This is an idea I got from a web design website I was flicking through at the weekend (will post the link if I find it). I thought it was a great idea and worth trying for someone in my position, although perhaps the industry is too small in Ireland? Anyway, as follows...

I am looking for a mentor. A professional, someone who is in the design/development business, who knows what they are doing and is willing to pass along some of their knowledge. My goals are to gain a greater understanding of the business end of web design/development; to expand my skill set; to learn how to add that professional touch to my own designs ... with the end goal of moving to web design/development full time if possible.

In return all I can really offer is my assistance on your projects. I'm not totally without skills* so perhaps I can offer my own experience/knowledge (pro bono I presume would be the arrangement, nights & weekends) which Iexpect would be beneficial to the mentor.

Of course I can understand that a designer would not like to teach a potential competitor so perhaps this would suit someone more involved with large scale database driven projects rather than brochure websites which is probably the direction I'm heading in.

If this sounds reasonable to any designer/developer PM/mail/skype me and we can discuss further.


*
- Comfortable with HTML & CSS (striving to really master CSS, not quite there yet)
- SSI & htaccess
- Very basic PHP & MySQL
- Some experience setting/using up apache/php/mysql on windows
- Basic accessibility, SEO knowledge

- Professional project coordination/management experience
- No portfolio yet but can show links to what I have done so far

Any takers?

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CSS Templates
emcguinness.ie

It's a tough one my friend, I can't imagine anyone really taking you up on it, anyone with the experience to take you that step further probably want to and after that you might find someone looking for some pro-bono help that wont really be up to the standards to really teach you anything.

Wanna post a couple of links to your work, I'm just curious.

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Adam Gibbons - Web Development & Design Solutions

I thought there was no harm in asking anyway.

If you are looking into learning PHP and mySql I would rec. you get some books like the Wrox ones. I am not sure if anybody will have to time to teach you and in the end is the little tips and trick you pick up on the way that makes you different.

Books I would rec. to you:

Beginning PHP5 & Professional PHP5 in this order.
JavaScript for Web Developers

Another way to improve your skills is to look at other peoples code - how it works and why. A lot of reading and practise makes you perfect.

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Hi Louie,

PHP/MySQl is lower down my list of things to learn. I want to focus on other areas first. Esp business related etc.

All of the things I need to learn I plan to do so on my own anyway but having someone teach you some of the tricks of the trade, so to speak, is a better way IMO because you can benefit from their experience.

Thx for the reply btw.

those are the thing that i don't thing anybody is prepared to give away.
Is like doing a FAS course. They teach you the basics, but the rest comes to you after years of getting your hands dirty.

Heh - you're gonna have to slug it out your self enzo :P worth a try though

Probably a bad phrase to use. I wouldn't expect designers to give away any secrets.

yeah I plan to anyway

enzo we are here. if you need help and we can help you then that should do it. It will make your life easier.

Ta louie !