At the beginning of 2012, I blogged about my goals and aspirations, both personal and professional. My very last point was to "be perceptive of great opportunities," and that, I feel, sums up the reason why 2012 went the way it did...

First and foremost, in March, I accepted a position as a Developer at a digital agency in NYC. A great opportunity presented itself, and I decided to act on it after discussions with friends and family. I knew that accepting this position would mean bad news for a bunch of other things I had planned, like branding and developing my company, writing more and redesigning this blog, and launching 2 or more personal projects.

Accepting this role has improved my skills very fast, which is something I felt I needed to do. Responsive Web Design, complex JavaScript interactivity, and working on large/enterprise-level projects are now well up my alley. More thoughts and reflections after the jump...

It's been a long time since I've come across an idea as unique as this one. 18th.me is, to put it simply, a custom painting service. Select a painting out of the "collection," send in a photo, and receive a hand-painted picture with your face instead of... Napoleon Bonapart's.

No more searching for original ideas for gifts – this is pretty much it. As the 18th.me website states, whether you're looking for a conversation piece or a house warming gift, a custom painting of 'Mona Lisa' or 'American Gothic' with your buddies' faces will certainly surprise.

More recently, an option to buy prints instead of an oil painting was introduced for an even more affordable price tag. Of course, they're not as impressive as an actual painting, but definitely a solid alternative.

So, head over to http://18th.me/, check out the collection, and start planning birthday presents!

The last 12 months have been truly life altering. So much has happened that changed the course of my ambitions. Life after college (since June 2010) is pretty much how I expected it to be; Steady but motivated. Progress is now my top priority – to take more steps in the journey to success, and top the year before. Here are a few highlights from 2011:

• Taught my first college class, which was an absolute delight.
• Quit working full-time to pursue and grow my freelance work.
• Formed my own company, a web design/development boutique.
• Got my first car, a Volkswagen Passat.
• Went on a week-long food extravaganza with a good friend from Australia, one-of-a-kind hole-in-the-wall joints!
• Played Airsoft for the first time, got shot in the privates, received a cup as a Christmas present.

Nine days into the New Year, and things are looking alright so far. I am trying to take my company to the next level, setting priorities both professionally and personally. Continue reading for a list of goals for 2012:

Is it really JUST the marketing that they're kings of? Today, most of Apple's marketing consists of showing the product being used, doing what it does best, combined with a few words in the end for the finishing spice. This is where I believe Apple's secret lies.

All ads are (or should be) based on truth, and then exaggerated to deliver a message and/or to prove a point. Fact is, people aren't stupid. We know when something is taken "too far" in an ad or commercial, and usually don't take it literally. Of course, there are cultural aspects to consider when using metaphors as some may be offended, and in return end up biting you in the rear. Read more...

Note: This entry originally started out as a reply to a Facebook wall post about succeeding in the Web Design & Development world, but I decided to take it to the next level. I hope you enjoy.

I am 23 years old and my life revolves around freelance. As a matter of fact, I recently formed a business around it, and things are getting better, and better. What's the secret? DON'T GIVE UP AND KEEP TRYING.

You said you're developing your skills? Excellent, keep doing so and never stop. Network with people. Attend local meetups about design, development, and fields relative to yours. Have an identity on the web – a portfolio and blog of sorts. If you don't already have business cards that you carry with you EVERYWHERE you go, do it asap!

Regularly check design/development specific job boards. Authentic Jobs and Krop are some of them. Keep up with trends, what's hot and emerging on the web, and the ever-changing job requirements of employers. The web industry is one of the most rapidly changing, evolving, and growing. Continue reading...

I recently came across a very interesting set of videos that really struck a chord in my mind. In short, a glossy black cube was sent to some of the world's top designers, architects, and academics, including Dieter Rams, Stefan Sagmeister, and Massimo Iosa Ghini. In a series of short videos, the fundamental ideologies of simplicity, form, and function are discussed to dissect the essence of the cube.

More after the jump...

There are some things in life that you just do, and don't do. I have been writing this list since September 2008. I have learned many things, met many people, and experienced things that I will carry with me to the grave. Tomorrow is my 23rd birthday, and I feel I have just barely touched the tip of the iceberg of life.

I would like to say thank you to those that have helped me compile this list, whether you know it or not. This endeavor has always kept me on my feet, thinking, and observing the world around me. It is my hope for this list to inspire people anywhere in the world, just as I have been influenced by those around me.

Continue reading for the list that's been in the works for nearly 3 years:

Everywhere you look, you find people complaining about things that change; Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Applications, and so forth, but rarely do they ever do anything about it. In fact, in most cases (with the exception of Digg), time spent on them increases.

Every time Facebook changes its layout, everyone and their grandmas throw a tantrum, complaining about how they want the old layout back. A week goes by, and it's as if nothing happened at all. They're still using Facebook with all of the same features, if not more. After all, Facebook spends millions creating the optimal interface (at least I hope they do) for an increase of addictiveness.

A few months ago, Twitter drastically underwent a major interface overhaul. As per usual, a ton of people complained saying it was too complicated, slow, etc. Well, has Twitter reported a loss of user activity? Nope. An increase of user activity? Yep...

I have been asking myself this question as far as I could remember, and as I get older, the answer always changes. The criteria for being a "grown-up" is different for everyone because we all have unique expectations based on our experiences.

There are often times when we see a "grown-up" with "younger" characteristics. Could this be because this person doesn't view themselves as one, therefore acts and appears such way, or is it simply because the person judging him/her has a solidified idea of what a "grown-up" should be like?

I believe being a grown-up is just a state of mind. A state where the amount of questions you have about yourself, life, and everything else is significantly lower than your past. A state where insecurities become non-existent, and everything seems to just make sense...

Yesterday I had the unfortunate pleasure of having to use an umbrella due to a small rainstorm.  At first I proudly opened my small staph shielding me from the dangers of water hurling from above, whilst staring at the poor saps that had come ill-equipped.  Yet as I continued hurling towards my destination I noticed myself becoming increasingly wet.  By the time I had reached the sanctuary of indoors my entire shoes had been drenched, as well as the tips of my pants and my entire right arm.

With all the fancy cases that are out in the market today to protect our cell phones, notebooks, and MP3 players, why has no one taken the time to create something to well…protect US!  Imagine for a second you brought a water proof case for your notebook and suddenly you realized that over 40% of it got wet, wouldn’t you be furious and never buy that case again?  For some reason this logic does not seem to apply in the world of Umbrellas, as many of us will continue to buy the same crappy umbrellas which will instantly break again and again. More after the jump...