Finding the right degree of separation, that balance between work and home, is one of the hardest things to achieve for anyone passionate about their work. I’ve realised that physical separation from the medium through which I work is the most effective way for me to strike that balance. If I’ve made a pact with myself (or understanding spouse) not to do any work, I don’t want to fire the computer up. The problem is, the computer is not only a tool I use to realise ideas, but also serves as a lifestyle device. We reply to emails from friends and family, watch TV programmes and films, listen to music, keep up to date with news and accept friend requests from people we don’t even know or like. In our house, the computer is as much of a social enabler as it is a creative tool. Possibly more so. The problem for me is the crossover; the temptation. I’m just too bloody weak-willed.

Like any other Apple drone, I bought an iPad on it’s launch day in the UK. It’s a wonderful device, for all the reasons I expected: it’s responsive, fluid, efficient, beautiful, clever, intuitive yet simple — hallmarks of any successful Apple product. But the reason I’ve fallen in love with it so quickly is precisely the reason most people I speak to don’t ‘get it’: it’s position and relevance between the mobile and computer, otherwise phrased as “What’s the fucking point?”. I don’t want to use my computer as a consumption device because it’s too closely associated with work. I don’t really want to use my iPhone as a consumption or lifestyle device because it’s a pain in the arse to type long emails on and, frankly, is just too damn small to adequately consume any reasonable amount of information on. The iPad makes it a pleasure to surf, read, watch, listen, play, plan and reference. I can turn it off and put it down as quickly as I picked it up. For someone as obsessive and work-hungry as me, it’s beauty lies in the very fact that it can’t fully replace my computer. The degree of separation it’s creating between leisure and work is something I’m already feeling the benefits of.

Sent from my iPad (Only joking)

Line have given me my first two ‘real’ years in the industry, offering me a job after I’d spent a year building my portfolio by freelancing full-time (and earning a pittance, I might add). I worked pretty feverishly that year and I’m still proud of some of my work, but having chosen to leave university before graduating, it’d be fair to say that Line took a bit of a chance on me. I was hungry to work with established brands and be involved in making bigger websites, and I’ve certainly had my fair share of that. Line are a fantastic team of passionate people, and it’ll be hard to top the feeling of working in such a fun and inspiring atmosphere. I’ve learned an incredible amount and made friends for life, but I know now is the right time to move on.

My workload has shifted much more towards interface design and user experience this last year, implementing user testing into every project possible and developing my own CSS and form frameworks specifically to allow for quicker UI development with a minimum of fuss. UI is really where my heart is, and I’ve had a strong desire to work full-time on applications instead of just websites for a while now.

Moving to FreeAgent is a fantastically exciting prospect because I already use it myself. I care about it. Becoming part of the team who’s job it is to improve and progress both new and existing functionality feels pretty special. Having a passionate user-base who can define by need what we create, then offer immediate feedback on the results is going to be an incredible new way of working for me too.

I can’t wait.