15 years makes a difference. I'm not saying that one of the above versions is “better” than the other, but...wait, yeah, that's what I'm saying.

(1996 image courtesy of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.)

Ahhh, HTML frames. Remember those? If you are a veteran web designer, you most likely do. Of course, “veteran” web designers are the technical equivalent of United States history. It may FEEL like we’ve been doing this forever, but compared to China...err...I mean traditional design disciplines, we’re just babies.

Nevertheless, frames, image maps, excessive use of tables, and excrusiatingly slow bandwidth are a few of the relics of that not-so-distant past that seem like part of a dream dreamt eons ago. It’s certainly not a time I wish to travel back to, although despite the limitations at the time, the limits were limitless. Huh?

Anyways, I’ve been designing for the web and other digital formats for the past 12 years. The first website I designed was in 1996. It was the final assignment and end product of a class on the subject, the first offered at my alma mater. I damn near flunked that stupid class. I even remember the face of the stupid teacher that taught it. But I digress.

The reason I damn near flunked the class was not due to the teacher or his stupid face. It was because I hated it. I had come to college to study fine art, with an interest in painting. I only entered the graphic design program because I came to the realization that I wasn’t into living under bridges (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It took me a while to warm up to commercial design and it’s constraints but even as I was starting to get more comfy with the idea, I was resisting this web design crap with all my might. To me, html was like data-entry. Noooo thanks.

Yet, ironically, here I stand. Or sit. Whatever. A designer with a great deal of passion and commitment to the web and it’s limitations, despite my moving away from it to focus more on consumer electronics and embedded software. The ideas and technologies that were born of the internet may have humble beginnings, but they have influenced, informed, or infiltrated most all aspects of today’s digital design landscape.

It taught me, and many others like me, that taking a chance with a novel, innovative idea is worthwhile, even if on first glace the prospect seems restrictive or simplistic. I still try to choose projects that push me, that challenge me to wear different hats and explore different aspects of myself and my perceived shortcomings. Besides, who wants to limit the limits of their limitations?

]]>http://www.bleinteractive.com/blog/2011/4/5/a-conversation-with-myself-regarding-this-blog-and-whether-i.htmlBrian2011-04-05T22:09:00Z2011-04-05T22:09:00Z

A note to you poor, poor reader: I sincerely apologize for what you are about to read. Below is merely a reflection of my inner dialog. One that I must share with the world in order to vanquish the little devil voice of insecurity inside myself. It's his fault after-all, he forced my hand. So please be warned. You can still turn back and avoid setting sail on my ocean of narcissism. If you choose to read on, do so knowing you may well never want to navigate back to this site, give me a job, or mention my name in public...

Ahem...

Evil Subconscious: Well, well. This new blog thing was quite a departure for you buddy. You thought it would be soooo easy did ya? I remember you said, "You know, I should start writing more so I can document all these marvelous thoughts that rummage about in me ol' noggin". Yeah. Brilliant. Not as easy as you thought, eh? Thought you might crank this sucker out in a couple of weeks? A month at MOST, right? Yeah.

Me: Shut up voice in my head.

ES: Let me remind you, you are NOT special. You are not God's little gift to the design community. Nobody gives a crap about you or your boring, benign prattle. In fact, by merely putting this out into the world, you are proving that you have no idea what you're doing.

Me: Maybe so, maybe not. But at least it'll show the world that I HAVE ideas. More than anyone can say about you. All you do is sit around all day eating Cheetos and poking my brain with a hot stick.

ES: Yeah, well. There's not much else to do up here in the vapid wasteland you call a brain. Besides, you need someone to tell you how it is. I'm the only one that cares, and I'm telling you, if you start twitting at the internet (or whatever the hell you call it) people will laugh. They'll laugh at you and your stupid ideas. They'll leave comments reminding you how stupid you are. Then you'll cry. You always do.

Me: Yeah, well, whatevs. I'm launching this site anyways. And I'm going to write about stuff. Someone will listen. Someone will care.

ES: No one will listen, BECAUSE no one cares. People are busy. They don't have time to sit yawning at their screen reading gibbrish about how technology and design are blah blah blah...

Me: You know what? I'm going to publish this very conversation. What do you think about that, stupid?

ES: Go ahead. That won't prove my point at all will it. (third-eye roll)

Me: Here I go now, going to push the button...

ES: (uneasy laugh) Hahaha ...I'm totally just joking. Buddy. Bud? Don't do that dude, you really shouldn't do that...

Me: You're finished Evil Alter Ego! I'm going live...right...now...

ES: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!.........

Me: Oh yes...

Me: Hello World.