Learning Binge 2: Design, Sketch, and Angular

Around January of 2014, I wrote about a learning plan I came up with get me up to speed on several tools, including git and Sass. That worked out relatively well for me, seeing as I use both of those every day now. I’ve decided that while I’m not going to break it down by weeks this time around, I still have a plan in place to learn a couple of new things.

ST Tracker: Design, Sketch, Angular.js

My first plan is to finish the second version of my side project ST Tracker. It’s an app designed to keep track of the variations of rides you experience on Disney’s Star Tours rides. Throughout the process, my goals are to learn better design through mocking up an app in Sketch, and reworking the whole frontend UX to make it more asynchronous through Angular.JS. As a nice aside, I will be writing an API for the backend to make it play nice with Angular.

So far, so good I think. I came up with a design that I did in Sketch, which I posted on Dribbble.

I go to Walt Disney World at the end of the month, and I’m hoping I’ll be able to test the new app then.

Design Challenges

Another way to help me accomplish my goals of learning better design and Sketch is doing design challenges. I was a bit inspired by Colin’s post about being pulled toward design, as I feel that pull too. I have some small projects I could do over the course of a week for each. The idea here is that it will force me to use Sketch as well as look critically at my own work, tweaking to make it better, but not spending a gross amount of time on any one thing. As another bonus, Sketch will make me more comfortable working with vector graphics, specifically SVGs.

Building Parsec: Better WordPress Development & Speaking

The theme of my WordCamp talk for this year is putting into practice the things I talked about in my book, Responsive Design with WordPress. I want to put my money where my mouth is and design a really great responsive theme based on the tenants of good RWD.

I also want to become a better public speaker, so using some advice Chris Lema gave me in Baltimore, I’m reworking the way I do presentations. As I make progress in Parsec, which is what I’m calling my theme, I will be adding to my presentation.

While last year’s plan did work out for me, I think this time around will go much better. I not only have my goals laid out, but how I’m going to accomplish those goals through real, tangible projects. I think I’m off to a good start so far; we’ll see how things go throughout the summer!