Many, many, many months ago, I decided my website needed a little sprucing up. My then site was a good a website — a stones throw from the very first website I designed, and it suited my purposes: it was easy to update, it had decent content and it wasn’t completely awful to look at. But, in this Web 2.0 world, it was looking more tired and more dated by the day. And while the website’s cute little table structure worked (even in IE 6!) it wasn’t exactly search-friendly. It was very 2005. Coincidentally, I think the site was designed in 2005. But, as the saying goes, “We’ve come a long way, baby!”
So, I set off on a redesign of the site — a beautiful, fresh, clean, timeless look — a look very similar to the design style our clients love to see from us. The age of web-safe color palettes was a thing of the past, so our drab maroon was brightened to an excited magenta — our actual “corporate” color. We even took the site from its little 800 pixel width to a seemingly gigantic 960 pixels! Web fonts were added in (sparingly) to further reinforce the brand identity. With the basic structure and look done, it was time to have fun. Widgets and gadgets and javascript and do-dads and do-hickeys were all envisioned. And when it came time to program the site, my amazing (and I mean amazing) development team was able to build a site that does ALMOST everything I pictured. I sacrificed a blinking purple unicorn that would follow the cursor around the screen (not), but ultimately, I pictured it and they made it happen. I really could not have done this with out the amazing Related Media team and I’m so thankful that they took my vision and made it a reality. (Shameless plug in 3, 2, 1…www.relatedmedia.com)
I really could not be more excited about the new site, and while there are a few areas I still want to flush out and a million work samples that need to get added in, it’s time to send it off into the interwebs.
But, before you go marvel at the beauty that is my new site, there is one final piece of business to attend to:
A Eulogy to My Website
I remember when you first came into my life. You made my dream — my business — seem real. Suddenly, anyone in the world could find me, see my work, and hire me. When the phone would ring, the magic words “I saw your website” were often the first words out of the caller’s mouth. You helped me grow, but more than that, you helped me believe in what Think Tank Creative could one day be. And you, you my little website, helped me get there.
Just this year, I was sitting in front of you, updating you, adding a news post here and a work sample there and enjoying the little bit of time I got to spend with you. What had been a pleasant experience for so many years was becoming harder and harder on both of us. You were getting old and technology was getting younger. I didn’t have the time to constantly update you. I’d try to add in a new fancy accessory and you would rebel by sending something else out of whack. We’d play a technology version of tug-of-war before one of us gave in. In the end, I think we both knew it was time.
Letting go wasn’t easy and it was hard to look at you in your final days. Websites don’t get a last meal or a special tribute. They just go away. Not you my little site. Your pieces are all stored so one day, you can be put back together just the way you always were. One day when we’re both ready.
But, it’s time. It’s time to let go, say goodbye and hope that my new site helps me grow as much over the next five years as you have over the past five. We’ve come a long way, baby.
Now, get out of here, and go enjoy six-plus months of hard work! www.creativebythinktank.com
The Washington Post recently hosted an online contest for the top tweeps in DC. In order to be eligible for the award, contestants had to be nominated in one of twelve categories which ranged from favorite food truck to favorite non-profit. Think Tank Creative was nominated in the Favorite Entrepreneur category, accompanied by seven local entrepreneurs including Pete Snyder of New Media Strategies and Melanie Spring of Sisarina. Voting took place over the week long period from December 27th to December 31 and winners were announced on Monday, January 3. With over 5,000 votes cast in the contest, we were shocked and excited to learn that Think Tank Creative was voted as DC’s Favorite Entrepreneur. The full list of winners is available here.
As we 
Designers have a language all their own, and it’s not always obvious what the most commonly used design terms mean. The list below should help you communicate with and better understand your designer. 
