Choosing my Domain Name

Okay , the first step for creating my website is deciding on a domain name.
Now that I am completing a web development program I am still interested in establishing a home based business serving individuals and small businesses.

Although I still like the general concept of providing services that SHAPE your business or organization, using SHAPE as a business name is so not the new millenium. Most of all in this internet age I need a name that translates to a good domain name choice. General names like shape.com would be taken or for sale at a high price. I thought I'd use one of my unsual usernames, pinkturtle or 153fish as domain names for this novice developer's website. Well surprisingly both of those were unavailable as .net or .com. Too bad, I had some cool logo concepts and slogans to go with them. I'll save those in case I purchase pinkturtle.com later.

My criteria was .net or .com only, a memorable short name that inspired a visual representation and if possible a name that reflected both designing & social media. I couldn't believe 'butterbeans' was taken. After going through every crazy name for an available, I settled for designables.net. Actually I must give my son credit for creating this word defined as all the stuff, from websites to avatars, you need to design for your internet presence. It just didn't inspire anything visual for me. Well, I'd work with this for a student's portfolio for free lance. Taking advantage of Go Daddy's special price with hosting, I was paying less than $2 for the first year, I can always change if I get a sudden inspiration.

How I got Here

Well I had a home business a million years ago registed as SHAPE Desktop Services offering miscellaneous computer based clerical services. The slogan was:

Get in SHAPE!
FORM Communication
MOLD Image
BUILD Your Business or Organization
Call SHAPE Desktop Services!

I'm looking at an old flyer which uses san serif font, primary colors on the primary shapes, square, circle & triangle in the design. I'd be way embarrassed to scan an show you, but I am sentimental so I've kept it along with a business card.

Primarily, I created very customized databases and did alot of mail merge to help investment reps manage their clients. I perform a broad variety of services utilizing Microsoft Oficce for people that were to busy to do it for themselves. Occasionally I created business logo here and there.Without any formal education in databases I became quite adept at design efficent sytems of manipulating information. Eventually I moved and ended up working for one person from my home creating a system to manage sales, leads, commissions, etc for his sales reps & telemarketers. Once he established his own website I got the bug to become a web developer.

about me : purpose of blog

I am a student in the Computer Information Systems Department’s web development program at Strayer University. I this blog was established to journalize projects and communicate with other members of the web development community. My current goal is to establish a portfolio as I study advanced coding and graphic design. I am particular interested in applying current trends in social media to small business and organizations. I will be sharing my design process as I work on projects for school, clients and myself.

My first goal is study review current design techniques since Strayer’s program emphasizes information management database (Access/SQL) & programming classes (C++/Java) along with HTML/CSS. Fortunately I have a history of Art & Architecture. I learned to be a draftsman in high school vocational school and went on to be admitted to University of Tennessee’s highly regarded competitive School of Architecture. I married a Graphic Designer and started a family after my freshman year. That was back in the 80’s before CAD-Computer Aided Drafting and Photoshop. I mean I remember when copy and paste meant to copy and paste.

My first project is to create a simple website for myself that provides online contact and portfolio. Besides coordinating it with this blog I will be connected with twitter as well. I will be seeking opportunities to do web projects for others so I can exercise my skills and build up a portfolio.