Author: Angie Bergmann

Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.

---

Name

Brad Colbow

Location

Cleveland Area (Mentor to be exact)

Current Gig

Independent UX/UI designer

Career Summary

Lets see. I started out as a web designer, slowly became more of a UX designer and on the side I’ve dabbled in illustration and cartooning.

One word that best describes how you work?

Iteratively

Current Mobile Device/Why

iPhone. *shrug* I like it 🙂

Current Computer/Why 

I have a Macbook for most of my work but I’m also rocking a Surface Pro for most of my illustration work.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

I really like Sketch for interface design.

What’s your workspace setup like?

I have a little office in my house. I connect my laptop to an external monitor (it’s an old Dell 21″). I also have a standing desk off to my side where I can work and watch my crazy neighbor fight with his lawn mower/snow blower depending on the time of year.

What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?

When I lose focus on a task I physically move to another location in my office or the house and keep working.

 

After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?

I’m rather partial to my Logitech M705 mouse. I’m on my 3rd one.

What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?

I can cook amazing meals over a camp fire. Last summer I made donuts and lasagna on our camping trip. I’m not sure I’m better than everyone else but I’m pretty darn good if I do say so.

What do you listen to while working?

Depends. If I have to think usually nothing. When I have to churn through tasks I’m a big NPR listener and I have an audible subscription so I’m usually listening to history books.

What do you do to stay inspired?

Running/walking. There are so many distractions inside. It’s good to unplug and have time with your own thoughts.

What are you currently reading?

Andrew Jackson by H.W Brands

What sort of work are you up to now?

Working with some local startups and learning a bit about video production.

What’s your sleep routine like?

Pretty standard. I have a daughter so I go to sleep at night and wake up in the morning.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Don’t be afraid to say no.

Here at WordCamp Northeast Ohio, we are pretty big fans of the Lifehacker series “How I Work”. We asked our speakers to do a WordPress take on that idea, and thus was born “How I WordPress”- a series where some of the best minds in WordPress share a bit about their process with our readers/attendees.

---

Name

Eric Meyer

Location

Cleveland Heights, OH

Current Gig

Co-founder, An Event Apart

Career Summary

I started on the web in 1993, became a webmaster in 1994, worked for Netscape 2001-2003, went indie, and co-founded An Event Apart. Along the way, I wrote some CSS books for various publishers, and created a bunch of tools and techniques that got tossed onto the web for anyone to use. The ones I thought would be niche went viral, and the ones I thought could go viral stayed niche. Recently shifting into UX and the philosophy of design, but staying involved in the technical side.

One word that best describes how you work?

Randomly.

Current Mobile Device/Why

iPhone SE. I had an iPhone 4S, and the SE came along just as I needed a new phone (the battery on the 4S was wearing out), and the SE was the right size for me.

Current Computer/Why

2013 MacBook Pro. It just works for me, and being able to drop into the Unix shell or fire up a Windows VM mean I effectively have three platforms on one machine. Yes, despite my awareness of the technical realities, I still consider OS X and Unix as being distinct, mostly because users do.

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?

MailMate, Terminal, BBEdit, Transmit, all the browsers. Photoshop a close runner-up.

What do you listen to while working?

Usually a playlist of instrumental music, since writing gets disrupted by music with works. If I’m doing something a little more repetitive (like data analysis) or writing code, I mix it up with mood-appropriate playlists. If I’m doing something really basic but lengthy, like translating data from one format to another, NPR podcasts.

What sort of work are you up to now?

I’m part of the team running An Event Apart; writing the fourth edition of “CSS: The Definitive Guide”; creating CSS tests and participating in the discussions about CSS Grid Layout; and writing and thinking about how to promote more a more humane and respectful approach in design.

What’s your sleep routine like?

Sub-optimal.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

It’s worth enduring some temporary discomfort to get to do something remarkable.