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
David Brattoli
Location
Elyria, OH
Current Gig
Owner of Infinite Reality LLC and Web Designer/WordPress Developer at Lorain County Community College
Career Summary
Graduated from Bluffton University in 2007. Bachelors Degree in Mathematics with minor in information Technology. Associates degrees in Computer Gaming and Simulation Design and Associate of Arts with emphases in Graphic and Web Design from Lorain County Community College in 2010 and 2015. Have owned Infinite Reality LLC, a web and graphic design firm, since 2012 with an emphasis in WordPress for the last two years. Along with my business I have worked as a web designer/WordPress developer at Lorain County Community College since 2013. I have also begun teaching a Web Design class focusing in WordPress and advance web design techniques at the college.
One word that best describes how you work?
Inventive
Current Mobile Device/Why
iPhone 6 Plus. I prefer Apple products and like the powerful intuitive design of the phone and OS.
Current Computer/Why
Macbook Pro 15 inch. I find Macs to be better suited for graphics and web design. Also because it gets the job done!
What apps/software/tools can’t you live without?
WordPress, Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom), Brackets, FileZilla, Netflix, Hulu
What’s your best time/effort-saving life hack?
My responsive theme framework. Having a solid framework that includes responsive tools to get a project jump started saves me time everyday
What’s your favorite to-do list method?
Microsoft OneNote
After your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? Why?
My Nikon DSLR camera, Xbox and Playstation. My camera because it encourages me to get away from my computer and allows me to find inspiration for my designs. Along with the camera, my Xbox and Playstation allow me to decompress because without them I might just go crazier than I already am.
What everyday thing are you better at than everyone else?
Actively listening. I find the more critiques I get on my work the stronger the work I produce.
What do you listen to while working?
Country mostly, but I mix in just about everything from 70’s rock to hip hop, RB and Rap. I listen to just about everything. It all comes down to my mood and the project I am working on.
What do you do to stay inspired?
Read blogs and websites on web and graphic design trends, videos on WordPress TV, talking with other web/graphic designers and going to local WordCamps .
What are you currently reading?
Smashingmagazine.com, WpTavern.com, mor10.com, WpBeginner.com and audio books of Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code/Inferno/Lost Symbol
What sort of work are you up to now?
Working at Lorain County Community College. We are currently transitioning all College sites to WordPress. Along with this I am currently working with several non-profit clients to create unique custom WordPress sites.
What’s your sleep routine like?
Sleep? What’s that?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Best advice or quote I have ever heard came from a movie. Here it is
“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that! ”
― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa
Any other tidbits you think might interest attendees?
Fill in the blank: I’d love to see ????? answer these same questions