Post your weekly wins and achievements

[jovial gate]

Nice! Me next. I work full time for a consultancy type start-up. So did have a few things to work on this week. Majorly the project is a CMS for schools, with some gamification. Worked on few of the core pages this week - 4 version of the main dashboard for different users and a student's worksheet/quiz flow. Off work - Currently taking the Google's UX Design course, on the 5th course. So far so good. Without any official knowledge about UI/UX, this help me understand how things are to go.

[atomic axle]

I made it to Friday:

1️⃣Invested a year subscription of my AI Scheduler!
2️⃣Invested in AI Video Editor !
3️⃣Invested in Automated Social Media Planner!

These tools will help me with the consistency of my brand for my clothing brand.

[scarlet gull]

This week, I had some in-person meets with other designers in my city, and they both offered a lot of encouragement about how it’s rough finding work, but I’m talented, I have a really valuable skill set, I deserve to be here, and I have something really valuable to offer the world.

I also finished a short project for a startup to help me showcase my design capabilities in ways that I can’t show with my 9–5 experience alone, and the work’s been getting positive feedback all around!

[halcyon lynx]

Wins: This week I got done updating my “pretty” resume and today I do my ATS one (dont be like me and have two resumes, I'm sunk cost fallacy at this point.) I wrote my open to work post yesterday and got decent amounts of traction.

Losses: Had to reschedule an interview that was for this wednesday to next thursday as there wasnt enough time to get it ready in time. Very ADHD and still going down random rabbit holes.

Blockers/Would like support/Feedback: Nothing serious or important for this week. Idk what colors to pick for my portfolio. Making cool portfolio hero background animation using either AI to code it or using Rive.

Things I'm doing over the next week: Writing 2 massive case studies and getting my portfolio ready for an interview next Thursday. Launching v1 of new fancy framer site (not sleeping basically)

[lunar frigate]

This Week’s Wins:
Started a new project via Catchafire after multiple attempts
Made more connections via Discord
Reached out via Reddit to gain resources, helpful community

What Went Well
Got positive feedback on a design I did for a client
Got constructive feedback about my portfolio, understood the reasons and logic
Joined group workspace and got some work done

What Went Poorly
Did not apply to as many places as the previous week
Did not go to any meetups because I lacked motivation
Dwelling too much and not making shit happen

What I Can Do Better Next Week
Apply to a “dumb” job where I can make some income but not have to think too much
Clean the apartment throughout the week, put things where they belong
Attend at least one meetup

Top 3 Priorities for Next Week
Finish up KR Scholar’s project, hoping to expand it to a larger project for my portfolio
Make updates to my Portfolio based on feedback
Open horizons for opportunities with employment and collaboration

[pearl axle]

Me next. I graduated in GD Visual Communication last year while working part-time.
After some time spent applying with no luck for Designer positions, I decided to dedicate myself full time on selling digital products online, opening my own shop (Productivity and Budget tools).

This Week’s Wins:

Managed to sort an issues with formulas where I' ve been stuck on few days. I regained hope from last week, because I GOT this finally, doing a little step from the quicksand AND felt amazing.

-Managed to workout🏃🏻‍♀️ 5 days out of 7 and kept an healthy schedule to keep my mind running and cortisol low.

-Growing my audience on social media little by little ( mostly Threads) so hopefully can convert to traffic.

-Managed to read half book, I have never time to read, while I was in emergency room waiting.

What Went Poorly

Lately I feel reserved and lack motivation in talking with new people and going to meet-up, even if I am aware that networking/collaboration would help me to improve skills and knowledge

What I Can Do Better Next Week

Getting less distractions from my workload and be more FOCUSED.

[ruby sage]

OK I HAVE NEWS

I have been featured on Contra!! which is really cool.

[lunar frigate]

Congrats!

[lunar frigate]

Do you have a link to your Contra page?

[jovial gate]

Congrats!

[scarlet gull]

That’s awesome! Way to go!

[ruby sage]

I do! https://contra.com/justhonestdesign

[lunar frigate]

Awesome! Mind if I ping you about Contra?

[ruby sage]

what does this mean, but sure!

Idk how contra selects designers to be featured, i think they are a small community I believe.

But its still cool, I will take the win

[lunar frigate]

Oh, i meant like wanted to ask more about how Contra has been for you but didn't want to flood this thread with questions

[ruby sage]

go for it :">

[lunar frigate]

sent you a DM

[lunar frigate]

** Week in Review: 3/23/25**

This Week’s Wins:

• Got accepted for a new project through my bootcamp, it is a volunteer project but still, it is experience.
• Made a few more connections which is always good.

What Went Well

• Went to Art Club, so got out of the apartment which is good.
• Made progress with KR Scholar’s design, was able to navigate the client. Don’t think I want to do a full website due to the client not being focused.
• Bought and planted some herbs, hope I can keep them alive.

What Went Poorly

• Last couple days of the week I was not super productive. Got a bit burnt out working on my portfolio.
• Not started yoga yet, need to review and figure out a plan.

What I Can Do Better Next Week

• Time block work so that I am not just focused on one thing.
• Have not cooked for a bit, should do that.
• Apply to more places and review start-ups. Look for a “job”.
• Spring cleaning, donate items I don’t need.

Top 3 Priorities for Next Week

• Finish up KR Scholar’s project. One more page design and then apply it to Wix.
• Finalize all portfolio updates. Get ‘er done.
• Learn a new skill: Figma, Womp3D, Framer - something that enhances my abilities.

[valid wadi]

What went well:

• Rushed a massive amount of work at my last week at (current role)
  • Finished mobile app prototype
  • Edited and updated production mockups
  • Finished more screens for upcoming work sprints; documented everyth else for other designer to followup on
• Personal portfolio stuff
  • Consolidated the work projects User Test findings into my own doco
• Onboarded new dev onto proj (this consumed like 1 work day..)

What could be better:

• Prob going to skim thru tonight to ensure the “important points” are captured before i suddenly lose access to work proj

[stark solstice]

Is contra a good place to start making projects?

[scarlet gull]

What went well:

• Met a startup founder at a meetup and they scheduled an office hours call with me for Monday by the end of the night
• Met one of the founders of a new startup accelerator and started a conversation about UX advising for startups in their batch
• Went to a webinar all week that taught me some new things about marking one’s business on LinkedIn, found I’m already doing some of what they talked about
• Found a handful of new people on LinkedIn to follow
• Connected to a new recruiter who focuses on startups

What went poorly:

• Worked on a project from last year to highlight in a LinkedIn post, but got a little stuck on it. Not sure how to rapidly+non-destructively iterate when designing in code.
• Had energy and positivity crash at end of week and into weekend (again).

What I can do better next week:

• More LinkedIn posts

Priorities for next week:

• Intro calls with people from last week!
• Post about the project I’ve been working on.
• Finish setups for Stripe, Contra, etc.
• Start taxes 😬

[lunar frigate]

What is your Linkedin?

[scarlet gull]

https://linkedin.com/in/danhiester

[lunar frigate]

Thanks!

[valid wadi]

oh and tt last point didnt happen yet…… fatigue man, fatigue

[jovial gate]

Forgot it was the weekend. : P

This week was just usual, nothing apart from work. managed to make a few screens. Worked on making 3 sets of achievement card designs.

[valid wadi]

Ok I actually sat down for 15m to work on this

And now rushing to work :[

Kinda skimmed thru 1 design thing I did and took screenshots of the sticky notes; but still need to put the points tgt

[atomic axle]

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alike-chambers_meet-aliké-chambers-our-march-member-of-activity-7309998605103177728-psYB?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=android_app&rcm=ACoAAAsfMYUB24pkRJ6sX9h2rKsmJmZUuO0NiRQ&utm_campaign=copy_link

I got featured on my local entrepreneurial space. 🙌🏾

[lunar frigate]

I am sure this is random af but got featured on Contra: https://contra.com/hire/ux-researchers-in-massachusetts-usa?featuredUserProfileId=WyJVc2VyUHJvZmlsZSIsMzU1Njc5Nzdd&utm_campaign=FeaturedOnHirePage&utm_content=FeaturedOnHirePage&utm_medium=transactional_message&utm_source=customer.io

[atomic axle]

HELL LEAYHA

I don't have a contra! 😦

[lunar frigate]

I legit think it is a way for them to make you share their link to socials because I have not done anything with it

[scarlet gull]

I also wonder if you’re one of very few freelance UXRs in Chicopee?

(Note to self: Look up freelance design engineers in Seattle on Contra next time I get back to my desk)

[pearl axle]

This Week’s Wins:

-Managed to publish, market, post on socials another productivity tool yesterday despite I was abroad few days.

-Spoken with an old friend social media manager who gave me some advice to improve reach, reels, and video editing to explain better my work. I will be working with him to try out this new method from now on. Goal: Improve the overall message to make it easy to understand as people tend to be intimidated by tax and finance.

-Had conversation for a possible design side hustle with a developer who seems extremely cool and interesting. Goal: Network and be more sociable as speaking with new people can be fun and stimulant.

-Managed to speak with a bounch of people in dm and server about working out tips, nutrition and calories and started my journey with a lot of useful info. Goal: lose 5 kg, reduce cortisol, sleep better, get more toned and shaped by June.

What went poorly

-A couple of tasks left undone and delayed, which I will try to sort between today and tomorrow as I find annoying leave things for too long not completed.

-the tendency to beat me up and be harsh to myself as if I need still to demonstrate my value and worth as person and Designer.

-Be more kind to myself, and rediscover hobbies and things I enjoy without feeling guilty in relax times.

[lunar frigate]

Oh, I might be the only one but it said "Massachsetts" so I imagine there are plenty in Boston

[jovial gate]

This week:
Continued working on other things for my work, went meh. But loved working more on the achievement cards. Looked around for better job opportunity, landed a interview test. Test went good, Waiting for a response from them. Almost completing the Google Certificate course.

For next week:
Look for more openings. Complete the certificate course. Update my resume and if possible my portfolio.

[pearl axle]

What do you do when you are feeling unmotivated?

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/jake-gif-18065140

[pearl axle]

I do this already xD

Same face

[ruby sage]

Yeah I am sure its random, but its still a win! I will take it! You should too!!

[lunar frigate]

Thanks!

[ruby sage]

SMALL CELEBRATE. Instead of coding vanilla, I coded with a template and have been able to manipulate it to my liking more than just starting scratch. Now I don't feel like I am so behind on this project which I am working with a friend.

[jovial gate]

This kind of sums it up. But I try to focus on things I feel motivated on doing at taht time. Gaming, eating, listing to music and just lying there for eternity calculating all future possible version of what I mess up. : P

[atomic axle]

So today was great!

Though I was pushing my luck I got to practice my pitch again and put my face out in front of many people! IT was really nice to answer questions and inspire others!

Turned in my day job work on time.

I connected with many more people. I have been able to successfully connect with many others as much as possible during that pitching opportunity!

[tame wadi]

Today's Wins

• Got more people to signup for beta testing my app 🥂

Today's Progress

• Started work on a Slide Deck, got the general outline rounded out for potential investors 🙏
• Analyzed SurveyMonkey responses to apps features for value proposition validation reached close to 220, with 76% of respondents saying they "find value" in some of my main features that really connect to the value proposition 🎉
• More development on the mobile app, started work on a few features for the dashboard and other pages
• The usual paperwork for foundation stuff

[pearl axle]

Yeah I feel you there.

[atomic axle]

If you ever need evaluation I highly recommend https://www.skysthelimit.org/. This is an entrepreneur space for people who have pitches just like you! I am working on my elevator pitch in hopes I make it to the live pitching round.

[tame wadi]

Signed up for an account a few minutes ago, since I’m almost done with a pitch draft this’ll be great. Thanks!

[atomic axle]

I did my pitch practice last night. The next practice is in May. The website is super buggy because it's a non profit but it is 100% worth it!

[pearl axle]

This sounds amazing, exciting and super challenging at the same time.

[tame wadi]

the survey was pretty scary because if they didnt find value in some of the features im offering then it's basically RIP

[pearl axle]

Damn. But how did you learn about this, is it long time you do this job?

Because there a series of skills and knowledge you re gaining here, other than the app creation and development, also dealing with future stakeholders and the logistics of the foundation itself.

[burnt fog]

Was looking at new opportunities for the past few months, got some rejections after reaching final rounds (one of them, they didn't issue offer letter coz they changed their mind 😣), finally got a call and joining the place i was hoping for. yay. Just wanted to share with people who are having hard time in converting final rounds that its possible if you keep reviewing what mistakes you could have made and improve on them. (most of the times its communication related in ending rounds)🥳

[valid wadi]

which place!! the larger org?

[burnt fog]

That one didnt issue the letter, so applied to other places and this is similar size nd better in terms of how everything went and background of people i will be working with, so not mad anymore like i was for past 2 weeks lol

[valid wadi]

yayy glad it all worked out for u in the end

[lunar frigate]

Congrats!

[tame wadi]

Win's Since Last Update

• Finalized our logo!!
• Wrapped up our first pitch-deck draft
• Got the company officially incorporated

Continued Progress

• Continuing mobile development, working on the dashboard and started on the onboarding process
• Forecasting and sales research on our current per user per month revenue and expenses, among other research

[jovial gate]

This week:

Completed working on the dashboard, started off with the mobile app design for work. Also, happy about this, started working on a case study for my portfolio after a long time, hoping to change my portfolio's orientation a bit with this.

[pearl axle]

This Week Wins

_Managed to finish another digital product for my shop.
_Found 2 new ideas to implement listings.
_My target audience growing on my page of another bounch, means someone is seeing my efforts in the end.
_learned new valuable skills from a social media manager friend.
_workout and nutrition schedule going as planned, manage to lose another 1.5 kg ( goal reach 60 kg by June )
_Feeling my mental health and mood overall improving little by little which is reassuring.
_Reading a good chunk of my current book, trying to cut 20/30 mins everyday to read especially at dawn when everything is quiet and peaceful.

What went poorly

_I should try participate to more social activities.
_networking feels scary and daunting sometimes.

[atomic axle]

I have been selected to pitch live in the Family & Friends Pitching Contest as a wildcard. If I finish my presentation today I can qualify for $2,500 for my business. 😭
My willingness to participate in online spaces paid off. 🤯.

[lunar frigate]

congrats!

[pearl axle]

wow well done

[tame wadi]

is this for the Sky's the Limit website? congrats on the progress made!

also I had a question, how many drafts did it take until you got to a pitch deck you were comfortable with lol

[atomic axle]

Yes! This is my first time getting somethign like this!

[atomic axle]

LMfaooo, too many to count I'm working on my final one as we speka RN

[tame wadi]

Oof I’m on my 3rd draft about to start my 4th one later today, trying to use OpenVC to get a good score on it. Congrats again!!

[atomic axle]

BAG SECURED I WON THE PITCH CONTEST!

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/leonardo-dicaprio-clapping-clap-applause-amazing-gif-16078907558888063471

[pearl axle]

!!!! Amazing congratulations 🎉👏🏻

[pearl axle]

Having people here sharing their success is inspiring and got me thinking...

Maybe I am not doing enough, maybe I am not pushing enough towards my goals, not reaching out for the people I want to be learning from, and whose path inspire me.
So I decided.

I am preparing a pitch to a bunch of influencers I admire and follow, offering my services as designer. And probably there is a 0.000001 % that they will take me in consideration but if there is a chance to work for something meaningful i will get to it.

[lunar frigate]

Good luck

[atomic axle]

Sucess is like a tree, it will not grow overnight. It will only grow with time.

[pearl axle]

Yesss 🔥

[tame wadi]

May I'm on my 9th draft of my pitch deck so far and it's only a 3.5/5 on openvc

maybe im biased and shouldn't do this, but im using multiple AIs to review it, like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT and I got an avg score of 4.5

which is confusing because on openvc their review system uses ChatGPT

so like

[atomic axle]

Using AI to review isn't ideal. It's fine for building but I can't trust it to understand the goal of it. Human intervention is always going to be your best judgement.

[lunar frigate]

Do your pitch to actually humans in the voice channel sometime.

[tame wadi]

Ye I get that, the frustrating part of OpenVC is that whenever investors respond to your reach out and pitch deck that you sent, they use AI to review the quality of it then automatically reject the message you’re sending back to the investor

[tame wadi]

Yeah I’ve been doing pitch practices to friends and family. Not the best audience but yk

[somber cedar]

hey I am glad you got something out of the thread! that means a lot

[lunar frigate]

I get that but they are vested because they know you.

[tame wadi]

yeah that would be awesome if I could get the link for that

im a bit nervous about my founders/team slide. it's just me at the moment, but i do emphasize im building a core team through the funding

[stark solstice]

3 more messages here and you will reach 💯 in this post

[whole ginkgo]

Not a success story but just a happy baby step. I got back into playing with Figma and am almost done with two minimalist movies poster style designs.

I'm going to clean them up and double check that they would be great for print and have them printed for my kid's rooms.

Boom, something small and simple that forces me to practice.

[lunar frigate]

Awesome!

[atomic axle]

I joined the breakfast meet up at my entrepreneur space and it was really nice! I met many connections.

I got to hear back from the IT training opportunity, I had to complete an assessment and send m resume to see if I qualify for a grant to be in this program.

Tomorrow I get to attend a mentor session in the evening to connect with people I might be able to help at Sky's The Limit!

Thursday I have a one on one with Sky's The Limit Manager to be interviewed for my $2,500 win!

I got my tax refund to pay off some debts!

[pearl axle]

That is great news ✨💪🏻

[pearl axle]

How do you organize your time during the week? I find myself having ups and downs, managing to focus or losing it completely. If you would quantify the time you go under focus work and the hours you spent putting yourself out there looking for networking and opportunity, what numbers % would you get?

[atomic axle]

You're going to hate this...

You need a calendar.

You don't need to make time, you need to plan it.

[pearl axle]

Oh! That's google calendar! I can totally do that xD

[pearl axle]

Btw you have so much diverse work to carry on

[atomic axle]

Easier said than done, Are you committed to recording your daily, weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, monthly, and quarterly routines?

Can you identify your habits and how long they take you even down to the time you decide to have afternoon tea?

Do you have the ability to strategically navigate immediate schedule changes when you don't have access to your calendar?

Will you be able to force yourself to look at your calendar everyday you wake up, in the middle of your day and review it before you go to sleep?

Can you spend one to two hours each week-- adjusting your availability accordingly as well as executing the SMART method so you know how to prioritize certain habits?

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/gohine-hohino-no-hohineee-gohineee-gif-17792172174678204487

lol

I have tried it, it was easier when I was working and i have good and bad days with it. My brain is just mush at this point.

[atomic axle]

It's easier for me to have an app arrange my schedule accordingly. Reclaim has improved my quality of life!

[lunar frigate]

Can't improve my quality of life if I don't have one 😉

[atomic axle]

Saleem, please.

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/the-simpsons-coming-up-milhouse-flood-high-water-gif-3546059

[pearl axle]

My goodness!!

( re reading again)

[atomic axle]

These are the realities of success we turn away from.
The people own companies aren't guessing what they do next each day. They plan it.
When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Know what is happening each minute of your life.

[pearl axle]

This is so detailed thank you for sharing it! I m using agenda and Google notes to plan my workload, but evidently I am missing on consistency here 😵‍💫 I just recently decided my weeks on a certain amount of goals I should achieve by the end of it but still this I have work to do, to step my game up

[atomic axle]

https://tenor.com/view/frog-salute-frog-salute-china-chinese-gif-562786298061862185

[lunar frigate]

I don't do it currently but journaling can also help. You can find some or just make it yourself, eithe digital or paper. I tend to like paper because I am always looking at my monitor.

Basically, at the end of the day, you do a recap. What are the priorities that you need to hit the next day? Adjusting your calendar for that.

Also, having a gratitude section. What are you thankful for? How did you show gratitude today? What did you do to have a positive impact? What praise did you receive?

[pearl axle]

I do journaling from time to time but more to keep track with my mental health, especially when something unsettling happens, but the problem of introducing to do list on my journaling diary would be tracking my to do list and new ideas, that's why I keep them separated on Google notes, so I don't get overstimulated by the emotional dump I had the day before when looking at it

[atomic axle]

||I'm thankful for not drinking a combination of bleach and vinegar some days|| I have to hand it to being somewhat physically able to do some things!

[pearl axle]

Oh! the gratitude section is a good idea 💡

[lunar frigate]

You should make sure those two things are clearly labeled. Not a good cocktail there.

[whole ginkgo]

My optimism for the day:

I tried to gather user research for the first time and it did not go well- BUT. It enabled me to see what does not work.

It also helped me figure out that I need to not only change my approach to research but to reconsider helping people that I wanted to help.

✨

[atomic axle]

Y'all inspired me and I got accepted into a UX program! 🙂

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/one-of-us-join-us-you're-in-blue-cat-chugs-gif-894389602425991181

[lunar frigate]

Which program/course are you taking?

[atomic axle]

Google Coursea UX. They pay for it basically

[lunar frigate]

Oh, cool. Didn't know they pay for it.

[whole ginkgo]

Me getting to have fun while practicing Figma. Recreating my old Myspace profile from when I was 16.

[lunar frigate]

@nimble loom had a MySpace part of her portfolio but she took it down. It was pretty neat.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate yeah I'm almost done with it! It was great for practicing with Figma

[lunar frigate]

... Should I make a myspace account in 2025? Like a new one? I just checked and it is still a thing.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate I wonder who is even on there tbh. I don't have one but I needed to do a cringe post of when I used to have stuff like gloomy bear on my profile....or when I would have stuff that says "snitches get stitches"

Even tho I have never been in a fight in my entire life lmfaooo

[lunar frigate]

It is still a thing, i guess:

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate ah ok it looks like it went back to its roots of being for indie musicians??

[lunar frigate]

The weird thing is the top right, the first thing is "date". Are people using myspace to hook up? lol

[lunar frigate]

https://myspace.com/saleemnoorali

I think some parts are broken lol

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate hahaha omg it looks so diff. Obvi but still. 😭😭😭

Date...I bet you they do dating now. You see the success of stuff like tinder and I know fb used to do dating crap too.

FB has too much going on tho so I think that's why they just axed that feature.

[lunar frigate]

I am pretty sure finding someone on myspace is a red flag, right? idk

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate I feel like I would be kinda worried that they never got over high school. 🫣🫣🫣

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/football-tv-celebration-pose-al-bundy-gif-14068832926350514107

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate bet u I can throw a football over them mountains

[lunar frigate]

Nah, I think I might actually have carpal tunnel now. So that is fun while working at a computer. 🫠

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate I mostly have eye strain and headaches. I need to get a blue filter for when I'm practicing design.

May I ask, do you code also? I am learning from the relic lol The Odin Project.

[lunar frigate]

I got some blue filter glasses and always forget to wear them. I don't code though.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate I want to just learn soft stuff like more advanced CSS and maybe JavaScript.

Only because of how hard I hear it is to enter the field now.

[lunar frigate]

I am trying to enter the field now. Guess I should learn that? 🫠

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate ooohh. I thought you were already in. One of the cool people who found this field sooner and therefore was able to get established.

[scarlet epoch]

hi all!

I've been playing rose 🌹/bud 🌷/thorn🥀 (what's going well/what's on the horizon/what's a thorn in your side) with friends irl and thought I'd bring it to this thread –

the 🌹rose for the week was definitely getting good feedback from a mentor and landing a potential new client for a social campaign.

my thorn 🥀 is organizing my thoughts around my website, but
my bud 🌷 is figuring out that printing out hard copies of the site's pages makes the concept project make a little more sense.

[lunar frigate]

Interesting process, reminds me a bit of F***, Marry, Kill lol

• 🌹Rose🌹: I completed watching/reading the UX Portfolio Course I was doing.

• 🌷Bud🌷: I am going to a MeetUp event that is about Wordpress. I known nothing about WordPress but I figured I could connect with local designers and learn more about it.

• 🥀Thorn🥀: Damn portfolio is a thorn in my side. I am focusing on the writing aspects now before working on the visuals in Framer. I know it is a whole thing to learn but I hope to be able to execute on it like I want. I gave myself a deadline for May 1st. https://discord.com/channels/697694775561945109/1363580546181107884

[atomic axle]

Starting my training! 😄

[valid wadi]

get glassesss!! like IP41 glasses or sth like that

[valid wadi]

if u like old web u shd checkout neocities

says me who wants to have my design portfolio on there but i still dk how feasible it is

[pearl axle]

What a nice idea💡🌸

[pearl axle]

Rose, bud, thorn.

• 🌹Rose🌹: After 2 days attempting and matching formulas I finally managed to build a pivot table that doesn't explodes or give errors (to create a stacked area chart ) even with a thousand rows data bulk input. I laughed like a mad scientist in front of my laptop yesterday and felt amazing 🚀

• 🌷Bud🌷: I'm renewing my first digital product set adding some new automatic perks I did not have the skills to do when I just started, hopefully they will be welcomed from the audience once I will launch them.

• 🥀Thorn🥀: I got stuck all week on research, planning, and the whole UI of it to make it less intimidating and more interesting, also every issue requires several tests so I did not manage to keep my goal of 4 products published per week. Which is bad because by the end of this week I need to manage to complete 8 to keep the quota.

( me yesterday 🫠)

[whole ginkgo]

Good morning!

My positive new task today is tonight I am going to start working on my first prototype.

It won't be complicated as this is mostly to get me used to making prototypes in Figma.

It will be the first time my design will use testability and be clickable and what not.

F yeah ❤️

[atomic axle]

I got my taxes. I got paid. I got my business grant. We are thriving this season.

[whole ginkgo]

Aight y'all! Send much appreciated good vibes my way please. I am going to mention a redesign of my kid's daycare website with research backed changes in exchange for discounted childcare.

Their current site is....jumbled on mobile, with pieces of useless template pages floating around (I found a random 'products' page that shows a stock photo of cologne).

So I think I have a shot. Lfg.

[lunar frigate]

Good luck! Did you already do research on it and what it can potentially for growing their business?

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate so my plan was this- mention the possibility to gauge their interest, and then I was going to tell them that we would have to have a meeting to determine their business goals on their website in order to tell me what I need to know about a redesign to increase professionalism and therefore parental trust so more people sending their kids there.

God I'm so nervous.

[lunar frigate]

breathe.

Worst thing they can say is "I hate you and your kid cannot go here anymore".

But we know that won't happen.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate lmao watch that be what they say word-for-word 🤣 jk.

I mostly get nervous because there is always a small part of me that feels uncomfortable and like I am too forward or something

If that makes sense.

I keep trying to remind myself that this is an important part of building a career...networking, putting myself out there 😭

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/batman-slap-meme-shut-up-dont-say-a-word-gif-17355724

Yeah, I need to do that too but know you are your worst enemy.

Unless, you actually have enemies out there.

We can connect if you want though, to run through your pitch. Creating a short deck might not be a bad idea if you have experience with that.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate yanno what Eminem (I think) said before ..if you have enemies, good. It means you stood up for something in your life.

Quotes that were possibly said by Eminem aside-

Thank u for the gif slap bc ur right

Sigh. We can if you can message me right now? Shot in the dark

I need to mostly run by what I'm gonna say

Bc the tour is at 9:30am and it is currently 8:50am 😁😁😁😁

[lunar frigate]

sure, let me grab my headset

[lunar frigate]

I DM'd you

[whole ginkgo]

✨Update✨

Spoke with @lunar frigate to do a quick practice before I talked to my kids daycare about exchanging UX services for discounted childcare.

Amazing news that I am proud of- it was received very well. The director I spoke to said she does not deal with money but that her boss does

So she took my information on a sticky note and she said she is going to have her boss call me to discuss.

🙌🙌🙌🙌🙌

[lunar frigate]

Congrats on being brave.

[atomic axle]

Don't foget to set reminders to do a 7 day or a 30 day follow up!!!

[whole ginkgo]

Good point! Thank you

[ruby sage]

I wrote another article and it has been a huge impact on the Philly community and that makes me really happy!! https://thedesignspace.substack.com/p/landing-your-next-ux-role

I also want to note that writing has been such a relief to job hunting and it makes me really hopeful again idk why

[lunar frigate]

reading it now

[lunar frigate]

I logged on Facebook to check something out and got an ad for a local Business Accelerator free program. I applied to it to create a design studio. Will see what happens but I got nothing to lose.

[atomic axle]

Looks like Facebook spying on our conversations finally worked!

[whole ginkgo]

omg so I was saying a week or so ago that i was making a graphic of a fake myspace profile.

FINALLY DONE.

Note that the reason this exists isn't for work or portfolio but it was allowing me to play with Figma to get to know its tools. So, still productive.

[pearl axle]

I am liking the vibes here🤭

[whole ginkgo]

Goddd. I couldn't help but cringe a little at myself but I guess it was the era so I had to suck it up while I was designing it lmfao

[whole ginkgo]

Aight. Getting my chores done early so I can put aside an hour to sit down and work on the daycare website.

Posting for accountability ✨

[pearl axle]

I ve done my chores this morning + workout ( here is 14.47) and now i am starting work.

Posting for accountability

PS: checking on you later👀 so have a productive day

[whole ginkgo]

Accountability check-in ✨

One of my biggest goals with the daycare website is to make it responsive.

I created my multiple screen sizes in Figma, and then I read and watched videos on utilizing the grids to help give a clean and responsive site.

This is pretty time consuming since this is the first time I am doing responsive design; so I've spent my time also practicing, understanding plugins that assist me with this process, etc.

Done for the day for now ✅

[pearl axle]

I will be still here until this evening, I am going through all my digital products in detail to check mistakes, files, formats, and if there is some marketing slides that can be upgraded. enjoy the rest of you day!

[lunar frigate]

I noticed a mistake on a project that no one called out and I am dreading having to fix it and make new mockups

[pearl axle]

where?

[lunar frigate]

I didn't change a button's text on a smart mirror project.

[pearl axle]

oh ok! that easy to make! are you doing it rn?

[lunar frigate]

No, it is on the list.

[pearl axle]

okkk🚀 👍

[whole ginkgo]

Feeling icky this morning but the show must go on!

*For context, I'm not suggesting any of you work through being sick- I am pregnant and I do get rest but with me being pregnant I am going to feel icky from time to time no matter what.

Anyway-

today's goal is for me to begin mapping out what the site already looks like, screenshotting the different pages, taking notes of important elements I can reuse (such as their mission statement or repeating colors)

Testing links, all of that good stuff that I can use to determine what sorts of changes I should incorporate into the redesign.

Let's go ✨

[pearl axle]

How much I like that this is becoming like a little journaling section every now and then about Design and work progress 🌈✨

[lunar frigate]

Congrats on the pregnancy! I am slowly waking up and need to do some chores before I tackle Framer again.

[whole ginkgo]

Thank you! Very exciting! Trying my best to get my portfolio crafted before the bean arrives in November.

I haven't used framer yet. What are you working on in it?

[lunar frigate]

My portfolio lol

[pearl axle]

Rose, bud, thorn.

• 🌹Rose🌹: this week I have been super productive, I gave myself the goal to publishing 8 products, and being working until late every day ( working on 2 right now and hopefully done by this evening) with not delay.

Workouts is going well I lost another 0.5kg and I m just 2 kg away from my goals, I can see myself shaping up lil by lil. but mostly I am happy my mental health is been finally improving massively from December, which was really when I felt at the bottom of my life.

• 🌷Bud🌷:
  I am slowly getting to know someone professionally interesting and I can sense the spike in production and motivation within me, when hanging around people who inspire me to do better even only observing their lives, or sharing their progress and challenges.

• 🥀Thorn🥀: putting myself down to work does not allow me to multitask, especially when I should try to be more sociable to make meaningful connections ( that is still enjoyable ). I had to postpone 2 social meetup to keep up with schedule which is sliding in the coming week, however as for next week I am back to send quota 4 and need to start researching , building, and marketing, this feel busy and pressuring, because I don't have time for everything and everyone but I don't want people gets upset if I m not available.

[pearl axle]

Good luck on that! Smash it🔥

[pearl axle]

I am still here. Still on. I can do it. Almost done.

[pearl axle]

I made it. It s 11.14 pm. and I just made my quota of the week 🥹

[pearl axle]

Heeloow people here! A new week is starting✨

[whole ginkgo]

Today my body seems to be forcing me to rest. Zero energy, my brain is foggy.

So my plan for the day is to rest up so that I can continue to be productive this week ✨❤️

[pearl axle]

You need to rest in your condition, dont force too much yourself!

[rapid linden]

Freelancer are needed for the following project..
*Typing
*Writing
*Translation
*Logo designers

• Video editors
  *retyping
  if you can handle any of this remote options dm me

I need a professional video editor and logo designers too work for my company your needs urgently

[whole ginkgo]

#🗺navigation

#💼paid-opportunities

[lunar frigate]

they spammers

[whole ginkgo]

Tired still today but the show must go on.

My plan is to watch more of my Figma learning video and begin toying with wireframes for the daycare website.

✨

[pearl axle]

xD

[ruby sage]

Have had this massive migraine for 2 days now, but excited to get another blog post out for Thursday.

[whole ginkgo]

Actual footage of me lmao

[whole ginkgo]

Sorry about your head! Migraines are horrific and def make it hard to get anything done

[ruby sage]

yeah but I am pushing through!! I have a lot of stuff to get done.

[lunar frigate]

Hope you both feel better. I need to do some stuff but will prob be on the cafe later, still figuring out Framer stuff.

Sometimes I get sidetracked if too many people are in the cafe though

[ruby sage]

I LOVE going to the local library!! they have their own little cafe, but its so quiet there and I just jam to my music. Its where I go if I need to write.

[lunar frigate]

Not been there in a while, I remember the wifi not being great for my previous laptop but I will see. I only have a Chromebook for mobile.

I could maybe see what other libraries are around too.

[ruby sage]

Yeah I go to one outside my county actually because they are closer to me surprisedly 😂

[lunar frigate]

Some are better funded and have just more stuff. The one near me feels very old.

[pearl axle]

Mee too!! Lmaooo 🤣

[pearl axle]

Love that ✨😌

[pearl axle]

Love lil cafe in libraries and stuff, looking at book titles and ending up buying more than I can read

I just took a lil break on balcony after lunch, and spent the morning on phone calls. I think I can start to actually work now🙈

Have a good productive day people ✨

[pearl axle]

damn... i just found a typo in the pdf for the product... so this means i need to remade it 33 times as i have 33 products at the moment.

how can i be so dumb...

and I am so tired

[whole ginkgo]

I learned that the sudden lack of motivation in general that I've been experiencing is from a specific hormone in pregnancy.

It is kind of a relief because it reminds me that it's temporary to feel sluggish and weird.

Anyway, my goals for the day when it comes to UX:

Get wireframes going! The website is small so I bet I could get most done today.

✨

[pearl axle]

Yeah! Hormons are some kind of a new world I am discovering with chat Gpt lately ( cortisol in my case for the stress), and seems affect a lot of my female friends as well, but it is good you found the source of your negative feelings, so eventually you can manage to do something about it and overcome it.

good day!

[lunar frigate]

wait, am I pregnant?!

[pearl axle]

Lmaooo

I think you have some different hormons going on 🤭

I checked mine describing symptoms on chat GPT xD

[lunar frigate]

Would explain all the kicking in my belly

[pearl axle]

oh noooo!!🙈

[whole ginkgo]

COBGRATS SALEEM

U lil seahorse 😂😂

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/bloated-food-baby-mr-mom-im-gonna-be-a-momma-too-pregnant-gif-17351584

[pearl axle]

LOL

[whole ginkgo]

At least now when you're feeling lazy u can be well I'm with child so 💅💅💅💅

[ruby sage]

https://tenor.com/view/holiday-classics-elf-excited-will-ferrell-shouting-gif-15865220

I just love helping people LOL it is a feel good moment.

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/grinch-heart-grow-grich-heart-grow-gif-444844103639024799

[lunar frigate]

Want to help me with Framer before I rip my hair out?

[atomic axle]

Previous pregnant person here.

Do whatever you can to invest in therapy now and post partum. My post partum lasted years... If I would have done things differently I would have spoken to a professional about my mental health. It can chemically change how you think or act to the point it feels like you're watching a deepfake of yourself self so things out of character. Protect your peace.

[whole ginkgo]

Thanks! This is my fourth child so thankfully I'm pretty pro at this point 💪

[atomic axle]

https://tenor.com/view/darkelfcarla-kono-healer-mendokusai-alvin-knight-i-kneel-gif-25900197

[ruby sage]

I actually don't really know Framer yet, but I can help if needed. Its probably close to Figma.

[lunar frigate]

Its all good, just something I need to learn. It is like Figma but not like Figma.

[lunar frigate]

I am just going to go through the entire Framer Academy. For some reason stuff ain't clicking with me and it is frusterating me.

[pearl axle]

Update: I just finished adjusting the 33 pdf mistakes I discovered yesterday. 1 day lost but well, what we can do.

Tomorrow is another day Rossella.

[whole ginkgo]

Best way to do it imo. That's how I first got familiar with Photoshop is using their premade tutorials and guides from Adobe themselves

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, it is just different than other stuff.

[whole ginkgo]

I havent messed with it yet myself. It's one of those where it's easier to hand over to clients right?

[lunar frigate]

Not sure what you mean? It is a website builder. You can hand it over but a client might break it.

[whole ginkgo]

It was just something I briefly read that described it as being a builder with no code so it could be easily handed over to the client or something.

It wouldn't shock me if the client broke it tho 💀

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, a client can break anything. That is why it is good to do a reoccurring fee for maintenance.

[whole ginkgo]

And sometimes, those clients break ✨us✨

[whole ginkgo]

Aight. So. Today is definitely going to happen in terms of getting my wireframes planned out.

Debating on testing an AI program to give me some frameworks to make my work go faster.

It isn't going away so might as well use it to my benefit to save me time.

✨

[lunar frigate]

Are you doing lo fi wireframing?

I am trying to time block out some stuff today (little behind) but also working in chores so I don't stay at the computer too long.

Tell me if you are down for co-working sometime.

[whole ginkgo]

Yep! I tried using this figma plugin and obviously the results are generic but A) I am learning how to write better prompts and B) It still saved me time from just imagining it from scratch.

And yeah we can co-work sometime! I'm off on Mondays and Tuesdays and I try to get work in my other days- it can be a bit hard but even if I can set aside an hour.

[whole ginkgo]

Going old school for reasons

[lunar frigate]

Not sure if you have seen this but I saw it in the events channel and it is this weekend. It is a UX Hackathon. I have never done one:

https://protothon2025.webflow.io/

[whole ginkgo]

Nowhere near the final product but getting a first draft of the home page going.

Navi link names may likely change... I am still organizing the information. The words will be drop-down menus of sub-topics.

Prob gonna do a card sort with some people to get a better idea of where they would likely go if they were on the site

Found this cool ux research tool called Lyssna

[lunar frigate]

Looks pretty cool. Is it free?

[whole ginkgo]

Yeah there's a free plan!

[whole ginkgo]

Today was decently productive given how worn out I have been.

So far

🔥 I have a UI going. Modernized sort of look- it's using primary colors so far, since it is for a child's daycare and preschool. I incorporated clean illustration to it to help give that childlike feel while remaining modern in appearance.

🔥 This is not the final draft- I am still playing with adding more illustrations or doing some tweaking with spacing and placements- but for now, this is the navi and header I have going.

🔥 I did a card sort to help me determine the navi menu. I did not make these buttons interactive yet- but they will be drop-downs to sub-categories.

And now I am going to take an hour long nap.

Hope yall are getting things done today. 💪

[atomic axle]

Rome wasn't built in a day.

[whole ginkgo]

Haven't heard from the daycare but I also haven't followed up yet. I wanted more of a draft ready.

An agency opened a job position by me for web design and graphic design.

It would be a good way to get in somewhere to get my career started.

Doubt I will get it but I am going to try.

I say doubt because it's best to just mentally prepare in this job market lol personally

[whole ginkgo]

Good morning 🌞 (8:52am here)

Husband is home from work today so I am going to work on the daycare website design while he hangs out with our kid.

I'm wanting to be able to apply for jobs before I have my baby in November

But I need those 3 minimum solid portfolio pieces so I need to get going. 💪

[pearl axle]

sounds great Kyrstin! keep going🔥

[whole ginkgo]

Done for the day.

▫️ Created a lofi wireframe (allowed me to practice using industry-standard indicators of what content goes where and obviously planning)

▫️ Utilized grids to help align the content, text, and in the end make the website responsive.

▫️ Added placeholder content to help get a better idea of how the page would be set-up from the lofi.

▫️ Getting into the habit of keeping my workspace clean and organized by proper grouping.

[pearl axle]

I need a business coach that is not a scammer.

Because these marketing strategies are driving me insane.

[atomic axle]

Those are goign to cost ya big homie

[pearl axle]

Yeah

We are in Q2 and I still see breadcrumbs here.

[whole ginkgo]

Today's little accomplishments:

🔹 Adjusted my grids accordingly based on appropriate calculations of container for the margin.

🔹 Tested the prototype to see how the layout is stretching and condensing.

🔹Made font, header, and button size changes to better suit the prototype when it's at 100%

🔹Added an illustration from iconify but am toying with the idea of just doodling my own to avoid having to pay extra for high res (not meaning to disrespect artists, their work is worth money, I'm just broke lol)

My final thing I'm gonna do is continue my studying and note taking while I'm at my delivery job.

It's hard to do laptop work there so Ive just been bringing my pad of paper and reading things on my phone and taking notes.

Today I plan on studying making drop down menus on Figma.

[lunar frigate]

I got this email from Focused Space, which specialize in planning and accountability. They are doing a Free PLanning Workshop that I signed up for: https://space.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=0a259b770d308b1b9ebc04892&id=92df47485b&e=6f80a57299

Thought it might be helpful to share.

[lunar frigate]

I have not done one of these in a while:

• Got a rejection from a business accelerator that I had applied for. I am not too heart broken by it because it was from a random Facebook ad. It was to create a design agency and this is the feedback I got:

"I think you will be very successful. I also think you might need to pivot lately just because of the challenges that you faced with do-it-yourself tools and AI platforms. Services that you offer are still heavily needed, but people are also trying to reduce their spending as much as possible."

"There seems to be quite a bit of competition for this type of business."

• Meeting with a client from Catchafire. It is volunteer work but it is just for branding guide. Made me have even more questions as the design agency that did it is local and it is sort of a mess.

• Will be connecting virtually with another designer that is local from another Discord. Hopefully build out my network while learning their own story.

• Working on a logo from a client from here. Hoping to make progress in a short time as a lot of work was already done with it.

• Continue working and refining my portfolio using Framer. Still working through some parts but hope to learn more about the platform.

[atomic axle]

Let me know if you want help with you next application. I applied to another one down town and got in so I will be doing another one this year to keep me focused.

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I appreciate it.

[lunar frigate]

Update:

• Meeting with Catchafire client went well and she appreciates my perspective and questions I have asked because she has not considered many of them.

• I went to work on the branding guide and noticed her logo has random holes in it. The more I dig into the design the agency's work, the more angry I get. She paid $800 for this mess and doesn't even realize it. Waiting for a follow up.

• Other client approved the logo draft and will be moving forward with the rest of the branding.

• Didn't touch my portfolio but I did find software that looks good for recording my screen. Will be helpful for capturing interactions.

[atomic axle]

$800
"Agency"

Hmmmmmm

[lunar frigate]

I'll show you sometime. It seems very "interesting". She said her husband has worked with them in the past for his business. In my head, I am like... "Oh, maybe I can snag him as a paid client".

[atomic axle]

My clothing brand is legal now!

The rest of my inventory gets here today or tomorrow!

[lunar frigate]

I prefer illegal clothing, it feels scandalous!

[pearl axle]

woooH! that's amazing 🔥

Mee too! Illegal Clothing it feels SO rebel and riotous 🔥 🤭

( took me 30 secs to write riotous correctly)

xD

[pearl axle]

🫠

[lunar frigate]

Finally finished those two branding projects. Hopefully the clients are satisfied with it.

[atomic axle]

Marketing material came in

[lunar frigate]

Nice job!

[whole ginkgo]

Toying with a couple of versions of the header and navigation portion of the daycare website.

🔹 Which one do you prefer and why?

🔹 Could changes be made to make one better than the other?

🔹 Are there elements from both drafts that could combine to make a better third draft?

[lunar frigate]

I think both could be simplified down on a usability side. They are much more visually iconic then functioning and I would recommend wireframing it. Review other websites and wireframe those to understand the design principals a bit. Things like nav bar, hero sections, text. Also keep in mind how it would look like on a responsive side, like with a mobile phone.

[whole ginkgo]

Thank you for your time and your feedback! I always appreciate it and am taking a different pathway kinda like I mentioned in our DMs.

Prob going with this one I found UXcel since I can afford it's monthly premium and I've really enjoyed the sample lessons and hands-on activities it provided me with.

[lunar frigate]

Hope it goes well for you. Always happy to help. Know that progress is not always upward but forward.

[lunar frigate]

Got some feedback from the recent brand style guide project:

[whole ginkgo]

That's awesome!!! Great work Saleem! 😁

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, did not expect that much written lol

[whole ginkgo]

That review will be chef's kiss for your portfolio!

[lunar frigate]

Yeah but generally, you don't put the whole thing. More of a short blurb. Still good to make a positive impact.

[whole ginkgo]

Today is a new day ✨

🔹I put my first attempts ever at designing a desktop site out there and got my feedback.

🔹I am taking my feedback, along with taking on a monthly membership for UXcel to take all of its courses and assignments.

🔹I am going to start fresh with a new project with my new knowledge and with my improved Figma abilities.

Enjoy your day y'all

[lunar frigate]

I am going to be attending my first in-person tech event next week. Not sure what to really expect but hopefully will be able to expand my network.

https://www.evolvedrupal.com/

[lunar frigate]

An art club I go to, the person that runs it messaged me because they were putting together a request for an art show next year. I submitted a piece even though I don't feel I have anything "finished". She reached out stating the gallery is looking for BIPOC for an upcoming art show. I feel like I just doodle and don't do real "art" so I feel more imposter syndrome to submit something not part of this art club thing.

I don't even know what to make to submit for it.

[hearty holly]

I think even doodles have their place in art shows! Whenever I attend them, I always enjoy seeing the cute doodles. It stands out because it’s different from the rest and it’s refreshing! I feel like if she asked for you to submit something, then go ahead and submit something! Surely, she knows what you’re art is like and yet she still asked! Even then, it doesn’t hurt to send something for the art show. It’s there to showcase everyone’s art and doodling is still art!

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I just don't think I have defined my "style".

[hearty holly]

That's okay! I still think it's worth trying. I'm still trying to figure out my style, but it's fun to experiment and play around with different techniques!

[lunar frigate]

I was thinking of starting a 'art club' on here. I know not every designer does art but some do. Figured it might be interesting to share or draw together.

[hearty holly]

That sounds like such a great idea! I'd love to be apart of that if you decide to go through with it

[lunar frigate]

Awesome!

[atomic axle]

ART IS ART BRO CONGRATS

[lunar frigate]

Thanks!

[lunar frigate]

There you go: https://discord.com/channels/697694775561945109/1378036259640967288

Feel free to invite any other artist friends to the thread.

[hearty holly]

Awesome!! I can’t wait to post here haha

[lunar frigate]

Looking forward to it

[pearl axle]

These past 2 days have been challenging. I went through some issue and had to unpublish a product other than research to pivot on something else.

Setbacks hit hard for some reason, they tend to come all together and feel to work backwards instead of making progress regardless of the effort.

[lunar frigate]

I am sorry that you have had these issues. The one thing I will say is some times you learn more from the setbacks than the successes. It is how you navigate that that helps define you.

[pearl axle]

Thank you for your kind words Saleem, also this shall pass🩷

[whole ginkgo]

Yes, setbacks can be very disheartening. Since you don't quit though, you will still achieve. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I bought my membership to UXcel and I've already earned the cert for design terminology.

I am working on foundations and then advanced UX design topics.

I feel like this program was a great choice for me.

I feel good about everything because through exhaustion and life things, I work on UX even while tired and when I don't feel like doing it.

I promised myself I would be ready to at least apply for jobs once my son is born (November).

So I've been really buckling down.

[lunar frigate]

I am glad you are making progress with it. What have you learned that you didn't know before that you feel is most impactful?

[pearl axle]

You are doing great then, keep going ✨🚀

[whole ginkgo]

I'm not sure about impactful but it's been extremely helpful to get more clarity on differences in terms that appear similar.

I was watching free videos and reading free resources, so a lot of it was surface level.

I was able to grasp what a prototype is, what is a mockup is

But the membership went deeper into detail to help me understand what stage of project production they tend to happen

Or like one section went over specializations (informaton architect, etc) and it was nice to have that broken down and further explained.

[lunar frigate]

Great. I am excited to see how you apply your new knowledge to your designs down the road.

[pearl axle]

yeah especially on youtube there is a lot of useful free stuff for the foundamentals 🦾

[lunar frigate]

There are a ton of good Youtube resources but also a lot of it can be a tease to then purchase a full course. I understand the reason. I honestly, prob learned more from outside of my bootcamp than directly in my bootcamp. But there was structure there.

[whole ginkgo]

Feeling productive because I've been getting in at LEAST an hour of studying a day but I was off of my other job the past two days..

So I was able to put in like 3 hours both days.

This morning I just did a unit.

Going to take a break to read my library book before moving onto and completing the next one. ✨

[pearl axle]

good to hear that✨ I still dunno how you are managing so many things together, you have superpowers girl🌈 🦾 keep going🔥

[lunar frigate]

Been feeling like shit this week and then I got sick. Things can always get worse. lol I need to get some rest and hopefully I am better soon. Brain ain't braining.

[pearl axle]

it is unfortunate, try to rest 😔 , sometimes our mood and circumstance can affect our health, hopefully you will be better for the event.

[lunar frigate]

yeah, I agree. Then I lay in bed and feel like I waste time but it is needed.

[pearl axle]

yeah that guilt feeling ...

[whole ginkgo]

Indeed. I feel like it's so easy to burn out or accidentally make ourselves ill because we are so passionate and hardworking that we don't want to stop.

Hope you feel better soon. Keep in mind that rest IS productive because we need it to be optimal .

Cheers 🥂

Agree tho I hope you can make your event.

@pearl axle gotta! No other option. I'm in deep now and I made a goal so I'm just trying to make it happen.

But thank you ❤️

[whole ginkgo]

After going ham on so many courses and studying like crazy these past two weeks-

I am ready to try again with a project intended for my portfolio ✨ exciting !

[lunar frigate]

Ugh, I am still sick and I will prob not go to this event today. I could physically make it through it but I don't want to be a weird coughing mess and maybe getting people sick. Even if I masked up, not a great look for networking. 🫠

[pearl axle]

owww Its alright Saleem! will be for the next time, think to get better! 🤧

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I appreciate it. I am out $30 for the ticket but at least I am not spending for gas and parking to then be known as "the sick guy"

[pearl axle]

ahhh that's unfortunate but it s ok, you cant help it

:/

[lunar frigate]

yeah, not sure how I got sick, just sucks

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate rest up Saleem!!!

[whole ginkgo]

VROOM VROOM YEEE

Got my first three interested people for interview time! Hype!

Wish me well

[scarlet gull]

So. Y’all don’t know me that well yet. But one of the big mental blocks for me finding work, despite having been in tech for many years, is a lack of UXR experience.

This week, during one of the interviews I had, the way the interviewer framed the question for me actually made it click for me: I do have experience implementing telemetry trackers, and that experience spoke to the exact question the interviewer asked me.

It’s a big healing unlock moment for me. Having a hard time keeping it top of mind, so I’m sharing it, to get it space to live outside my head, and so that I equip other people around me to remind me of my wins on days that I need it.

[steady tendon]

Its friday, and as I close out the week I am grateful for my health (which faltered a few days) and my job (which has also been faltering). But in every sigh there is a deep breath. I am happy that I have made new connections and rekindled old ones as well.

[steady tendon]

Dude just got off a two day stomach bug it was gnar gnar

[pearl axle]

These past seven days were hectic:
🌹
_Updated 6 products.
_Created 5 listings.
_Uploaded 8 in a new platform.
_Updated 4 in the new platform.
_Found 3 possible routes to expand horizontally that need deeper research and development.
_managed to execute even while struggling emotionally.
🥀
_Maintenance issues raised that will need supervision in the coming week (and sharpness I don't have lol!)
_to deliver all this stuff I neglected myself, not going out for days.
_Weather was horrible and depressing (ugh!)

Takes:
🔥I can execute outputs while grieving.
🔥I crave progress more than chaos.

Reassess. Recenter. Rewire.

[lunar frigate]

I am sorry for your loss but I am proud of you.

[whole ginkgo]

Im sorry for your loss. You are amazing AF for getting as much done as you did despite what you are going through.

Great work.

[pearl axle]

Thank youu😭

How are you btw??

[whole ginkgo]

I went through my first stage of my project- gathering user research.

Just finished my second stage today - interpreting the results

My next plan is to look at what the top three digital reading platforms are to determine what their best and worst features are in order to consider competition while designing the platform.

It's been a slow process lately but I have bigger priorities and do what I can. I'm off work this week so that I can focus on UX and deep cleaning lol

[whole ginkgo]

Tired! Always busy. But usually it's a good busy. We are going to the beach tomorrow and then Thursday we are celebrating father's day with my husband and our girls. ☺️

[pearl axle]

Aaww sounds amazing 😍🫠

[lunar frigate]

I have booked a new therapist in over a year. I have been sick recently and doctors have asked if I am "depressed" and I know I am but not "officially diaganosed". My last therapist said I might be suffering from a mild depression. I have not progressed as much as I feel I should and I lack motivation to do much.

Hopefully this will help nudge me back on track.

[pearl axle]

It can feel overwhelming even to start react to it, stay strong my friend ♥️

[lunar frigate]

Thank you!

[whole ginkgo]

That's the way! It's insane what depression does to a person. No matter how passionate or hardworking.

[whole ginkgo]

Tonight my husband is looking to watch the Pacers game

Sooo since we are doing our own thing, we are gonna have our steak dinner

And then Im going to move forward in my UX project and make solid progress.

I want it done by the end of July.

[lunar frigate]

Highly recommend taking notes for Future Krystin of your thought process so you can use it for a case study.

[whole ginkgo]

Way ahead of you there, my guy!

[whole ginkgo]

Excited and proud of the information I have been diving into to make this first portfolio project a strong first impression.

➡️ Did my first survey and user interview research. 4 participants. Vetted my people. Chose carefully for relevance. Data is collected and was briefly reviewed.

➡️My next step I have been taking is studying competitors. I wanted to know what they were doing 'right', what they were doing 'wrong,' and because I don't have tight deadlines I went ahead and am researching the UI and UX of 5 different competitors.

➡️ I purposely added a third party, lesser known app in my list of competitors. I want to know about niche features that maybe these users prefer that the mainstream applications do not have.

➡️ I have 3 out of 5 I still need to study- then my next stage will be-

➡️ Interpreting data, noting most desired and useful features and things that could be inproved per users.

➡️ My first lofi wireframes of the system. 😄

[pearl axle]

I like how you are unwarpping all the tasks!!
What your personality mbti btw Kyrstin? You give me the impression to be an analyst type judging by the way you think and organize your work

🖤🌛 CURRENT THEME: Dark Midnight🖤🌛

( ps this image will self-destruct in... tik tok ⏲️ 💣 )

[whole ginkgo]

I think if I remember correctly mine is what they call 'INTJ'

But it's been a long time.

I just figured why waste time on this portfolio piece of I'm not giving it my all? Gotta start strong. 💪

[pearl axle]

I knew it!!!

I am INTJ too

LOL

hello fellow analyst!

🤓✨

[whole ginkgo]

You are funny but yes apparently you got it right! Lolo

I like your dark mode interface 😊

[pearl axle]

thank you! 🥹

[pearl axle]

yes because you structure information very similar to me 🫠

[whole ginkgo]

Well let's hope that once I have a portfolio that skill will be helpful for me when trying to find a job 🤞

[pearl axle]

YES 🔥

[lunar frigate]

I had my first session with a new therapist and it went pretty well. I think she is still trying to figure out what my problem is but also, so am I.

[pearl axle]

That is great to hear Saleem, it requires time to understand yourself and why we feel a certain way. You are brave and I am proud of you ❤️‍🩹

[lunar frigate]

thank you

[pearl axle]

This is me as INTJ

[whole ginkgo]

Where did u guys take your tests??

[whole ginkgo]

Awesome
I'm glad that it went well and it seems like you liked her ok so far

[lunar frigate]

She asked if she could share my portfolio for people that may need designs. So, maybe I will get a client out of it lol

[lunar frigate]

https://www.16personalities.com/

[pearl axle]

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

[whole ginkgo]

Oh I guess I got this one
https://www.16personalities.com/infj-personality

[pearl axle]

You got INFJ Kyrstin that s interesting 👀✨

[whole ginkgo]

I feel like my analytical side and my more emotional side are often at odds lmao it's rough

I can usually turn one on more than the other tho when I need to like if it's work

[steady tendon]

INFP for life

[pearl axle]

Hello Mediator Voltage

[unkempt glacier]

[lunar frigate]

everyone is INFP except me 😦

[pearl axle]

another Mediator! I knew you were a diplomats Remii, super chill🕊️

[unkempt glacier]

You are unique ✨

[pearl axle]

but why? are you no happy with your result?

[lunar frigate]

i am fine with it, but I am not in the cool club

[pearl axle]

I fairly think you are one of the coolest people in this server so honestly I have no idea what are you talking about!😠

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/arnoldschwarzenegger-batman-mr-freeze-cool-party-gif-4787399

[lunar frigate]

I am ISFP not INFP

[pearl axle]

yes I know you are ISFp.

Also I think:

-you have sense of humor (it is such a bless be able to light up the day of someone and you did so many times for me and many others) 🌞
-I always understand your jokes which is weird as i am fairly dumb most of the times.
-you are sensitive and empathetic and always have a good word for someone in the emotional channel ❤️
-you have the most beautiful cat on the planet 🐈‍⬛
-scored 1st place among desk setups🖥️
-you have grit to spare and still you seems the only one no see it✨
-everybody loves you because of these qualities🫂

so shut up and keep going to be awesome.

[lunar frigate]

Awww you are too kind. Thank you. But I was just joking about not being in the club.

[pearl axle]

wth!!

( deleting the cheesy useless comment..)

LOL

[unkempt glacier]

may this kind of friendship find me ❤️

[pearl axle]

( fine i will keep it)

[pearl axle]

awww Remii 🫂

HUG!

[unkempt glacier]

YASS 🫂

[pearl axle]

I will stop be cheesy from now on LOL
🧀

https://tenor.com/view/pepe-walking-away-leaving-bye-pepe-the-frog-gif-6463915606758186278

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/tom-and-jerry-cheese-one-bite-jerry-mouse-gif-27668294

[unkempt glacier]

who doesn't love cheese boss 🧀

[whole ginkgo]

Not true! I'm INFJ

[whole ginkgo]

Yeah just bc @lunar frigate is pregnant doesn't mean we have to sugar coat things.

😛

[pearl axle]

Lmaoooo!!!!

[lunar frigate]

I am pregnant?!

https://tenor.com/view/bloated-food-baby-mr-mom-im-gonna-be-a-momma-too-pregnant-gif-17351584

[whole ginkgo]

Boy did u forget your own announcement?!

It was the day I said I severely lacked motivation and then noted that apparently it's common with pregnancy

And you were like

"TIL I'm pregnant 🤓"

😂😂😂

[lunar frigate]

I forgot but it also explains the belly

I went to a local street fair where the makerspace that I worked on their branding for that they didn't use. They still had their old logo and this:

I am ok with it because they were sort of all over the place with their organization. I just had to laugh a bit because they told me they didn't want their logo to represent ANY maker skill and they didn't like logos that tried to represent them all.

[whole ginkgo]

Yeahhh. Their vision is questionable because that logo isn't great.

Guess you dodged a bullet

[lunar frigate]

It was a lot of work put in but I mean, it was unpaid work. Honestly, the logo and branding became it's own thing because the board could not agree. After the fact, my point of contact on the board said he was not happy with changing the logo. He was also sort of a whimp and would not speak up.

You cannot control clients and their choices.

I just remembered that "logo" on the far left was the one they were toying with originally and I guess they just decided to go with that:

Oof.

[unkempt glacier]

Finally after taking off for a while because of a let down i had to face, this week i got back on the small project I was working on earlier.
I had already done the research part, I jotted down some user flows. I made a rough idea of IA for my app and lo-fi sketches for the structure. Now I'm working on the hi-fi wireframes.
Also gathering data for my assignment's presentation (the submission date is getting closer ) along with some other stuff i had been neglecting for long.
I feel more relieved after accepting that sometimes fate does matter more than efforts.
Looking forward to staying consistent and strong from now on. ✨

[steady tendon]

I made 13 websites in one year and after a decade they are completely changed or gone. C'est la vie.

[frail galleon]

Last week was actually a hectic since i couldn’t get perfect hero section for my web but finally flet relaxed after getting it

[pearl axle]

Looking forward to see you consistent and strong from now on then ❤️💪

It is inevitable to feel down at times, a day we give 100 another 20, we are not required to give 100 every day, we can't unfortunately, we are humans going through situations often bigger than us.

And still you are brave and strong, keep journaling your path, share your steps even if small will keep you accountable, and this matters.

Trust the progress, lil heart, and keep doing your best.

[unkempt glacier]

yes boss

[prime pier]

After a decade? I was freelancing 2020-2022 and most of those websites have been redone since (worse IMO, but I digress)

The other day I came across the first app redesign I ever did, as the before in someone's portfolio. Ironically, it was also their first project (the dev who got me the gig, his gf transitioned from shoe design @ nike to freelance product), and did an amazing job. Extremely humbling, much needed, and now removed from my portfolio lololol.

[worn sundial]

Yeah, I have a decent 'career history' in design & development, but most of it was fully just for fun / hobby. I didn't even consider a career at all. So, I didn't archive anything.

I would highly recommend archiving all the work you do from now on - not much you can do about the projects you did in the past if it's fully just gone/replaced, but you still have the experience you gained from them.

The only thing going for me, is that I'm still pretty young. So, people are like (in short) "how are you so skilled for your age wtf?" and I'm like (in short) "I have a lot of experience... I just can't show you the experience".

[steady tendon]

Hey everyone starts somewhere! I must admit most of my portfolio work looks dated and makes me look old...

[lunar frigate]

I think that is just interesting to see it evolve through designers, for better or worse.

[lunar frigate]

You are old.

https://tenor.com/view/santa-santaclaus-tim-allen-gif-9523676

[whole ginkgo]

And so the wireframes begin.

Currently going over user flow for the most basic tasks.

Moving this along. 💪

[whole ginkgo]

Super proud. Many accomplishments made on my project.

I am pretty confident that I will finish this by my deadline of July 31.

I also have been looking into some niches and I dabbled into MedTech and EdTech

But my decided interest is with PropTech or InsurTech.

My second portfolio project will def present that.

🔥🔥🔥🔥

[pearl axle]

https://tenor.com/view/everything-is-fine-reign-reignwilson-gif-25357687

good weekend people!✨

[lunar frigate]

Second meeting with my therapist went well. Worked a little on my portfolio and breaking down what I need to do. Still need to do way more but it is a start.

Taking a mixed media class today, so hope to have a good time with that and not be so anxious around strangers.

[pearl axle]

all the big steps are done of many small steps! you are doing amazing 🦾 keep going🔥

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I appreciate you

[whole ginkgo]

Yes only focus on the start! If you look too far on what all has to be done it's so easy to get overwhelmed

And honestly good on you for making yourself do something uncomfortable.

Even if it ends up feeling uncomfortable, I know sometimes discomforts take a couple of times to face sometimes before they get easier

And most people won't even try to face it. So nice 👍

[pearl axle]

Oh!!

Is that wrestler punching the other one in the nuts?

Nutcracker move!!

Pow!!

[lunar frigate]

It is a knee to the head called a "V Trigger"

https://tenor.com/view/kenny-omega-v-trigger-gif-7674379834161201356

[pearl axle]

Oh! I see! 🙈

[steady tendon]

They pushed the project go-live out an additional four weeks which means more time for planning, refining training materials, communicating the broader change for a project where I'm the user adoption lead

[lunar frigate]

This is good... right?

[steady tendon]

lol. Yes. Normally pushing a go live would be bad but considering this COTS platform is replacing the custom application I helped to design it gives me a few more weeks to bask in the glory of what shall never be again

[lunar frigate]

Good, i figured but you never know.

[pearl axle]

Managed to finalize the product I was working on in the past few days. 💙🩷💛

Created a Weekly Calendar planner for neurodivergent users, the automation features took me some time, research on the colour code, and in general usability to facilitate flows as much as possible.

Posted on 4 platforms ( why social media management is so daunting?!😳)

🌙🖤Thinking about create and dark mode now.

But I still need to publish it on shop number 2.
Tomorrow. Today I'm too tired 😴🌙

[whole ginkgo]

WOO! Show them how it's done, girl!

Today I faced my weird little fear of the pen tool in Figma.

I was always uncomfortable with pen tools on other software too

But anyway I watched a video and allowed myself to play with it

Sooo today so far I did

⭐Learn pen tool and practice
⭐Use pencil tool and practice
⭐Taking my lil course on cross-functional teams as a UX designer

[lunar frigate]

I don't have Illustrator anymore but an influencer I follow showed they made updates with the pen tool. My brain never fully understood it but I still work with it.

[whole ginkgo]

I think my issue is that I don't like how I can't use it like you would when drawing with a regular pen in real life- I have to get used to how I have to connect paths. I can't just put it down, lift it up, etc

So it feels awkward and not very natural for me at the moment lmao

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, it is not anything like a real pen tool. I know there was a website that had a game to help with the pen tool

Think this is it: https://bezier.method.ac/

[pearl axle]

Also once that you are used on mouse learning with the pen feels like rewiring your habits which is so annoying

[lunar frigate]

Figma Draw works more like an actual pen. If you do have a tablet, you can also try Adobe Fresco. It is free and you can import it as a vector. That is a drawing app.

[whole ginkgo]

@lunar frigate @pearl axle I appreciate it guys!

I just figured it's like anything else I do- just need to play with it and watch little videos until I get good at it.

I made a lil sparkle ✨ with it already so yay my first vector 😂😂

[fickle echo]

Omg I’m glad on your progress!! 😊

[fickle echo]

Omg wooow! Is it an online app? (I’m not sure what you meant by shop number 2 😅) I didn’t realize you design and code at the same time 😮 (wait did you work on the design or design + code, I just want to be sure I understood)! Either way, I’m proud of your achievement!

[pearl axle]

More than code I integrate formulas and functions to make the spreadsheet easy to use.

I find the main challenge is create digital products visually pleasing, but still efficient for productivity and finance. As I said yesterday I m looking to apply these principles on other platforms these days, for new Ideas. Happy that you liked 🥹Thank you so much ✨🩷

[pearl axle]

hello People of Sparking Joy ✨
Hope you are enjoying your saturday!

Today I am trying to dive myself into marketing strategies and affiliation stuff.
for some reason it feels very daunting but I promised myself yesterday ( on my endless to do list) to start doing at least 1 unconfortable action every day.

So here I am bringing up what I procrastinated from few weeks now.

[fickle echo]

Omg 5-6 years ago I was a graphic designer & marketing agent at my previous job! And didn’t like the marketing part 😭 so I negotiated to be the ux/ui designer instead. They wanted to give me the title of senior ux/ui designer, but I felt insecure and asked to replace the title in my contract to just ux/ui designer instead (I don’t know if I should have some regrets now 😂 But I felt so uncomfortable at that time)

You’re really good to try to get into marketing too! Hope you will like it!

[steady tendon]

This last week was tough but I did 3 big presentations and came out of it stronger. Things look bleak for the company I work for but it doesn't mean it needs to be bleak for me. Trying to focus on moving forward and doing my best work.

[fickle echo]

I like your positivity!!! It’s inspiring 😊

[pearl axle]

Idk I feel like something that I lack in some way on the topic, and i need to know more about to boost my chances so I started this journey with marketing and AI. let see how it goes.

btw your life sounds so cool, you must be very talented. you should definitely taking in consideration Figma courses or channels with your energy!

[pearl axle]

googling bleak

[fickle echo]

I think you will go far if you continue with this attitude of improving what you’re lacking to achieve your goals!!!! I had that same kind of curiosity, before all my depression/bipolar peak. I’m still having that drive in me, but it’s less consistent/present than before!!

[steady tendon]

See: America

[pearl axle]

I am not consistent as I should be that is why trying to Journaling and writing here so someone can slap me if I dont deliver eventually 😂

[pearl axle]

uh oh!

seems no particuarly good

[steady tendon]

lol

[fickle echo]

Ohhh thanks! I don’t feel like I’m the most talented 😅

I just think my curiosity and mindset help me. For instance, in my Visual Arts studies, I used the mistakes, that can’t be erased in traditional art, to improve the end result. I also have fun creating, and people can feel it.

I’m trying the same with some weaknesses (even if I’m not able yet for most): I can’t concentrate on one thing for a long period of time. That’s why I’m always switching skills learning, but I make sure to do a loop (if you just add new subjects, you won’t progress in anything).

I think that having a good attitude and knowing how to transform your weaknesses in a “good” thing will help. If you’re eager to learn and can find a style that makes you enjoy doing what you’re doing, it will definitely contribute to your success (I think).

[fickle echo]

Ohhh hahah! It’s difficult to be consistent 😞

[fickle echo]

But I still think, it’s a really great news what you shared! I’m so proud!!!!!

[pearl axle]

thank youuu ✨ 🔥 🦾 I still have a loong way to go😂

[whole ginkgo]

Today's lil accomplishments 🎉

⭐ Played with the pen tool

⭐Got through my first draft of UI design and put it up for review

[lunar frigate]

A meetup I went to told us that I could have access to LinkedIn Learning via Boston Public Library card. Was able to get access to that. The one thing is it doesn't directly connect to your personal LinkedIn account but some quality training there that I hope to leverage.

[unkempt glacier]

Just got over with my first hackathon! It was a fun experience, I learned a lot. Looking forward to working more on the app because it is something personal to me
Also I completed my assignments

[lunar frigate]

Awesome, proud of you!

[unkempt glacier]

I posted it in the feedback channel. I'll work on the suggestions I get, and also planning to create a light mode for the app now.
(one assignment is left as well )

[whole ginkgo]

Oh that's pretty neat! I wonder if it works with other libraries

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, it depends on your library and what partnerships they have. The only real requirement for the Boston library is living in Massachusetts but there was no real confirmation of that other than entering my address, so you could just find one and enter that.

Unfortunately, I have heard a ton of funding cuts with libraries with this current administration. So enjoy it while it last.

[whole ginkgo]

It doesn't surprise me as sad as it is

Can't have people being too educated lol.

I love my library. I take my girls every week for books and they play and all of my books I read are through the libby app 🥹

Accomplishment today:

🌱Rest and recharge🌱

[lunar frigate]

I go to mine sometimes. I sort of wish it was a bit more "modern" but the wifi was never great. I should try visiting all the libraries around me though. Sometimes they do hold events too, so interesting to see that.

btw, look at this web page design for my local library: https://www.chicopeepubliclibrary.org/

[whole ginkgo]

Goals for tomorrow (6/31)☀️

▶️ Read the article Saleem sent me about UI

▶️ Make changes to UI draft with notes from my feedback (thanks y'all again)

▶️If I get through all that, I'll start doing my interactions for the prototype

[lunar frigate]

Stumbled on these free events: https://maven.com/lightning-lessons?topic=Design

[steady tendon]

Got a recruiter interview! Like only my third one in the last three months.

[unkempt glacier]

All the best! You've got it!

[lunar frigate]

Awesome, hope it goes well

[lunar frigate]

Went to a local tech meet up where not a lot of tech was talked about. Was still positive to talk to people though. Managed to take a couple pics of the sky that looked pretty.

[pearl axle]

LOve it❤️

[lunar frigate]

I was walking back and I am like, "Why is everyone taking a picture of the sky?" lol

[pearl axle]

so beautiful

[pearl axle]

I started a tutorial to learn building an Operation Sistem on Notion today, being the past few hours on it try things out. I used Notion in the past but very briefly.

It feel so overhelming rn I want to throw up.

[fickle echo]

What is an operation system exactly? Is it a way to automate action??? do you need a paid account to do so? I’ve never used Notion (created an account a week ago and didn’t try it yet). But it’s so popular and I should try to use it

I’m really glad of your hardwork into improving your skills! If you find life changing tips about this, please let me know! I’m really curious!!!’ Good luck 😊

[pearl axle]

https://tenor.com/view/bert-sesame-street-man-fainting-falling-faint-puppet-faints-gif-18818014

[fickle echo]

Omg I don’t know what is your level of figma skills but we could do a sharing knowledge skills! Me for figma and you for notion hahahah in the coworking voice channel (when there are nobody to disturb. I don’t intend to just crash into an on going conversation to monopolize this hahahah). But it’s totally fine if you don’t want to! I’m not sure how comfortable you are with showing/teaching things or talking on a group channel

[pearl axle]

Basically is a group od interconnected pages, database and templates within the same workspace in Notion, and yes they will be automated but i need first to understand which features will make it more valuable and niched down because I need it to be AI enhanced and automated.

I am taking in consideration 2 niche atm, and as usual I am trying to figure out things as they come😂

[fickle echo]

It can also be intimidating to talk out loud and knowing anybody could enter the voice channel hahahah! So no worries if you’re not down for this proposition

[fickle echo]

Omg sounds so good!!! 2 niche?

I think we are a lot to improvise as we go hahahah 😂😭

[pearl axle]

I m not super good of figma, I did it in college only for one year so you are probably super advanced than me. however this is something we can take in consideration🤔 i need to master this software first but i think in 1/2 weeks i should be able to reach a good level!

[fickle echo]

I meant I’m the one teaching figma 😂 and you are the one for notion

[pearl axle]

yes yes i got it

[fickle echo]

Omg sorry, I’m so easily confused 😭

[fickle echo]

Ok! We can talk about this again in 2 weeks to see if you’re down! It’s ok if you change your mind! 😊

[pearl axle]

I was thinking if there is a way to embed figma to notion ( just googled it) and apparently IS! look

[fickle echo]

Yes I know ahhaha

[pearl axle]

sounds a great idea to me. also is useful so i need to be accountable 😂 and keep working hard

[fickle echo]

Figma got a lot of partnerships and tried to facilitate the integration with other popular platforms/app

[pearl axle]

looooook!!✨

also

my notion avatar 😂

[fickle echo]

Omg it’s soooo cute! That’s incredible!!!!!! I love it so muuuuuch 😍😍

[pearl axle]

ahah

[fickle echo]

Why 404 though? Is it because it’s difficult to find you or maybe you’re a confused person?

[pearl axle]

BOTH

lol

[unkempt glacier]

I had some quite.. rough days i believe. But I'm working on my biggest anxiety right now, I'd rather say insecurity but yeah loving the progress so far!
Made more illustrations for my mascot and trying a fun thing lol (remii's illustration)
Also back to hydration reminders!

[lunar frigate]

Proud of you and I have my water. I think your illustrations are great and hope to see more!

[whole ginkgo]

Fighting through my fears and tendency to self-sabotage

SOOO I am trying to get help for my figma hover effect struggle. Goal today is to figure that out and hopefully get an animated menu from there.

[scarlet gull]

Starting the first day of a new contract role tomorrow. I’ve been slowly letting the news out, but I’ll probably share about it after work is done for the first day!

[pearl axle]

This is great news Dan!❤️‍🩹

You have been sharing you thoughts and doubts for long time on the server, so even if we did not have the chance to talk much, I am aware of the struggles you went through at least a lil bit, and make me so happy for you knowing you are finally making this step.

Wish you the best buddy 💪✨♥️

[lunar frigate]

Not had an update on here for a bit. I have been in therapy for the past few weeks and it is going well. Still not solving my anxiety with my portfolio revision but working towards it. Been attending more events and started a mixed media and that has been interesting. I decided to visit my family this upcoming weekend for a short trip. There is anxiety with that but it is what it is. Seeing some parts of my family that I have not seen in more than a decade I think.

I know I will be okay after it and hopefully better but we will see.

[prime pier]

Family visits are brutal, but I think updating my portfolio feels harder. Family, you just show up. Portfolio is just agonizing, minutes feel like hours as you criticize your every move or thought. I have tended toward quick and dirty, throwing my portfolio up. But losing my job this month, I think I will need to step it up

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, I agree. I already have a portfolio but it isn't as good as I feel it should be. The whole meeting people and being like, "What do you do?" and it is like, "I am unemployed"

Sorry about you losing your job. It sucks and I know it will weigh you down but the sooner you make a plan, the better. Updating a portfolio is just one part of that.

[prime pier]

You could say "freelancing while I look for a FT role", if it helps with the fam? That also indicates to your family that they could refer any website gigs to your while you look. Every little bit helps.

I feel appreciative to have made it this long in the role. I went from a team of 3 designers to just me on 20/hrs/wk this year. It's agonizing at times working in UX tho. Part of your job is challenging and explaining to other's why their idea is bad, or living with your own bad decision till they let you squeeze in a fix. I'm tired, kind of need a break.

[lunar frigate]

Yeah, that is smart, the freelancing thing

[prime pier]

I freelanced to manufacture UX exp essentially, when I felt stuck not breaking out of graphic/web roles. It was unstable enough that it felt like normal unemployment lol but I did it for 3 years (sold my car, very affordable apt). Telling family and friends that I was freelancing got me a surprising amount of work. People like to say they "know a guy", the website/product design guy now being you.

[whole ginkgo]

No more being scared of how I have been having a hard time learning microinteractions on figma.

Today, the day does not end until I can successfully get this stupid hover effect to work on my menu for the prototype.

I am using a youtube figma tutorial now on components and variants to help me better understand how they go together.

[steady tendon]

All those people on the hangout this morning while I drove into work made it a much better commute. Thank you

[whole ginkgo]

I love that for you. 🥹

[lunar frigate]

Did I become your morning drive radio show?

[steady tendon]

Yes you did. It was way better than listening to rage against the machine

[atomic axle]

Maturity is realizing my old habits wasn't working because I wasn't working.

[pearl axle]

Why you weren't working?( Wdym)

[prime pier]

What's that in the bottom right corner? hehe

[pearl axle]

🤭

[lunar frigate]

I got official word that my art club's group show will be in November, so I have to make some art for it. 3-5 pieces. 😬

If my items get selected, it will be the first time I have publicly displayed art since I was in college back in the year 2000.

https://tenor.com/view/in-theyear2000-sing-singer-conan-gif-4703564

[pearl axle]

OMg! that is GREAT Saleeeeeem!!!💙
DO YOUR BEST!!

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I shall try!

[pearl axle]

https://tenor.com/view/daily-dose-of-support-hug-gif-2687972344197168912

Today I am finally going out after days to meet a friend!

😌 ✨

[atomic axle]

My friends Livestream on discord. 🫡

[atomic axle]

Habits are only as useful as person performing them so I have a new routine I made. This is more effective because I actually have tasks and dependencies created. I am also looking into automation AI so the things I have listed can be formed in my sleep and the only thing I need to do is evaluate for approval.

[pearl axle]

Wait! because I was left when you shared your google calendar and working through that, (wdym in your sleep?)
Did you find a software in particular that is working for you? ( if you want to share it otherwise no pressure)
I was looking for automate things tbh as well to help with daily task as I have been feeling quite overhelmed lately.

[lunar frigate]

lucky friend!

[lunar frigate]

I think they mean like an AI Assistant that reviews what needs to be done. It works while she is sleeping and it is ready for her when she wakes up.

[pearl axle]

yeah I am trying to see them a bit more often, (and i enjoy the time a lot!) going for a walk, coffe etc, but i also struggle with avoindance and tend to isolate myself.

[pearl axle]

yes I would be curious to know which one she use

[lunar frigate]

She was showing some in VC yesterday, i believe it was this: https://reclaim.ai/

[pearl axle]

oh i see thank you

Saleem assistant 😂

I guess I should partecipate to vc as well instead of making up excuses🙈 🫠

[lunar frigate]

you wish!

[lunar frigate]

You should.

I will be on there later. Working on my portfolio and stuff. I am getting coffee and need to go to Walmart to get a flyswatter. Hex is afraid of the flies that showed up. She used to hunt them, now she is intimidated by them.

[pearl axle]

ahh! today I need to meet that friend but I will try to join tomorrow!✨

[pearl axle]

your cat remind me of myself 😂 scaredycat

[lunar frigate]

she is all of us

[pearl axle]

yeah..

[lunar frigate]

Hope you have fun with your friend. I might meet up with one next Monday but it depends what time I get back. I'll be driving back and it is like 5 hours.

[pearl axle]

oh I see! i think you mentioned about you will be visiting your family, have a good time there!

I got a friend!!

[lunar frigate]

thanks, I shall try

[lunar frigate]

bird!

[pearl axle]

Ahaah yes

Wants food probably

(looking for bread)

[lunar frigate]

we all want bread

[fickle echo]

I’ll try to join too! @lunar frigate when will you join today? And @pearl axle when will you join tomorrow ? 🥺 you’re in Italy? I’ll take this into consideration with your estimate hahaha 😂 but it’s okay if you change your mind tomorrow or even today. I have something in the middle of afternoon tomorrow (Quebec time) and was wondering if I will have time to join 🥺 and also I hope you will have a great time with your friend!!

[fickle echo]

Damn sounds so cool!

[atomic axle]

The things that require my physical presence get done.

It's the professional development that requires me to act on it. Social media fixes, content creation, so forth

[lunar frigate]

But what if you could create an AI version of yourself that would work while you are sleeping and then provide you with all that it learned so you double in everything you do?

[atomic axle]

I would rather crash out and do something that would put me in the news

[atomic axle]

Yes we love reclaim

[ruby sage]

HI IM SORRY for not interacting with people in this thread. Just want to share that I reached 30 subscribers on my substack and I am blown away how many people loved my newest article because I was so afraid to post it and its just a relief that people liked it.

[fickle echo]

Omg, I've joined the vc quite early and didn't talk at all 😅 But it was entertaining

[atomic axle]

Hell yeah

[pearl axle]

No sure yet what time, I guess late afternoon UK time if anything. No making promises tho🙈🫠 eheh

[fickle echo]

Oki no worries!!!! Omg i will totally sounds crazy/weird but I dreamed that you revealed to us you were a successful model but kept it a secret because you didn’t want us to base our opinions on this and also because you wanted to switch career

And we tried to find your past photoshoots and saleem found them and you were totally stunning and the people in this server were all saying: obviously that you would look so pretty

I did also other unrelated dreams to this like I was participating in a contest of mixing colors to get the closest one to the one presented

[fickle echo]

Omg I sound totally creepy sorry 😭

[whole ginkgo]

You can't help what you dream 😂 dreams can be so odd

[fickle echo]

Yes 😔

[pearl axle]

https://tenor.com/view/seth-rogen-fabulous-funny-lol-gif-5565526

I wish!!! ahah this sounds a super fun dream 🤭 🫠 ✨

I am not model unfortunately but I am very flattered

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/simpsons-homer-simpson-gif-13518564799186478937

[pearl axle]

I LOve hearing about people dreams actually, they often have so much hidden details to reveal about our personality and whats going on in our life

[lunar frigate]

I don't dream anymore 😦

[pearl axle]

what?!

[lunar frigate]

yeah, i used to be able to but I rarely dream now. When I was younger, I could lucid dream before I knew what that was.

I would watch movies in my sleep.

[fickle echo]

I dream a lot and they are often chaotic and weird 😭 the last two were normal dream however! It was still making sense (can happen in real life)

[fickle echo]

Ohhh lucid dream is fascinating! i can’t

[fickle echo]

Do you miss it?

[pearl axle]

I know someone who does not dream actually, I would be curious to know why. It could be just you dont have memory of it after awake tho?

i used to made lucid dream at time, becoming aware was a dream and gain control over it to make impossible things

😈

[whole ginkgo]

I love lucid dreaming! I used to do it more when I was younger

Favorite technique when I realize im getting a nightmare

If you guys ever suspect you're dreaming- look at your hand, look at a clock and then look at it again to see if the time changed, you can also look in a mirror in the dream.

[pearl axle]

how do you know all these things??

[whole ginkgo]

I don't know how I started being able to lucid dream- it just kinda started happening where I would become more aware during a dream.

It's usually bc something is weird about the dream like if I'm having a seemingly normal day in the dream but for some reason I'm living in my grandma's house lmao

As for the signs to see if it's a dream, I looked it up after I started lucid dreaming

[fickle echo]

I’m too gullible/ignorant in my dream! Even if something makes total no sense, I believe it till the end 🤧 Not even for a micro seconds, my mind will ask itself if I’m dreaming. The only few times it will happen, is if I’m truly awake.. once I dreamed of gigantic smurfs with laser eyes and there was also Alice in wonderland being pursued by the queen and I was trying to help her, but we ended up in a maze with some lava and I was so scared because suddenly it switch from day to night and I’m scared of the dark 😭😭

Sometimes when I wake up I ask my boyfriend some things that makes no sense, because even if I’m awake a few times it will take me a moment to realize it was a dream. I don’t remember, but it’s something similar to: omg do we still have the pie? We need the pie because if not the scary mouse will try to convert us to its cult (this example never happened, but it’s that kind of nonsense.. often it’s in the middle of the night and I’m panicking, that’s why I wake up my bf… but I feel stupid because I’m completely awake but there’s a delay in my mind.. and sometimes we argue together for a few minutes because I’m frustrated he doesn’t even try to help me in this vital situation)

Why am I so clueless?! Your lucid dreams sound so fun 🥺

[fickle echo]

I should try.. but my friend told me something similar, but I’m not able yet, because my character won’t even question anything

[whole ginkgo]

Don't be too hard on yourself! I don't think a lot of people can do it....I didn't like train myself to do it or know how to even do that, it just kinda started happening sometimes.

I don't usually get to decide when it happens either- like occasionally I can 'realize' what is happening and attempt to change the course of the dream with a lot of concentration and specific thoughts

but there's plenty of times where my person in the dream just lives their silly little life like a sim LOL

FINALLY

F I N A L L Y

AFTER A WEEK OF ANXIETY AT HOW SUCH A SEEMINGLY SIMPLE THING COULD NOT BE DONE BY ME

I FINALLY DID THE HOVER EFFECT FOR LINKS IN MY PROTOTYPES

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

🥹

[lunar frigate]

Same. I would just get a weapon in my hand and fight back.

[whole ginkgo]

❤️ Accomplishments for the Day❤️

⭐ Figured out the hover effect FINALLY. So, in turn, I am getting comfortable with components, variants, and interactions within figma.

⭐ Did my touch-up design editing to both the home page and the 'continue' reading page. I also linked them together so they work properly in the prototype view.

⭐ Studying more of my 'figma basics' course on Uxcel.

[ruby sage]

I GOT MY FIRST HATER this isn't scarasm. it means I moving up into the content creator world.

https://tenor.com/view/bb-baby-yes-celebrate-happy-gif-2864735607275404148

[lunar frigate]

What did they say?

[ruby sage]

that my article was "This is probably the most senseless, most ridiculous post I’ve seen in a long time… maybe ever. Is this RageBait, or are they actually serious?"

ok it was towards my linkedin post about my article but i still think its amazing

[prime pier]

I creeped on the post, bold take in the "UI IS NOT UX" crowd dominating Linkedin hehehe.

I'm so annoyed seeing that "ux is not ui" post so many times, your post is a refreshing counter

[lunar frigate]

It was so senseless that they felt compelled to write a reply. Some people are just edgelords, even on LinkedIn.

[ruby sage]

THANK YOU Its actually one of the reasons why I wrote it because I was sick of seeing UI / UX is not UI/UX"

[ruby sage]

Ikr but its kind of funny too, also nice color!!!

[ruby sage]

that will never change and a lot of people missed the point of my post, but its ok- people are entilted to their opinions and honestly I dont mind if they disagree! I just want people make conversations and discussions with others. I want people to rethink what they see everyday on the internet.

[lunar frigate]

Had another visit with my therapist where I wanted to show at least something with my new portfolio. I did that and I am not even sure she looked at it. 🫠

I did get some new homework, as I will be part of an art show later this year but it is connected with just my portfolio and design.

Reflection questions:

• What does Saleem bring to the table?
• What parts of Saleem as a human/person is he willing to show/share with others?

Please answer these for me so I do not actually need to do any self-reflectionn. Thank you!

[prime pier]

I had two interviews today 🙏

[steady tendon]

Was disappointed I didn't lead or even participate in a workshop I really wanted to do, but instead I spent the day with my son and went hiking and grocery shopping. It was a rough week and I needed a mental and emotional break from everything design or career related. Im trying to not look at it like I let people down but instead lifted myself up.

[prime pier]

Lifted yourself + your son it sounds like He's the one who will still be in your life in 10 years, not these peeps at work, so it sounds like you made the most of your weekend

[pearl axle]

To me seems the best thing you can do. I was listening to a podcast yesterday, as a father spending time with your son is the best way to bond with them and help them in their development to face life.

So forget about the bloody workshop because you made the best decision.

[lunar frigate]

I am disappointed in you if it makes you feel better!

[steady tendon]

I live to disappoint you

[whole ginkgo]

Made a new big step

So in 2023, I was in school for marketing through an online university.

This was before I discovered how much I loved UX

And anyway, I ended up dropping out because my son passed away.

And I've just kinda stayed away from intense stuff bc I couldn't function like that for awhile

Buuuuuuut now I applied at WGU per the suggestion of @somber cedar

And it's super affordable given it being a degree and in super excited that it's in ux 🥹🥹🥹🥹

[somber cedar]

that is really sad.

and wow that was fast, I hope I have done the right thing recommending it

see if you have any credits from other courses you can transfer too. it gets expensive if you go slowly, but if you do it quickly it's way cheaper

[whole ginkgo]

I just know I need to make a move, and for awhile I explored the concept of how we don't actually need degrees for this industry.

However, I am convinced that the college connections to professional networks, internships and jobs that filter and ask for degrees, etc I think it will help my credibility

Bc yes lots of people have bootcamp certs

But this is a bachelor's.

And yeah he was a sweet boy. I remember I would feed him and he would take a nap while I worked on assignments.

@somber cedar and yeah I have the transcripts from my community college and my previous credits I took at my last uni

I would have stayed with my last uni but they don't have a UX program unfortunately.

I was considered a "senior 1" student though so hopefully a lot of the courses transfer well to WGU to help keep me in that 2 year graduate status.

[pearl axle]

Update on my little journey for accountability purposes.

🌹
_Created 2 new productivity products. developed design for marketing. Successfully published.
-Created a bundle out of it.
_posted on socials. (still crap at reels creation, eww)
_I will be partecipating to a networking event in a popular tech hub in my city, took me long enough to push myself.
_getting tutorials on Notion every day for 2h min. ( but so boring yesterday I fell asleep on it)
_Created my first Notion dashboard, UI is good, UX no existent. bad. ( ugh!)

🥀
Researched on GPT for analysis and implementation of my work to understand my weak points in the business and what tools and platforms I am underutilizing, found out massive gaps to be filled marketing wise :/

_Need to build a system (!)
_need to develop a funnel creating a newsletter to build a community from my target audience.
_Currently not upselling/crosselling.
_massevely underutilizing my linkedin connections.
_Sorted all the maintenance issues in a way or another even so I struggle to change even a light bulb.
_Learn to use Substack effectively.

Takes:
🔥It took me a circle game and a screenshot of my progress overtime to realize I am in a plateau, even if dont see progress as long I keep going they will add up.
🔥Recovery from dark few days.
🔥Small steps are still steps.

Reassess. Recenter. Rewire.

[lunar frigate]

I got no answers to this! What am I supposed to do? My own self-reflection?!

[whole ginkgo]

YES SIR BC IT IS A SELF REFLECTION

NOW GO

Reflect

On thy self 🧘‍♀️ you know yourself better than anyone else does.

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/iamsmart-jamiefun-incourageme-gif-20210997

[pearl axle]

Struggling so much with self reflection myself, imagine how crap can I be on reflecting on someone else🥲

[lunar frigate]

It is ok, I used my AI Brene Brown to break it down lol

[lunar frigate]

Your reflection is amazing!

[pearl axle]

Saleem:

-Compassionate.
-Empathetic.
-Bring joy and light to the environment like Jesus multiple fishes and breads 🕊️😂
-has a lovely cat who mirrors his anxiety.
-pours all his humanity in Design and human interaction becoming the beloved of everyone.

Saleem for President.😂

[pearl axle]

Damn! Ok ahaha

[lunar frigate]

I mean, i can't be worse than the guy currently in there.

[pearl axle]

In there where??

[pearl axle]

Oh you mean in my comment? 😂

[lunar frigate]

"Saleem for President.😂"

[pearl axle]

Oooh!!

Ahahahah

My god I took 30 secs to get it😂

I'm done for today

[lunar frigate]

Hi Done for Today

[whole ginkgo]

Saleem ur name lmao

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/joey-joey-tribbian-funny-stare-wink-gif-20597720

[pearl axle]

Looool

Gn beautiful people love you all✨🔥

[pearl axle]

( deleted my unholy comments 🫠 )

[whole ginkgo]

Super tired today but had a fun day.

My plan is to get home, eat and do laundry

Andddd for the app, I am going to spend some time making a mood board to help pinpoint what I want to do with it aesthetically.

No college updates because I have to wait until I get financial aid approved but I'm supposed to start September 1st 🔥

[pearl axle]

Nicehhh

[lunar frigate]

Ugh, I have been struggling since I got back from visiting family. Just even less energy to get back to working on stuff. The visit was not bad but I think I just am tapped out. I am always tired and getting enough sleep (though not drinking enough water). I sit at my computer and do everything but be productive. Sun comes up, sun goes down and I have nothing really to show of it.

[whole ginkgo]

Yeah I don't blame you. It's a long road we walk by transitioning to this industry.

[lunar frigate]

Ain't that the truth.

[whole ginkgo]

Yeah that's why not long ago I was in that funk where I wasn't touching my project.

I think it is some deeply ingrained thought of how I could work my butt off and still get nothing and be back at square one.

But we just got a keep going since this is what we want and what we all have dedicated our time and energy into learning and doing

[pearl axle]

I knew you weren't drinking 🚰🥹

[prime pier]

Let's play, guess the job title

The answer: ||Forms Graphic Designer||

[whole ginkgo]

Accomplishments:

⭐Got tired of not finding the right assets for what I'm working on, so I made some of my own using procreate.

I'm not some awesome artist but I can at least do doodles 🥹🥹🥹

[pearl axle]

NO waaay!! 😂

[lunar frigate]

FYI: You can also use Adobe Fresco (FREE) for vectors too. So they are easier to edit if you need to. You just need to export them as a PDF and then export that.

[prime pier]

I KNOW. CAD, frontend, design systems, animation... "graphic designer"

[pearl axle]

this is MADnedss! they are looking for a hero!

https://tenor.com/view/benjammins-villain-arc-villian-villain-superhero-gif-5336266189221132493

[ruby sage]

i have been meaning to update my portfolio and was able to gather motivation to do so & I am happy. I am sad I don't really have any new projects out rn that are worth showcasing, but I have a lot of old ones that I want to put up but might revamp it before I do so it can be considered "new"

[lunar frigate]

Hollowood calls those a "reboot"

[lunar frigate]

FML... I got accepted into another art show but this isn't until August 2026.

[pearl axle]

This is wonderful ✨
Congratulations Saleem ✨🎉

[lunar frigate]

Thanks. Now I need to make some actual art 😬

[pearl axle]

One step at the time! You are doing a lot !

[lunar frigate]

thanks!

[lunar frigate]

Messing around with ink and stuff

[ruby sage]

NNNNNNN Trying to work on another article post and hoping it doesnt blow up But also I was able to get around to take my clients feedback to this logo and I hope she likes it. Before & After Preview

[lunar frigate]

What was their feedback?

[ruby sage]

It doesn't look like a lion, it looks too uh rough and not rounded.

She wanted more detail too

[lunar frigate]

Interesting. What is it for? figured more detail makes it harder to see

[ruby sage]

That's what I told her. But its what the client wants lol, I tried it small and it does look more lionless rather than a block so I see her feedback. its for t-shirt designs and her website for her new non profit.

[lunar frigate]

Clients gonna client, am I right?

[ruby sage]

hahaha

Same.

[lunar frigate]

That is why sometimes, I don't judge "client" work as much as passion projects for design. You can't fight what the client wants.

[ruby sage]

It can work on t-shirts just not business cards so as long as she is aware of that idm

[lunar frigate]

yup

[ruby sage]

I am writing an article why you should hire a designer vs AI

Clients need to hire more designers

[lunar frigate]

I am using AI to write an article on why you should hire AI vs designers.

[ruby sage]

https://tenor.com/view/smooth-criminal-cat-dance-gif-2379887230739132874

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/futurama-futurama-fry-futurama-bender-bender-and-fry-water-fight-gif-20974416

[ruby sage]

https://tenor.com/view/cat-running-away-escape-getaway-bye-gif-16631286

spraying water is illegal

[lunar frigate]

https://tenor.com/view/spray-bottle-cat-spray-bottle-spray-bottle-meme-tiktok-gif-25591053

[lunar frigate]

My AI therapist might be better than my real therapist.

[pearl axle]

https://tenor.com/view/tell-me-about-it-blanche-golden-girls-blanche-devereaux-gif-20578369

[lunar frigate]

Well, it isn't really an AI therapist, it is an AI Brene Brown. My therapist has me going down different rabbit holes.

https://tenor.com/view/rainbow-spongebob-imagination-childhood-trauma-gif-134314405264328714

[pearl axle]

googling brene brown

oh i see

wth😵‍💫

[lunar frigate]

She is good. I like how she talks and read one of her books. She has a few specials on Netflix and HBO.

[pearl axle]

It must be! i dunno much about her I must admit is not very known here

[lunar frigate]

I think this is her most famous TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o&t=2s&pp=ygULYnJlbmUgYnJvd24%3D

[lunar frigate]

Drew this at art club

[ruby sage]

DUDE THIS IS SO GOOD

Kind of more like yesterday, but it made me really happy to connect with some logo designers on dribbble and talk about their work. shows you can be respectful and get people to answer you.

[lunar frigate]

Thank you, first time using this brush and style

[lunar frigate]

I have not used Dribble

[ruby sage]

I dont use it either, I have an account but never post on it because I get tired of reuploading my work onto different sites.

[whole ginkgo]

My Accomplishments Lately:

⭐ Making serious strides in therapy and self improvement. This includes limiting time online, removing doom scroll things like reddit from my phone, opting to speak to loved ones over video chat, phone or in person over texting.

⭐ In the final stages of getting my courses in order to start WGU on September 1st

⭐ I am almost done with my Inclusive Design certification in UXcel. ♥️

[lunar frigate]

Awesome to hear. Working on my own self improvement process. The doom scrolling or just "unproductive time" has consumed me.

[whole ginkgo]

I feel like doom scrolling or just doing unfulfilling things that feel good are so easy to do because it is so dissociating

Like that escapism of not really thinking about anything, including our stress/fears/anxiety/etc

[lunar frigate]

This.

[scarlet gull]

My wins for this week:

• Did a pretty significant visual restructuring of an app my team has been working on and is about to get demoed at an internal conference next week.
• Finally took my dog outside for a night full of fun stuff he likes.
• Also finally took my dog to a happy hour, where I got to chat design and he got lots of extra pets and made people smile.

[lunar frigate]

What is your dog's favorite cocktail to drink?

[scarlet gull]

Loosely related: Before going, I asked him, “Do you want to go to the pub with me?” And he got really excited.

When I ask him if he wants to go to the dog park, he doesn’t get excited.

To be fair, there are some words he doesn’t quite understand in the way I want him to.

But. He likes “pub” more than “dog park.” He’s a people dog.

[pearl axle]

Awww🥰

[pearl axle]

My wins of the week:

🌹I am slowly but steadily sorting all the issues on the OS Dashboard Template I am currently building, even so I am far from mastering Notion like a Pro. Tutorials are useful but I find faster going through logic more often than not.👩‍🔧

🌹I saw a friend this week after long time, was refreshing and fun✨ And I was in touch with another 2. one next week which asked me some design help for her business and another one to go see Jurassic World tomorrow (Which I am so excited about because I LOvE everything "Dino" related since childhood.)🦖

🌹AI course is still in progress, (plus one AI tutorial everyday) I am starting to understand about AI workflow and AI agent, and the main programs I can use to enhance my overall user level. One step at the time. Steady.🤖

🌹I reached my workout goals ( lose 5 kg by August), I will try lose another 2kg just to adjust shape and mass and be at my best ✨ main goal was feeling good and improve mental health more than aesthetic so i am happy about it. 👟

[pearl axle]

🌹I found a very inspiring YouTube creator who managed to pull off a gamified dashboard with automatic xp and points depending on certain actions, other than having a cool icon set, DND inspired, which gave me serious hype ( as the icon set are in my digital products to-do-list for a while now). 🃏✨

.

If others can do it
I can do it too.🔥

[lunar frigate]

I have not done one of these in a while:

• Had lunch with an old work friend, which took about a month to plan out. Was good to chat in person but still sucks it takes so long to arrange these things. He is more of a hermit than I am and has fast tracked into being a grumpy old man at 42.

• Forced myself to go to art club this week and tried some different brushes in Procreate with a different style. Normally I "draw" instead of "paint" and it is interesting using color. Got some good feedback.

• Therapy went well but still not making much progress with things that I need to. Part of it is lacking motivation and I just lack "joy" in my life. Homework is to complete a thing that I started as far as hobbies wise because I have bought stuff and just not used it.

• I saw a coworking space and in therapy I talked about going to Panera Bread is not the same thing. Also, I have a Chromebook that is very slow. I got a tour of the place and it seemed nice, not super expensive and the guy running it seemed cool.

• I ordered a new laptop that should work a bit better for my needs and I will opt into the coworking space. Will get me out of my apartment and hopefully force me to complete some projects I have. I have been suck in my apartment way too long, since the pandemic. I am not an extrovert but I did thrive in my office at work. Hope the change will pay off. It isn't cheap, especially when I am not working but the plan is this is an investment that will pay for it self.

[lunar frigate]

The makerspace where I am taking a mixed media class, i previously donated a 3D printer to, i had found some accessories for it and donated that too. Now I might end up doing a 3D printer workshop.

I am no expert with this stuff but they said they have no one to help and they have printers they want people to use.

[atomic axle]

I am going to host my first freee webinar

[lunar frigate]

Awesome! What is it about?

[ruby sage]

Dude that's soo cool! Congraz!!

[ruby sage]

I got an interview at my local library!! \o/

[lunar frigate]

Awesome! I hope it goes well. What kind of role is it?

[pearl axle]

Wow! Sounds great, all the best 🦾 ✨

[lunar frigate]

Update: Oof. This suck right now. I have been trying to get back on track with some goals of mine and have made some progress with things. Recently been going to the co-working space, finished a mixed media class, and working towards my portfolio and art for an upcoming show.

Then, I got Bell's Palsy... again. I got it a few years ago and didn't think it would happen again. This has thrown a curve ball into the picture as I wasn't feeling great before. It is less "scary" than the first time and I am glad it isn't a stroke.

It is making it harder to do things that I need to do but also, lot of people have said that you "need to listen to your body" and rest. Not sure what causes BP but I know stress doesn't help.

I have not worked on anything since Saturday when it happened. Hoping that I am able to get back on track. I know others have been through much worse and this is just a speed bump.

Baby steps today is going outside for the first time since Saturday. Going to feel awkward with an eyepatch but it is what it is.

[ruby sage]

Its graphic design :"")

[lunar frigate]

Nice to hear. I know a lot of libraries are pulling back on these things because of funding. Hope you get it. My local library's website is a mess and I don't think they know that.

[ruby sage]

Dude that sucks. I am so sorry. Always talk to your doctor if there is something you can do something or take something that can help. I use herbs for migraines. Green tea helps and so does peppermint oil. I am not 100% sure what to do with what you currently have, but I hope you feel better.

[ruby sage]

Yeah I was surprised they were hiring! My friend from my last job told me and I love the library and its like only 3 mins away from my house so it would be cool to get it.

[lunar frigate]

Sounds great. Hopefully you get the role!

[lunar frigate]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Got some green tea recently and forgot to make some. I need to use it as an afternoon coffee replacement. Bell's Palsy is all over the place and mainly they want to make sure it isn't a stroke. They gave me some steroids and let me go home.

[prime pier]

my hubbs and I make "cold brew" green tea, which is just a packet of tea in a bottle of water overnight, or several in a pitcher. so nice for summer.
I also broke my wrist 2 weeks ago. hate when our bodies get in the way

[lunar frigate]

Sounds like a good idea. I get the iced green tea at Panera. Maybe I will pick up a small pitcher to do this.

Sorry about your hand, hopefully you are healing well. Getting old sucks.

[atomic axle]

I am so sorry I am late to posting back but it was about Branding for business owners

Other good news...

I am planning to compete for a 5.0k$ grant Tuesday.
I got accepted into another grant competition Thursday in the same week for 3.0k$.

I now have two pitches to design because I only have 5 minutes for the live in-person and 5 to 10 minutes for the video call competition. 😭

[whole ginkgo]

School is going great

Less discord and reddit for less depression. I'd rather be hustling and networking and doing things versus being depressed with everyone about the job market

My detailed portfolio project is in its polishing stages so I can start applying for internships ❤️

[lunar frigate]

Good to hear, proud of you.

[atomic axle]

It's done. I finished my presentation. I genuinely believe I spent 40 hours on this. It's perfected. It has all the feedback I got from everyone. The visuals-- peak. The information architecture-- incredible. The imagery-- stunning. Next is the practice. I am ready. I will win this $5,000 for my business. I will escape this rat race. I will put in as much as I need to get out of the system. I am capable.

[atomic axle]

I won a $500 grant! 😄

[pearl axle]

Congratulations 🎉

[pearl axle]

Wins of the week:

🌹I' ve been applying for part-time jobs lately for hustling an extra source of income and after a couple of interviews one of the managers come back to me to offer a position, ( no design ) I was invited to the financial hq to have a chat, and showed around the various buildings, little I could imagine they offered me the job on the spot. There will be a vetting process of 2 weeks but still, I'm amazed how things develop when you network, finally some good news...

🌹The OS dashboard is almost completed, I ve been following tutorials almost every day and finally getting out of the plateau zone ( and despair ugh) where everything I watched made no sense during building process.

What I can do better:

🥀I did some tutorials for the ai workflow but I feel lost about, should I make it for my business? Should I make one for enhance my productivity? I m procrastinating embarking myself in this new venture, am I scared?

🥀I need to reduce discord when I need to focus to avoid disruptions, I seems to struggle in discipline my schedule and time lately.

[lunar frigate]

Congrats!

[lunar frigate]

Update:

So, things have been rough. I have been getting ongoing headaches associated with the Bell's Palsy which has pretty much sucked up what little motivation I had to do anything. I know I need to just rest but it has brought me to a pretty low point.

I did manage to go to Art Club but I feel more awkward due to my speech being hampered. I know this is all "temporary" but it still sucks. The struggle is real, both mentally and physically.

I have a visit with my doctor on Tuesday, so hopefully that will provide some insight and maybe some meds.

I miss blinking normally.

[whole ginkgo]

I'm sorry. That does sound rough. I hope that your symptoms ease up soon.

[lunar frigate]

Thank you

[uncut wharf]

Finally realized why my portfolio site was getting so much spam. my recaptcha button was never working in the first place 😅

[lunar frigate]

Update: Been a minute so figured I would do a quick update. I still have Bell's Palsy and it has not helped with my progress and motivation. I was able to visit a doctor last week and got some medication that has helped with headaches.

I fired my therapist last week after many weeks of ongoing scheduling issues. She was new to this and it felt that way too. Did not find there was a string of connection between appointments week to week. At one point it felt she was using Buzzfeed like quizzes and used ChatGPT to explain to me what a portfolio was.

I was able to find a new virtual therapist via ZocDoc and have an appointment for next week. I am hoping that helps me move forward.

I am also looking for a strong accountability partner to help change things up and get things moving forward.

[pearl axle]

Is been an hell of difficult time Saleem I can tell. Be strong ma Friend 💙 🫂

[lunar frigate]

Thank you friend 🙂

[ruby sage]

This isn't really good news, but an announcement. I think I am done with the job hustle and I think I have been for awhile. I think I am just gonna enjoy my life and if an opportunity is there I will apply for it or if something interests me I will apply for it, but I am tired of endlessly applying for jobs for companies that don't bat an eye or go into loop/ghost job posting.

After this interview if I don't get the library job, I think I am just gonna really focus on my freelancing and helping students/people understand their strengths in design.

[lunar frigate]

I hope you do get the job. I know you were excited about it. Everything is tough right now across the board.

[prime pier]

I did this and eventually went back corporate. It was a good exp overall, and gave me leverage when I came back. Hope you get the library role regardless!

[somber cedar]

Post wins

Post your weekly wins and achievements

i changed the title because sparking joy keeps popping up in the feedback forum and it makes no sense to new people reading it lol

[somber cedar]

This sounds like a good idea I think!! Plus I think freelancing can help you get a job later maybe

[somber cedar]

Good luck with this!!

[scarlet gull]

I deployed some OpenAI models to Azure for me to prototype with at my job this week.

And I figured out how to make an app where the AI can signal the app to change to a different mode depending on what’s going on in the chat.

[pearl axle]

Wow sounds amazing 🔥
Can you be more specific?
What kind of app?
What kind of mode?

Well sorry lots of questions, just what you feel comfortable to share obviously ✨

[scarlet gull]

The app itself isn’t public yet. But basically it goes from a very focused chat mode to a mode that has a chat + a UI for managing some of the things being discussed with a visual interface.

The other fun thing I’ve learned from this job is that GitHub actually gives away free API access to an LLM if you set up a PAT (Personal Access Token) for it. It’s rate limited, and honestly not very fast. But for tinkerers interested in building with AI without it getting expensive, it’s an option!

[atomic axle]

Finally resuemd my Ux course, I feelll off but I'm back

[atomic axle]

I finished the Module 1

[whole ginkgo]

I have two scheduled exams in order to test out of two courses from my school. Doing so will allow me to add two different courses in their place.

My goal is to graduate by May.

I am in the thick of designing in Figma. On a positive note, it means that I have gotten this far and then I only need to figure out these beginner issues once.

It's the weird little things I didn't think of like why the design isn't looking right in a mock-up and adjusting that. Organizing my workspace so I don't have frames and random components everywhere in the layers panel.

This entire thing is harder than I've ever given it credit for (UX and UI and using Figma).

It makes me wonder if in some cases, newer people aren't getting jobs because they aren't learning beyond basic frames and figure that will impress on a portfolio to have some screenshots.

I'm going all dark no stars with mock-ups, the design process and user experience journey, etc.

I was going to do a live prototype buuuut I need to research more on doing that.

[somber cedar]

Congrats on this! I think there's a lot of nuances to hiring that we don't have control over e.g. racism, a managers inability to spot potential, etc. But generally from my observations, people who relentlessly skill grind stand a much, much better chance at being hired for sure!

I don't ever say to myself I have impostor syndrome either because maybe I'm just bad at something, you know? Lol.

[whole ginkgo]

Don't get me wrong, there is more to it but I just mean another issue I've even heard other users mention is how for some newer people.. they just aren't submitting portfolios or the project they have is very basic for how competitive the market is.

I'm imagining some of that demographic are the people who 'learn it all' in two months and said they used AI. lololo No way anyone is properly learning the concepts, the softwares to an advanced level, the steps from wireframes all the way to prototyping, etc.

[whole ginkgo]

Passed my foundations of design class at my school

So now I can yeet that course out of the window and add a different course to complete in this term.

[atomic axle]

I finised my presentation

[pearl axle]

Good luck in this new adventure gurl!💪 ✨

[whole ginkgo]

Tested out of another class.

Two more to crush and then I can add another 4.

I have a data analytics manager from my work company on LinkedIn and then I got a separate invite from a high volume sales manager from the company.

So I feel good about people in the company being interested in me at least to a degree. 😊

[atomic axle]

I didn't win either grants so I am applying for a Business loan soon.

[lunar frigate]

Sorry that you didn't get it. I know you tried really hard. Hope the loan goes well.

[whole ginkgo]

Almost finished with these last 2 courses out of the 4 for this term at school. I can replace all of them with next term's classes to put me ahead.

Proud of this considering I am 8 months pregnant, have two small children (one with special needs), and the fact that my term started on 9/1 and I am finishing in at like 9/20 to do another term's classes.

Back to the pregnant thing- I am exhausted. I sleep more. I am not a fan of it... it is not in my nature to sleep so much. However, I am putting down as an achievement that I have made peace with knowing this is normal and I genuinely just need more rest and that it is temporary.

[somber cedar]

Ohh this is great news though, congrats

[atomic axle]

I got 2 shoutouts in a day on LinkedInn so I'm happy about that. 🙂

[whole ginkgo]

My brain is melting from external expectations of parenting.

But I am still making myself sit down right now and study my material so I can get through this class.

Bonus points that I'm making myself do it despite how dull this information is to me. 🫠

Yay discipline 🎉