Breaking Boundaries

There are hundreds of millions of bloggers worldwide, each with their own unique voice and motivations. Some blog for profit or self-promotion, others use blogs to build online communities and provide a forum for sharing common interests – the list goes on and on. For me, the reasons are more personal. Even now, I get butterflies as I tell you the story of how becoming a blogger has changed my life. I started my blog, Around Applegate, in March 2009, seeking inspiration and guidance on the path to finding personal and professional fulfillment. For the past 12 years, I have been a graphic designer. In theory, being a designer is the glamorous part of marketing. In practice, very rarely do I get to execute my ideas from conception to completion. There are creative directors, art directors and clients that intercede and shape the end product. Through the process of editing, originality and innovation are routinely compromised. All too often I find my place in the process is reduced to a production artist. This is not the role I desire. I want more; I need a true creative outlet. I was introduced to blogging in an unlikely way: through a search for "tile inspiration." I was directing a photo shoot at work that involved a tile floor. Not knowing much about tile patterns, I turned to Google for guidance and landed on Young House Love, a blog started in 2006 by a young married couple living in Richmond, Virginia, to update friends and family on their kitchen renovation project. Three years and more than 1,000 posts later, the site has developed a cult following of home improvement DIY-ers from around the world and received more than 1 million hits last month alone. Young House Love was the first blog I laid my eyes on, and I was instantly captivated. I became caught up in a brave new world, one in which ideas and inspiration thrive in the absence of ego, corporate politics, rules or procedures. A culture of sharing without censors. An intoxicating level of creative freedom that’s sometimes risky but always exciting. Then and there I decided to start a blog of my own. Although it takes a matter of minutes to set up a blog, it took me a little over a month to determine the look and content that would define Around Applegate. The blog came to encompass all things creative. It’s a space where the things that inspire me creatively can live and, in turn, inspire others. I have written about everything from Twitter to my grandma's Italian cookies to sites that interest me and the people around me that love and support me. And somewhere along the way, through the process of documenting change, what I love and what I’ve learned, I have found clarity in the ideas that will shape the next phase of my life and my next business venture. Admittedly, keeping up with posts has been a challenge. Wanting to have interesting things to write about, I am constantly involving myself in the world around me along with researching and completing new projects. I must admit, I'd rather get started on the next project than stop to write about the one I just finished. But I have to remember to feed my blog, to nourish it with content in the same way it's nourished me with excitement to create. It’s something that I have never before possessed at this level. It’s like being in love. Writing a blog has become more satisfying than anything in my life to date. No relationship, no promotion at a job, no prize won or goal met has come close to the fulfillment Around Applegate has given me. It has helped me to realize my niche. It has let me be who I am without judgment. It has let me create without criticism. It has given me the chance to reach people I don't even know and inspire them to do the same. All without cost. Feed the blog, and the blog feeds you. Break out of your boundaries: start a blog of your own and see where it leads you. Not sure where to begin? Become a follower of blogs that appeal to your interests and passions. You’ll be amazed by the smart, funny, clever, creative, insightful bloggers out there, and chances are you’ll find you have your own ideas that must be shared with the world. I’ll leave the last word to two blogging superstars, Seth Godin and Tom Peters:

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Best of Charlotte Website Design

The fundamentals of good website design are simple and universal: Provide a clean, uncluttered interface that is intuitive for the end user and that works seamlessly with meaningful content to offer an engaging and memorable experience. In reality, however, these seemingly basic principles are all too often overlooked in the development process. Below are five sites from Charlotte, North Carolina, that exemplify what can be achieved when these fundamentals are successfully defended and put into practice. These sites are proof that great design is not the domain solely of corporate giants and glamorous consumer brands but can be attained by companies of all sizes, in all industries and with any budget.

 

Elevation Church

This site offers a clean design that does a good job of providing funnels that quickly direct the user to key areas within the site. Nice features include rotating graphics (that aren't Flash-based, for the record) and a hidden video element that only appears if you are interested. In addition, they have successfully integrated various microsites that handle a live broadcast feature, blog and fundraising campaign. Also noteworthy are the ways in which the site allows those who opt to view the service online opportunities to participate in a traditional churchgoing experience. These include the “connection card” feature that allows users to submit contact information and comments, a function for taking notes on the sermon and a donation module for making a weekly offering online.

 

Leroy Springs

This elegant design captures the spirit of Leroy Springs, a company that has long been known for providing high quality recreation programs and services in the Carolinas. The site is well-organized, and the front page gives the user direct access to information about the company’s many recreational facilities. The attention to detail here is evident right down to the icons. Flash slideshows in each major content area provide an engaging overview of features and service offerings. While the banners could have been created without Flash, the site does allow the user to navigate without the the plug-in, and they provide alerts that something is broken instead of just letting it fail silently.

 

Arts and Science Council

Serving the primary purpose of conveying information about grants, programs, education and more, this site successfully organizes a vast array of details into a format that is manageable and easy to navigate. The detailed footer provides a secondary navigation system that backs up the main navigation if javascript is disabled. The front page is fresh, with a light background that puts the content center stage and bright colors that create an energetic feel. The footer on this page very cleverly and neatly displays a laundry list of corporate partners without creating a cluttered hodgepodge of logos that detracts from the main focus.

 

Noda Arts District

This is an excellent site that effectively captures the flavor of a very eclectic Charlotte neighborhood. Its core purpose is to promote all interests of the community — an objective that it serves well with content that is accurate, up-to-date and relevant. Although I personally am not an advocate of Flash navigation, the developers have also wisely provided a completely functional menu so that those who can’t or don’t use Flash would never know that it was missing.

 

Discovery Place

This is a high-energy site for a high-energy place. Bold blue hues create a dramatic effect and make the banner area highlighting the museum’s main attractions pop. The site uses Flash very well, but it would be advisable to provide an alternative image for the facility map in the event that the plug-in isn't available. The site footer is a nice touch that serves as alternative navigation so the user doesn't have to scroll back to the top in order to continue browsing.

 

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