DesignWrite

This is where customer profiling comes in. Yes, you need to use the use the general screen sizes as Privileged mentioned above, however, you (or your client) need to find out which device, browser and browser version, the website visitors will use to access the website. Example: if you are creating a website that will only be used your client's employees and they all have a Blackberry Passport (1440 x 1440 pixels) then you need to make sure the website looks great for that device in the first instance.

Firstly, I use Clickcharts Diagram Flowchart Software to map out the website so I understand what is required, what will work, UI, etc. Then I tend to sketch out my ideas with paper and pen just to pull my thoughts together. For wireframing, I use the open-source app, Pencil, which suits my needs perfectly. If I'm using a tablet I've used Mockups and iDraw but find there is not enough fine-point control with a tablet. For a design visual, I will use Photoshop (GIMP is an open-source alternative). Lastly, I'll use Mozilla Firefox and Sublime Text for development. There are loads of options out there and the best you can do is to try as many as you can to find out what works for YOU. At the end of the day, it's all about personal preference.

I use the Genesis Framework for WordPress. I find it well written with great SEO and it's very easy to use. It's not free but you only pay once then you may use it on as many projects as you wish, personal and commercial. The same goes for any themes you buy from StudioPress (the owners of Genesis). They have great community support too when needed.

Personally, I don't like to online solution for saving snippets as I prefer something entirely under my control. With Qsnipps, I've saved the database in a Dropbox folder ensuring I always have a back-up.

Thanks for the warm welcome, it is greatly appreciated. As for portfolio, I've not long started my own business so still building up a decent portfolio. My current project is to redo an old website and feature a blog which I will then be writing the content for - I've got to brush up on health and safety! For those interested, my owen website URL is www.design-write.com which I have now added to my profile. I love writing and get to learn about a variety of different subjects. A quick tip for any writing is if you are struggling how to word an idea just write down the exact words you are thinking. Seeing the words written on the page helps you to get your thoughts together to create a concise and effective piece of writing. It doesn't matter if this is for a sentence or paragraph, trust me, it works! Cheers for now, thasagoodun.

I have tried a number of options but I'm never completely happy with how I save my code snippets. Qsnipps is my latest to try but I'm may just go with .txt files as basic text editors will always be around. What do you do to save your snippets? I had a quick search of the forum and couldn't find an answer to this anywhere.

Photoshop - raster images Illustrator - vectors Sublime - coding Clickcharts Diagram Flowchart - UX planning Pencil - wireframes Filezilla - FTP Wampserver - local dev Scrivener - writing for content / blog Firefox Web apps: Trello - project / idea management Evernote

My name's Lee and although I now live in Sheffield, I'm not originally from there so I never say things like 'Put wood inth 'ole' or 'Eeee by gum'. Trust me, this is a good thing! I design and create WordPress websites mainly but throw in a lot of website content too as I love to write. I started working for myself about a year ago and love being my own boss. There are pros and cons but you have no one looking over your shoulder other than yourself. I signed up to this forum a little while ago but then life got in the way of posting, see comment about cons above.... One day, I hope to write a novel (the cynic in me is already laughing his head off at the very thought). It would be something I would enjoy so it will definitely have something about web design in it. Enough about me. It's nice to meet you!