– or better, professional web designers wanted at amateur rates. Meaning, willing to work for free.
And no, this is not about my being notoriously cheap. It’s about my trying to get you back in touch with what it is that got you into web design to begin with: for the love of your art.
My cheapness just happens to dovetail with all that. So, you know — win-win.
Anyway, I’m planning on launching two specialty sites that I’ll use as a necessary diversion from politics. Which politics, over the coming months, will no doubt leave a sordid taste in my mouth as I get back into posting regularly. Just think of these new sites as a kind of pixelated, cyber-sorbet. For the soul.
The new sites are these: rockies road — a baseball blog focusing on the Colorado Rockies; and mma digest, a blog that will focus on mixed martial arts (training, reviews of instructional DVDs, smack talk, etc). Which is really nothing more than an elaborate attempt to write off my UFC Pay-per-view purchases — but let’s keep that last between us.
Anyone interested in designing the look of these sites, please let me know. I’d do it myself, but in addition to being cheap and fretting over a “mass” in my ribcage, I’m also quite lazy.
But I consider that a feature.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 2:42 pm #
I don’t really see what any of this has to do with bunnies.
Comment by Karl on 1/21 @ 2:49 pm #
I’ll lay off posting for a while, though I would urge Jeff to make this post sticky — in a techie sorta way.
hf,
My look at organization in FL is a-gonna have to wait.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 2:53 pm #
That’s ok. I’m going to be busy getting my “mma” conversant on. I’m thinking watching all seven seasons of Buffy again but a lot more closely this time is gonna get me in the game.
Comment by Karl on 1/21 @ 2:54 pm #
BTW, my favorite part of this post:
As for the baseball, a man must have his enthusiasms. But I’m glad you’re considering separate blogs.
Comment by Kevin on 1/21 @ 2:56 pm #
I’ve got a web design you can have for free! Act now!
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 2:59 pm #
Oh. I missed right past that about the posting. That’s as good as changiness but with none of the side-effects I think. Really. This is good news.
Comment by Enoch_Root on 1/21 @ 3:08 pm #
Jeff – send me requirements/design ideas/thoughts you have re these two sites. I’ll take care of the rest. You can file it under: I owe Enoch_Root a favor.
Comment by Enoch_Root on 1/21 @ 3:09 pm #
either that or give me a hall pass on contributions for the remainder of 2008
Comment by Sara on 1/21 @ 3:10 pm #
Websites or blogs? If blogs, which blogging software? I’d volunteer for Expression Engine or Typepad, the rest, not so much. A website is a different animal and much easier in the long run.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 3:10 pm #
This is totally how Gawker got started you know.
Comment by todayinart.com on 1/21 @ 3:23 pm #
Don’t take this as a dig on you, but this is kind of an absurd request. First off, web design isn’t art, it is simply design for the web. When I sit down to do art for the love of it I don’t do web design.
Secondly, folks who do web design typically don’t do it for the love. They do it for money. This is how I make a living and if I gave away my work for free I would have to find another, probably boring, job.
So, maybe instead of asking for free work you should ask for some sort of partnership. Perhaps you could trade some writing for a design. Or, you might want to cut a designer in on ad revenue.
I don’t think that you have a bad idea, I just think you could make it a bit more enticing.
Comment by Jeff G. on 1/21 @ 3:24 pm #
I want these to be blogs, so that I can update them frequently. Right now, I use WordPress.
Re: requirements/design ideas/thoughts…the only thing I can think of off the top of my head is that I’d like the Rockies Road site to use team colors, and have a professional looking layout — with space for a baseball newsfeed.
The MMA site can be setup any old way, just so as there’s room enough on the side bar to post video clips.
Comment by Lost My Cookies on 1/21 @ 3:24 pm #
What? Where? Dude.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 3:25 pm #
But he works for free all the time, and what he does takes more smartness than shoving pixels around to where they look pleasant I think.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 3:26 pm #
Oh. I already have all the Buffys in .avi if that helps.
Comment by Jeff G. on 1/21 @ 3:37 pm #
Oh. And ad space. Must leave room for ads.
Comment by Jeff G. on 1/21 @ 3:41 pm #
todayinart –
I think you may have missed the tone thing.
Look, I realize I could go on Blogger and slap up a template quickly. But some folks like to showcase their work, and what I’m offering, in exchange for that work, is a showcase. Because I’ll be attaching those sites (by way of sidebar links) to this site — which is heading toward 9 million visits — I think the showcasing might be worth something.
Of course, I could be wrong. And to those who think I am, I give you permission to ignore my request, or even scoff at it.
Vote with your feet, people!
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 3:45 pm #
There will be no feet-voting cause I meant what I said and I said what I meant and a happyfeet’s faithful one hundred percent. Even if I have to learn martial arts. The Rockies thing I don’t know about but I think that’s mostly cause I don’t watch tv.
Comment by Karl on 1/21 @ 3:50 pm #
To underscore Jeff’s point, when he came out of seclusion the other day, it was picked up a few places and traffic shot through the frickin’ roof.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/21 @ 3:52 pm #
The only other person I know that can do that is Cher.
Comment by Pablo on 1/21 @ 3:59 pm #
Well, and Barbra. But really, who gives a shit about her anymore?
Comment by Lost My Cookies on 1/21 @ 4:05 pm #
And the Hudson Brothers.
Comment by Jeff G. on 1/21 @ 4:12 pm #
Kevin –
That’s cool. But why the picture of Adam Sandler?
Comment by McGehee on 1/21 @ 4:36 pm #
Jeff, you should at least warn them that when they scoff they’d better bring their A game.
‘Cause half-assed scoffing, even with permission, just isn’t going to cut it around here.
Comment by dicentra on 1/21 @ 6:02 pm #
Ax John Cox for a banner. He’s got nuthin’ to do now that Forkum retired.
Comment by Great Mencken's Ghost on 1/21 @ 8:03 pm #
Jeff — Do you want some video clips exposing the Secret Gay Agenda of MMA?
Comment by Synova on 1/22 @ 1:22 am #
My daughter’s web design class might need more businesses to do projects for but I don’t know when they’d get around to it and, well, they’re beginners, but you’d get what you paid for. (And my daughter has an excellent artistic sense.)
Comment by Synova on 1/22 @ 1:24 am #
Oh and she would just DIE to do something with MMA.
Comment by Enoch_Root on 1/22 @ 6:26 am #
todayinart – I am not an artist, of the traditional or web species. I simply boss coders and graphic arts folks around to the proper result for a living. so, I am not offended by bossing them around on Jeff’s behest, as so he can focus on his art, rather than fucking around with those whose lifeblood is doritos and mountain dew. unless’n you’re really fucking good at what you do, i think you need to pound sand and just leave it to the pros.
Comment by todayinart.com on 1/22 @ 8:17 am #
Jeff – I understand where you are coming from. With traffic like that it might be appealing to create a design for free with hopes that you might get something from the exposure. All I am saying is that when push comes to shove and it comes down to a paying gig and a nonpaying one, most would choose the first. Some good designers might not consider doing this without more incentive and that might mean that you miss out on a good design.
Enoch_Root – I would be naive to think I am the best and that no one can touch my skillz. However, I am, as you put it, “really fucking good” at what I do. And as for the (F-ing around with…) statement, I feel sorry for those that have to work for you if that is truly the way you see them.
Comment by happyfeet on 1/22 @ 8:32 am #
I think when they announce the cure for cancer has been found from a formulation derived from artful web design, y’all are all gonna wish you’d been nicer to todayinart.
Comment by Enoch_Root on 1/22 @ 8:35 am #
todayinart – if my comment is lost on you… if you don’t think it’s funny… then you either don’t work with heavy-gamers or you take yourself too seriously. and also, on PW, you should swear like a mother-fucker otherwise people might think youre light in the loafers.
I am happy to hear you are really fucking good at what you do. Lots of fairly pathetic graphic artists out there.
Comment by Benedick on 1/22 @ 8:47 am #
Sounds like Enoch runs an html sweatshop. The asian children, Enoch — their little fingers are particularly good for teh coding, or what?
Comment by az on 1/22 @ 8:52 am #
Enoch_Root – Maybe you should work on your comedy routine a bit more. You just sound like a pompous ass to me. Have a nice day!
Comment by Pablo on 1/22 @ 8:59 am #
If you’re not flogging your geeks, you’re not even trying.
Comment by Enoch_Root on 1/22 @ 10:50 am #
Yes – I am the scourge of interactive directors… the throngs run from me at first sight! Ha! I am a pompous ass, to be sure, but I am loved by the talented and feared by the lumps. A horrible man am I!
Comment by McGehee on 1/22 @ 11:41 am #
Enoch, now that’s some A-game scoffing.
Comment by The Fabulous Timbo on 1/22 @ 12:26 pm #
Jeff: no.
Todayinart.com: chill, Bill.
Hillary: no.
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