I’m Dan, the web designer/developer for the Digital Services team (aka Project WIP) at Shropshire Council, and this is a look into where I came from and what I've achieved in the year since I started this role.
Why did I take this role?
The dream of working in web development at Project WIP began in 2012 while I was an apprentice for the Family Information Service, but the actual journey started on 1 April 2014, and fortunately it was no April Fools prank.
Coincidentally, my apprenticeship with the Family Information Service was due to end just as the Digital Services team were advertising a web developer role, so I put in my application, and the rest is history!
Before Project WIP, I had no real work experience in this type of role other than working on self-taught personal projects in my spare time, so when I started the nerves kicked in - and kicked hard. Luckily those nerves didn't last long once I started, because this team has the nicest and most welcoming people; I soon felt like I'd known them much longer.
My background is in graphic design, so I 'd spent a lot of my time coming up with creative ideas and then challenging myself to improve so I don’t get left behind. It just so happened that one day I wanted to dabble in web design, and I liked it so much I haven't looked back. Maybe it's just me, but there is nothing more satisfying than thinking of a design concept, sketching it out, mocking it up in Photoshop, coding it up and then seeing your creation come to life on an internet browser, even more so when it goes live for the world to see.
What have I learnt?
One aspect of my job that I've had to learn, and have grown to like over time, is responsive design. I was self-taught and had a basic understanding of what it entailed but, after a year with a talented bunch of colleagues, I feel I'm ten times better now than those early days. My graphic design background meant I had the habit of starting old-school (like it was still the early 00’s) with the fully-styled website layout for desktops and then changing it for smaller devices, rather than starting mobile-first, using UX and design best practices to make sure all the features and functionality worked at that scale. This habit stayed with me for a long time, although after many hours of practising, thankfully something finally triggered my brain to think mobile first, and it's made my life a lot easier ever since.
Along with my original design habit, there were a few other things I took for granted in web design before I joined the Digital Service team, and I will shamefully admit that they were user experience and accessibility. I was delighted to join Sophie at one of her UX workshops to get a better understanding of her role, and it helped me not only see the importance of planning around the user experience, but also to make me think differently as a designer. It's the same with accessibility - until you work in local government, you forget who uses these websites: the general public. Not everyone is the same, and they all experience it differently, so making sure a website is designed and built with usability and accessibility in mind can make a positive difference for everyone. A real learning curve and great eye opener!
What do I want to do?
As I continue in my role, my main goal is to have an understanding of how to use Umbraco. Not only so that I can help the team if anyone is sick or on leave, but also to better myself and widen my skill set.
One aspect of web development I have always wanted to be better at is my understanding of JavaScript, and how it can be used. I am comfortable with HTML and CSS now, but most websites these days have some sort of JavaScript/jQuery which I am clueless about. I know what it looks like, but adapting or changing it? Nope.
Overall though, I’d just like to carry on challenging myself to be better at my role. Since I've joined this team I feel I've learnt a lot and it can only get better as long as I still hold the desire and motivation.
I’ll be writing up posts on some of the bigger projects I’ve been involved with shortly, so watch this space!