Since I started actively posting a few weeks ago, the site has gone through quite a few changes. At first, it was pure XHTML + CSS, and I was updating the front page manually. It was the case of having a design, but not having the skills to create it myself. I could have outsourced it for a few bucks to some entry level Javascripter in the Ukraine or India… or I could take it on myself, learn some jQuery, some Javascript, and learn about the GData APIs!
After watching the movie Objectified last night, I realized how opposing the lifestyle of these designers and the DIY movement are. A good portion of the movie is either designers talking about how important they are, or being a bit bashful about how useless and obsessive they might look to some people. And they deserve this perception! I was kind of shocked that in 2009 they would gloss over sustainability and ethical production issues. These are the greatest themes in cutting edge design today, and if designers want to stay relevant, maybe they should actually solve a problem instead of redesigning hedge clippers and then having Chinese workers pump them out for pennies an hour.
So how does this fit with my webdesign? I think one of the best ways to ‘go green’, ‘stay sustainable’, etc etc… is to do it yourself! The more aspects of your life that you take control of, the higher percentage of your life you will have complete control and knowledge of. When you grow your own vegetables, you don’t have to worry about the exploitation of migrant workers sitting on your plate. When you build your own chair out of sustainable materials, you don’t have to worry about the macroeconomics of importing cheap furniture full of chemicals from Sweden. And when you design your own website instead of outsourcing it to India, you get to display your creativity, you contribute to local economies, and you just might learn something. :)
So, this blog is powered by me. I used a combination of XHTML, CSS, jQuery, Javascript, and curiosity.
