent Isn’t Enough, a business guide for creative professionals.

Our conversation covers writing tactics, the relationships between designers and writers, and how Kristen balances client work with authoring books. […] Full post →

Friday Links, vol. 1

2015.06.12 /1 Comment/in /by

In my ongoing effort to bring new and useful experiments to The Busy Creator, I’m bringing you some links and videos I’ve spotted this week. No fanfare, just the good stuff I’ve compiled during the week.

Tools

  • Behomm is a home exchange website exclusively for designers and visual artists. Apply here.
  • Blossom.co is a nice-looking project management app for agile development (and other stuff)
  • OWC USB-C Dock for new MacBooks bring you all the ports you need for actual computer use.
  • Thames Capsule, a font made from type samples recovered from the bottom of the River Thames.

[…] Full post →

My Two Favourite Podcasts to Learn Online Marketing

2015.05.24 /0 Comments/in /by

There are approximately 3 billion blogs and podcasts that discuss Online Marketing. (OK, 3 billion is a slight exaggeration) Along with perennial topics like weight loss, personal finance, and dating, it’s one of the most popular subjects available for scrutiny. And like most diet plans or dating schemes, they’re crap.

I’ve listened to a great number of podcasts over the years. Some have been amazing, some have been total garbage, and most are somewhere in the middle. Perhaps the host is indeed an expert, but he doesn’t express himself in an approachable way. […] Full post →

The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 58 with Copywriter & Online Instructor Karen Marston

2015.05.18 /0 Comments/in /by

Karen Marston (@KarenMarston) is an independent copywriter and the founder of Untamed Writing. Dissatisfied with her earlier roles, Karen took to writing SEO-focused articles and now works with clients writing bold, memorable copy for websites and other projects.

Her latest project is a foray into teaching. She now instructs others how to be effective, productive freelance writers. Our conversation discusses her personal workflows and habits, as well as her outlook on teaching and client project management.

Listen Now

[…] Full post →

The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 57 with Cartoonist & Illustrator Eric Peterson

2015.05.11 /0 Comments/in /by

Eric Peterson is a veteran cartoonist & artist who worked across a variety of industries and niches, through advertising & commercial art, and now as a independent artist. Eric has developed a signature style, based in abstraction and surrealism, and referencing silkscreen and printing techniques of centuries past.

Catch up with Eric and see some of his work on his Facebook page.

Listen Now

Eric Peterson's artwork

Eric Peterson’s artwork

Eric Peterson's artwork

Eric Peterson’s artwork

Eric Peterson's artwork

Eric Peterson’s artwork

Eric Peterson's artwork

Eric Peterson’s artwork

[…] Full post →

Pro Tip for Keeping Your Portfolio Up To Date

2015.05.07 /0 Comments/in , /by

If you’re at all like me, you’ve caught yourself sheepishly admitted “wow, my portfolio is a bit out of date.” That goes double for websites, which can look aged and neglected if they’re slightly non-current.

But I have, in recent weeks, developed a system to combat this problem. And like most productivity or studio management systems, it’s dead simple. Allow me to share it with you. […] Full post →

The Busy Creator Podcast, episode 56 - Mind Hacking with Sir John Hargrave

2015.05.04 /1 Comment/in /by

Sir John Hargrave (@SirJohnHargrave) is the CEO of Media Shower, a content marketing and media company. Following a background as a high profile internet prankster, he has examined the conditions and obstacles that modern professionals face — many of which are mental. His upcoming book Mind Hacking discusses techniques for training a stronger mind and overcoming these obstacles.

Our conversation discusses the symptoms that affect creative pros and how we can hack our mind with simple, daily techniques and habits.

More information about the book is available at MindHacki.ng. […] Full post →