Good enough or just garbage?

Design that blog...

Over the weekend I was of a mind to design my blog some. I like the template design but it just doesn't say it's me or graphic design, typography, art or crafts. It's pretty, just doesn't go with the idea of this blog. So I looked up tutorials. I found one that looked like it would be easy and quite useful. It's on the Vandelay design website (http://vandelaydesign.com/blog/design/website-layout-photoshop-tutorials/ ). Being a smart designer I figured I would do the tutorial, use my own images and then as I got more confident with the HTML, coding!
Sadly, as you can see it did not work out. I am still trying to get step 2 down. Where you use the pretty design they give you as a background abstract image, my little gradient is now blank. I can't find something I think is "good enough" to put up there. 

This is an issue we all run into. Whether it's sewing a hemline (yes I have torn out hemlines up to 12 times to get them right), coloring inside the lines (it's a HUGE issue when you are 6) or your design you spent hours pouring blood, sweat and tears into. As a designer the thing that we sell is our skills. If you don't believe in your work, how will anyone else?


Value your work...
HOW magazine recently published an article where there are 29 things a new designer must know. One of them is to value your work. This is the hardest step for me, and others it appears! We go out and bid for a job, the job is a good one. You put in your bid where it's not too high, but still you get to eat more than Ramen for the month. The sweating starts, you question yourself, the doubt creeps in with misery and when it's time to start your presentation you put down yourself and your design without even realizing it. It's time to show that you care about your work and you know you are good at what you do.
Lately, I have found that part to be the hardest part, not the brainstorming, thumbnails, composites... just the part where I say I like that design, it's my best yet! So I tear up my thumbnails or despair and just do the lamest job I can, so I get credit or just get it over with.

The wind up...
I just put in for a design position. Whether I get it or not is dependent upon how I sell myself to the project manager and the head design guy. Am I nervous? Yes, as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (love that image). Was I sick to my stomach when I sent a couple of my pieces to them? Oh yes I was, I thought I would faint. But the key here is I did it. And I guess that means that when I get the rest of my design back up CD's to actually spin right, I can design this blog and it will be amazing!

Remember to value your work, and mean it! If you don't it could cost you a position, sale or even a night's sleep!