Reading time 5 min

Stijn Schutyser

“Do I have the right qualifications to become a freelancer?” This is a popular question for people who are thinking about becoming their own boss. Perhaps you’ve asked this very question yourself. In this blog post, we’ll go over some stats, as well as some different approaches to education as a freelancer. Is formal education as a freelancer necessary? Let’s start by looking at some data. Freelancermap conducted a survey in which they asked freelancers from their community to tell them their highest obtained degree. They found that from a sample of over one thousand freelancers, 42.5% held a university degree. An additional 4.5% of participants held a Master’s degree. Moreover, 28% of the survey participants had finished a technical college degree. That means that in this case, 76% of freelancers have had some form of higher education . So, should you pursue a degree? Looking at these numbers, it certainly seems like you should if you want to be competitive. However, there’s no right or wrong answer to this question. A degree isn’t a holy grail. While it does increase your chances as a freelancer, it’s no guarantee. So if you don’t have a degree, no reason to panic. A lack of education and experience is not a barrier for freelancing. However, you can’t expect clients to just drop out of the sky and trust you with large projects from the get-go. You’ll need to network and create a portfolio full of excellent examples of your work, even if you have a degree . Depending on your major, your degree may enable you to specialize and charge a higher rate for your services. Ultimately, if you want to become a freelancer, you have to take a few other things than a degree into consideration as well, such as: education and training required by your niche. If professional licensing or certification requirements demand a degree or other training, that’s simply unavoidable. You’ll need to research what education and/or training is absolutely required. your own feelings about getting a degree or any type of education as a freelancer. Do you feel like you’ll be more confident with a degree to your name? Or is obtaining a degree an important accomplishment to you? Or perhaps you just really want to closely study something you’re interested in? What about intrinsic motivation? The value of higher education isn’t solely wrapped up in earnings power or career success. your desire to be free, to be your own boss and your entrepreneurial spirit. You gotta want it and dare to go for it! Continuing education as a freelancer So: while education as a freelancer is always a good thing, there are no formal requirements to start freelancing. But what about continuing education as a freelancer? While there’s no definitive answer to the question whether freelancers should pursue a degree, we can be unambiguous when it comes to the question of continuing education. The key to sustaining freelance success is continuing your education, both in your chosen field and as a general businessperson. There are numerous reasons for this. First off, technology advances at the speed of light. It’s a cliché, but it’s true: what’s cutting-edge one day might obsolete the next. Clients don’t need developers for iOS 4, Android 2.3 or Windows 95 anymore. It’s vital that you stay up-to-date with current technologies and understand where your niche is moving to in the near future. Additionally, while it might not happen quite as quickly as with technology, business practices and methodologies are changing too. Secondly, education investing in personal and professional development makes sense from a business point of view. And what do you know: as a freelancer, you’re a business too. If you want to compete with the big boys and increase your hourly fee, maintaining a current level of education and certification is a no-brainer. Thirdly: taking a workshop, signing up for a seminar, or attending an industry conference are all easy ways to expand your professional network as well as your knowledge base. If you want to be tapped in to the pulse of your profession, you need to be talking, sharing, and learning from other freelancers and industry leaders. Taking workshops is also a good way to keep yourself interested in your field. Lastly, continuing your education will help you keep producing high-quality work. It’s just easier to keep the quality of your work up when you’re up-to-date with what the market expects from you, be it a new version of an operating system, tips and tricks to complete assignments faster or an entire new skillset. There are a few good e-learning platforms you can register for to continue your education: Skillshare offers over 23,000 classes in design, business, tech and more. It even has a separate freelance section! We’ve written about Skillshare before in a whitepaper about the 10 tools for growing a successful freelance career. You can download the whitepaper down below. In it, there’s a link that allows you to try Skillshare for free for 2 months instead of just one! Udemy offers discounted courses starting from €10.99 for graphic design, writing, web design, editing, photography, and running a freelance business. Coursera provides certification for courses that last about 7 days on average. The platform offers language, writing, marketing, advertising, business, and academic material from top universities across the United States. Perfect for freelancers looking to hone their skills! 🚀 Takeaway While education is always a good thing, there are no formal requirements to start freelancing. However, you can’t expect to become a successful freelancer if you don’t possess the necessary courage, an entrepreneurial spirit, a high degree of motivation and a skill in which you really excel. Also take into consideration education and training required by your niche and your own feelings about getting a degree. When it comes to continuing education, there’s no doubt about it: do it as often as you can! Continuing your education is key to sustaining your success as a freelancer for a number of reasons, ranging from keeping up-to-date with current technologies and practices to challenging yourself.

Reading time 5 min

Stijn Schutyser

People don’t really read online. Instead, readers ‘scan’ web content for useful bits and pieces. If you truly want to cater to your website’s visitors, you should make their lives as easy as possible. How? By making your texts as scannable as possible and making it easy for your readers to find the information they are looking for. In this blog post, I’ll tell you the best ways to do that, give you some concrete tips from our own web designers and copywriters, and give you a checklist to see whether your website is as scannable as possible. Paper vs. screen If you write texts for websites, you should probably take into account that your reader reads very differently on a screen compared to on paper. Like I said, readers scan a lot more on tablet, smartphone and pc screens . If they do decide to really read something, they do so 25% slower compared to reading on paper . Reading tests also revealed that reading on a screen is more tiring and that readers tend to remember less from what they’ve read. Use screen fonts Screens and paper handle the legibility of letters differently. Microsoft fonts such as Verdana (instead of Arial) and Georgia (instead of Times New Roman) are designed specifically for screens by Matthew Carter . The Dutch Lucas de Groot designed the Calibri screen font for Windows Vista. For your online writing, it’s best to choose a font that has been designed for screens instead of paper . Define what the most important information or task is Why do people visit your website? Check your website statistics (through Google Analytics , for example) or log files and think about the following questions: How do people navigate to your website? Referral, organic search, social media, …? What are your most popular pages? From what pages do people leave your website? Where do they stop reading? Find out what the most common pieces of information are that visitors are looking for on your website and make that information easiest to find. For example, people usually call a school to tell them their kid feels sick. The school’s homepage might include something like this to cater towards their audience then: Will your child be absent from school? Call or send a text to [phone number] before 8:30 AM. Don’t forget to mention: your child's full name, class reasons of absence. Thank you! This is much more informative than a homepage that starts with ‘Welcome’, which doesn’t really help out with your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) either. It’s important that every single one of your web pages displays the call to action as clearly as possible, e.g. click a button. Visitors want to get started immediately, so make the most important information or task stand out . Make your web content as scannable as possible The internet is a quick search medium, pretty neat for whoever needs to look something up quickly. But ill-considered web content gets lost quickly, both in search engines and in the reader’s mind. More than on paper, the reader needs short pieces of text, titles and white space. A title summarizes a whole paragraph in just a couple of words. Your titles should be informative and include the most important information. Something important is of course what the reader thinks is important or what they are looking for, not necessarily what you think is important . This provides the reader with structure and makes your text much more scannable. Other significant information should be in headings, photos and captions, short paragraphs, buttons and links. You can also use bullet lists like the one above. Arrows are particularly useful for highlighting something important. Numbers in digits work better than numbers in words. To make your web content more scannable, write 100% instead of one hundred percent. Numbers are more striking than words. 7 tips from the ACA web designers and copywriters Limit your web page length to 3-5 screen lengths If your web content is longer and all information is relevant, consider altering your website’s structure and adding more web pages. Say the most important things first Web surfers look at the left side of their screen for 70% of the time. A visitor glances over your web page roughly in the shape of an ‘F’: they start at the top left, then look at the top right, go down from the left and next glance at the right again somewhere in the middle (see heat map to the right). It’s worthwhile to put the most important information at the top left of the page and less important information towards the bottom right of the page. Write your web text from short to lengthy The first paragraph should be the shortest. The reader will only continue to read the other, longer paragraphs if this one is interesting enough. Mind the imagery Pictures, hyperlinks, bullets, … Provide one absolute eye-catcher and at most 7 visual accents per web page. Take the text-to-imagery ratio into account and the fact that text to the right or under a picture gets read much more than other texts. Provide contrast between text and background color For paper, it’s black on a white background. On a screen, however, this is too taxing for your eyes. Dark grey on a white background is a much better option. One line should include 75 symbols or less, including spaces A sentence should never be smeared over more than 2 lines. The amount of lines per screen length should be 23 or less. A line should contain about 75 symbols or less, which comes down to about 12 words per line. Links should tell readers what they do Don’t use ‘Click here’ links, but rather use ‘Click here to learn how to write reader-friendly emails’. Use buttons for actions like searching and registering, and hyperlinks to navigate to other pages.

Reading time 6 min

Stijn Schutyser

Robin Williams – no, not that one – is one of the most interesting authors about text and layout design. Her book , The Non-Designer’s Design Book: Design and Typographic Principles for the Visual Novice , is a true gem. In the book, she explains the 4 basic rules for effective graphical design: c ontrast, r epetition, a lignment and p roximity ( CRAP ). In this blog post, we’ll go over those 4 basic rules and how you can easily implement them in your layout design. I’ve already taught you how to write scannable web content , but that blog post didn’t cover the layout of texts all that much. So let’s set the record straight! While scannability in a text itself is key, it is also closely tied with the layout of the text. After all, a text that’s a joy for the eye is a text that is inviting to be read! 1. Contrast Let’s start with the first rule for effective layout design: contrast. If elements on your page (such as type, color, size, shape and so on aren’t identical, let them differ extremely from each other. Don’t be a wimp. Let contrast shine! A good example is the size of the letters in a newspaper headline versus the ones in the article itself. In contrast (see what I did there?), a headline typed in Constantia 11 above an article in Constantia 10 doesn’t show enough difference between the two, making it difficult to differentiate. So how do you add contrast to your page? Contrast can be created in many ways. You can contrast large type with small type, a graceful oldstyle font with a bold sans serif font, a thin line with a thick line, a cool color with a warm color, a smooth texture with a rough texture, a horizontal element (such as a long line of text) with a vertical element (such as a tall, narrow column of text), widely spaced lines with closely packed lines, or a small graphic with a large graphic. Again, don’t be a wimp. You cannot contrast 12-point type with 14-point type, you cannot contrast a half-point rule with a one-point rule and you cannot contrast dark brown with black. Get serious! Contrast is crucial to the organization of information (its scannability): a reader should always be able to glance at a document and instantly understand what’s going on. The information in this resume is all there, but it doesn’t look inviting to read and it doesn’t grab your attention. In this example’s layout, there is a lot more contrast, which improves its scannability enormously. 2. Repetition The second rule of effective layout design is the rule of repetition. It states that you should repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece . Repeating visual elements in your brochure, newsletter or blog post helps to develop a structure and strengthens the feeling of a unified piece of content. The repetitive element may be a bold font, a thick rule (line), a certain bullet, design element, color, format, spatial relationships, etc. It can be anything that a reader will visually recognize. You can think of the rule of repetition as a reminder to stay consistent. When you get to the end of the information on this card, your eye just kind of wanders off. Now when you get to the end of the card, your eye bounces back and forth between the bold type elements. That’s the point of repetition — it ties a piece together and provides unity. Het It’s like accenting your clothes: if you wear a black outfit, you might accent it with jewellery and shoes in the same shade of red. However, be careful to not repeat an element so often that it becomes annoying or overwhelming. Think of rule #1 and be conscious of the value of contrast! For instance, if you wear the same black outfit, but now with a red hat, red earrings, a red scarf, red shoes, and a red coat, the repetition would not be a stunning and unifying contrast: it would be overwhelming and the focus would be confused. 3. Alignment Nothing is ever allowed to ‘just end up’ on your pages, no matter the medium you’re writing for. Every element should have a visual connection with another element on the page. This way, you create a fresh and clear look and feel. When items are aligned on the page, the result is a stronger cohesive unit. Even when aligned elements are physically separated from each other, there is an invisible line that connects them, both in your eye and in your mind. Although you might have separated certain elements to indicate their relationships (using the rule of proximity ), the rule of alignment is what tells the reader that even though these items are not close, they belong to the same piece. The elements on this card look like they were just thrown on and stuck. None of the elements have any connection with another element on the card. Some items are left-aligned, some are right-aligned and others are centered. By moving all the items on the card over to the right and giving them one alignment, the information is instantly more organized (also because they’re grouped together). The text items now have a common boundary which connects them together. Avoid using more than one text alignment on the page. For example, don’t center some text and right-align other text. 4. Proximity Items on your page that belong together or have a connection in one way or another, should always be close to each other. Remember: proximity implies a relationship. That applies to people in relationships, for words in a sentence and for headlines and bodies in a text. That also means that items or groups of information that are not related to each other should not be in close proximity to other items. This gives your readers an instant visual clue to the organization and content of your page. Let’s take a simple example to illustrate the rule of proximity. I’ve put 2 lists below, both containing the same information. What do you assume about the flowers on the first list? Probably nothing much, right? What about the flowers on the second list? It appears that the last four flowers are somehow different from the others. You understand this instantly. And you understand it without even being conscious of it. You know the last four flowers are somehow different because they are physically separated from the rest of the list. 🚀 Takeaway Rarely is only one rule the only answer to a page. The other three rules are intrinsic to the design process and you will usually find yourself using all four. But take them one at a time. It’s a good idea to start with proximity first and then go from there. C ontrast: If elements on your page (such as type, color, size, shape and so on) aren’t identical, let them differ extremely from each other. R epetition: repeat some aspect of the design throughout the entire piece, such as bold font, a thick rule (line), a certain bullet, design element, color, format or spatial relationships. A lignment: every element should have a visual connection with another element on the page. P roximity: items on your page that belong together or have a connection in one way or another, should always be close to each other. I hope these 4 rules serve you as well as they do me. Apply them to your layout design and watch how it improves them! 💩

Reading time 4 min

Stijn Schutyser

I recently completed an internship at ACA for my applied informatics studies at university college PXL . In this blog post, I’d like to share my experience and some things I learned during my internship at ACA! 1. Perseverance During my first month I learned to persevere. I spent most of my time alone and scouring the web, researching for the ‘research’ part of the internship. This month was the least fun and interesting month of the internship, but it was sadly required by the school I was attending. Luckily, the COIN team at ACA got to decide the topic of my research. Their chosen topic was not only fun to research, but was something they actually needed to know and cared about. A client needed to know their best options for choosing a cloud-based solution for storing property-related files. Security, speed and implementation of the solutions were the main topics of my research. When I finished my research, I got the opportunity to present and explain my findings to the team. The client was also eager to learn about my findings, so I got to attend an online meeting where my research was presented. Seeing my research actually being used and quoted was definitely exciting and a new experience. I am glad I persevered and achieved a great result! 2. Teamspirit and teamwork At the start of the second month I had finished my research and joined the COIN team in their adventure to develop Woningpas , a digital passport for residences in Flanders. The team welcomed me with open arms! What struck me was the high spirits of every team member. People always were in a great mood and communication flowed without difficulties. Every morning, we held a scrum meeting. After the scrum meeting, we competed in a foosball game. This made the mornings more fun, relaxed and a little less serious. During the rest of the day everyone worked at their desks completing their tickets. This didn’t mean that there was no interaction with your colleagues, on the contrary. If anyone had a question or request, they could expect an immediate answer or help. If I got stuck with an issue, I could ask anyone on the project and they would jump to my aid. They would help me understand the issue and pair with me until the issue was resolved. I learned that teamwork was the most important cog in the work process of a large project. Because of the raised morale and great teamwork, our work got completed faster and the quality of the end product was noticeably better. 3. Becoming a better developer overall My main job during the internship was, of course, developing. I learned the basic principles of coding in school, but I never really learned how to be a good developer . During my first week with the COIN team, I noticed my skills were not up to par with the rest of the team. Project structure and code structure were the first things where I noticed a major difference. In large projects, these are the most important parts that make sure the project remains readable and manageable. Writing good tests and testing every possible code path was the second thing I learned. I have written tests before, but not to this extent. Testing is crucial, because it makes code changes easier to implement and removes the hassle of unnecessary debugging. That brings me to the third thing I learned that made me a better developer: debugging. Debugging is a vital skill you need to master quickly if you want to write better software. Finding your (or others’) mistakes quickly can shave a lot of time off of your developing cycle and save you and your team a lot of frustration. What's next? During the internship I got the opportunity to start my developing career at ACA. There was not a moment of doubt, especially after working here for a few months, that I wanted to stay at ACA. The only problem was that I had other plans for after my graduation. After my graduation, when you’d normally start working, I was leaving for a year long adventure exploring Asia. When telling ACA about this, they offered a simple solution: why not start when you get back? This meant that I had job security and no worries when travelling for an entire year. After hearing this solution my decision was made and I knew I would start my career at ACA!

Reading time 7 min

Stijn Schutyser

All of us write every day: emails, texts, notes, presentations, … But few of us have really mastered the art of writing. In this blog post, I’d like to walk you through 5 golden rules for effective copywriting that will have the most profound impact on your copy if you don’t follow them yet. 1. Write for the customer, not for you Your copy should always focus on the reader or customer. That means 3 things: speaking the customer’s language, addressing them properly, and focusing on benefits for them (not for you!). Speaking your customer's language If you’re trying to persuade people to do or buy something, you should use the language they use and think in. Speaking in their language helps prospects get to know, like, and trust you because they recognize themselves in your words. That helps you connect and build relationships with them , which in the end makes it easier to convert them. If you haven’t already done it, go back to your texts and make sure everything sounds the way your customers think. Put yourself in their shoes and understand their problems, struggles and worries. Not only will your copy get better for the exercise, but getting out of your own way like this can jumpstart new ideas and illuminate what should come next. Focus on benefits Virtually all successful copy discusses benefits, not features. You talk about what your product does , not what it is . And whatever your product does , should always benefit the customer – why else would they buy it? Putting one or more benefits in your headlines is a good practice, too. Does your product or solution help your customer make the right choice, save time or money? Tell ‘em! Plus, focusing on benefits is a relatively easy fix if your current copy isn’t doing so well. Again, go back to some of your earlier texts and make sure every feature you mention leads to a benefit. Evaluate your copy’s ratio of talking to the customer vs. talking about yourself Effective copywriting (and by extension, content marketing) always starts with the customer. No one reads copy that only talks about your company. Try to use “you” at least twice as often as “we”, “I” or your brand name. Through this simple trick, you’ll naturally focus more on your customer’s needs and desires. Your copy will be stronger, leading to more traffic, leads, and hopefully sales. If you need some more help, Copyblogger has an article about a simple 1-2-3-4 framework that you can use to help you focus on the customer and incorporate the most important persuasion fundamentals. 2. Always include one or more strong call-to-actions The goal when creating content for content marketing purposes is clear: at the end of the day, you want people to do something, whether that’s downloading a whitepaper, signing up for a webinar or newsletter or simply clicking a link. However, if you provide no direction on what the reader should do after they read your copy, they’ll do nothing (even if your copy is 🔥). Everything you write, from blog posts to emails to social updates to landing pages, should close with a call to action (CTA). To get the most out of your CTAs, make sure they: match the buyer persona and stage of the buying cycle. For example, just from reading a blog post, it’s not very likely that you’ll instantly convert someone to a customer. They’re much more likely to for example sign up to your newsletter if you offer enough valuable and interesting content, though. offer something of value without asking too much from the prospect . If you ask prospects to fill in their name, company, role, phone number and email address just to download a simple template, chances are not many people will actually do it. Just their name and email address are fine for something like that. If you’re offering a 100-page ebook, it’s a different story. As they say in Dutch: voor wat, hoort wat. offer prospects something they actually want. This is related to the first point I made about writing for the customer, not for yourself. Find out what their needs and wants are and then address these appropriately with (part of) a solution. Few people will download a whitepaper about outdated technology or “solutions” that don’t address any real problems. reiterate your most important benefit or emotional driver. Your CTA should be direct enough with strong verbs such as “sign up”, “download”, “get”, “enjoy”, “try”, or “start” and should always tell prospects exactly what to do. Avoid weak verbs and CTAs that are not specific enough to inspire action, like “Click here”. 3. Keep it simple, clean and concise After writing your first draft of text, it helps to read it out loud to find things that are unnecessary or unclear. Cut unnecessary words and consolidate ideas as you edit. Include bullet points and subtitles to make it easy to read and, more importantly, easy to scan. Almost every reader will first scan the content for interesting headers before they decide whether or not they’ll read all the content in more detail. I’ve already written a blog post about making web content as scannable as possible, which you can check out here . Another tip to keep your text as short and concise as possible is to use the active voice as much as possible . It’s okay to use the passive voice once in a while, but it should never be used in over 20% of your sentences. Additionally, short sentences are generally better than long ones , so if you can chop a sentence up into 2: do it! To see if your text is really clear enough, it’s always a good idea to have someone else read it to see if they understand the message and if they think the CTA fits the post. 4. Do your research thoroughly The best copywriters are the most tenacious researchers. They dig and drill deeper beneath the usual surface and chip away until they find a goldmine of interesting and valuable information. Everybody recognizes the value of interesting information, but few people can actually find that information, let alone convey it in a concise and simple way. So dig deeper, get beyond the ‘big blogs’ everyone in your topic reads and go to the rare, obscure resources, especially if they’re chewy and difficult for the average reader. It’s better to go in-depth about a certain topic and provide tons of info in a clear way, than not enough info. You can never drill deep enough! It’s better to say a lot about one thing, than not much about lots of things. Plus, there’s a bonus: during compulsive research, you usually come up with more ideas for new content. Combine that with your endless creativity and enough time to think and voilà: your next big idea is born! 5. A strong headline is half the battle Think about how many people will read your title compared to the people that will read the entire body copy. Safe to assume that the former will be tons more than the latter, right? It should then come as no surprise that you should invest quality time in an attention-getting message. Your headline should always include a customer benefit and something catchy that makes people want to read on. A good way to approach this is to write as many headlines as you can, and then write some more. It’s hard, but once you’re out of creativity, you start thinking outside the box, which might lead to that one killer headline. Try it! I promise it gets easier after a while. That said, you should try to avoid titles that are too obviously clickbait. The general public has become so desensitized to these types of titles that they actually steer people away from your posts, instead of attracting them. That’s why many publishers have veered away from the weary, sensationalist headlines we were all subjected to a couple of years ago; articles with the “one weird trick” to do something, or promises that “we won’t believe what happened next.” 🚀 Takeaway If you follow the ‘golden rules for effective copywriting’ above, your copy should be a piece that is valuable to the reader, easy to read and understand (those are two different things!), and compelling for the reader to ‘do’ something (CTA). One more thing that I really want you to keep in mind, is that writing good copy is NOT easy. You’ll probably get frustrated at some point, try again and again and again and get demotivated. That’s okay: it’s part of the process of becoming a better writer. Persevere, and you will improve.

Reading time 5 min

Stijn Schutyser

It is becoming increasingly popular for businesses to have remote employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in lots of people working from home. This has led to permanent changes in many business processes. The work from home transition has meant both employers and staff are reaping the benefits of remote work. In fact, 99% of workers want to continue telecommuting in the future. Working from home allows businesses to save money on overheads and staff are able to better organize their day, without spending so much time commuting. Although there are several advantages to remote work, it’s still important to maintain a healthy work/life balance. For many people, working from home may mean an increase in distractions. It can be challenging to work to the same routine as in the office. It’s also vital to ensure you have a comfortable, ergonomic workstation and that you get enough breaks. This will prevent possible health problems and enable you to keep your mental wellbeing in check. Here are a few quick tips on how to maintain a healthy work/life balance as a remote employee. Create a dedicated workspace If you’re working from home , it’s essential to set up the right environment. By creating a space at home dedicated to work it will be easier for you to get in the right mindset and keep productivity high. Associating this space with work helps to achieve self-discipline. Remote work has its benefits, and many people feel more comfortable working in their own space. However, it can be difficult to find ways of separating your free-time areas and your work area. If you have a spare room, it is recommended that you dedicate this to a home office. Otherwise, find an area with good lighting, and enough room for your desk and turn that into your workspace. Items such as room dividers can be excellent options for creating a private workspace if you don’t have a spare room. It is also important to ensure that you have the correct equipment, such as a comfortable and supportive chair, a good desk and a laptop. Your employer will generally provide these items for you if you require them. Set a schedule… and stick to it Setting a schedule is an essential part of creating a healthy work/life balance when working remotely. But you need to make sure that you stick to it. Remote work does promote flexibility, but it’s advisable to set regular start and finish times. This will encourage you to stay on schedule. 33% of telecommuters say having set hours is the most effective way to stay productive. If you worked 9-5 in the office, continue doing this at home. Try to stick to this routine and you’ll be able to maintain productivity and keep your energy levels high. Otherwise you could end up becoming lazy, then stressing yourself out trying to meet deadlines later. Set boundaries on communication tools Thanks to advances in communication tools, even if you work remotely you can still easily stay in touch with your team and clients. Cloud-based software such as Slack and G-Suite allow you to communicate and share information in real time. Whilst it is helpful to have the ability to communicate with everyone easily, it is advisable to maintain a balance by setting boundaries. Most of these tools will have settings to indicate when you are working and not working. This means you’ll only receive messages and notifications when you’re available rather than during your time off. You can let your co-workers know when you are free for meetings and calls. In order to maintain a good balance, it is important to have limits. Your time off is time for you, so use communication tools to let your co-workers know when you’re not available. Take breaks Ensure you take regular short breaks throughout the working day. A good way of doing this is by scheduling your breaks between tasks to stay on top of your to-do list. If you’re planning on squeezing in that extra coffee early on, resist so you can take a proper break according to your plan. Taking breaks is vital in order to regain productivity . By disconnecting for a short while, you’ll give your mind a break and return to work more energized. You should spend time away from the workspace or even get outside if possible. If you want to maintain a healthy work/life balance, you need to remember self-care. Eat a substantial lunch and get plenty of exercise and fresh air. Your rest time is important as well. ‘Go home’ on time The biggest problem for 22% of remote workers is unplugging after work. This is because it’s difficult to disconnect, especially if your workstation and equipment are accessible at all times. A good way to combat this feeling is by sticking to your working hours and finishing at the dedicated time. Try to create a ‘going home’ feeling when you walk away from your desk at the end of the day. It might also help to tidy up your workstation and switch everything off as soon as you finish, treat it as though you would in the office. As tempting as it is to keep checking emails, this is not the healthiest option. Try to ensure you are as productive as possible during your working hours so you can completely switch off after work. You wouldn’t work late in the office every day, so why should you at home? Make use of your time off One of the most important tips for staying positive and keeping a healthy work/life balance is by making use of your time off. It is important to remember that regardless of whether you are working in the office, or from home, your time off is yours to use as you please. It is important to note that working remotely can get lonely and make you feel isolated. So make sure you don’t neglect your social life and try to spend time with friends and family over the weekends. Remote work does have its benefits, but it does mean you are spending a lot more time in your house. Try to get out over the weekends, as a change of scenery can be incredibly good for your emotional wellbeing. Conclusion It can take time to adjust to remote work, but you’ll eventually get into the swing of things. Everybody has their own preferences on what makes remote work more comfortable, but it’s important to always maintain a healthy work/life balance. If you stay organized, take regular breaks, and stick to a routine, you’re more likely to achieve maximum productivity. You’ll get more done during the working day and have plenty of time for yourself afterwards.

Reading time 6 min

Stijn Schutyser

Artificial intelligence (AI) is typically defined as the ability of a machine to perform cognitive functions we associate with human minds . Functions such as perceiving, reasoning, learning and problem solving. In specific cases, AI machines do a far better job at those things than we do. AI is not one technology. It’s a toolbox of different technologies with the potential to outperform or augment human performance, especially in complex repetitive tasks that require connecting vasts amounts of data points. Every technology in AI’s toolbox is a building block capable of doing one specific task very well and ad infinitum, without ever complaining. To be able to employ this formidable power, you’ll need two things: a lot of data and a mathematical model that you need to train . Simply put, that mathematical model is a formula that generates output from the data you feed it. But just any data isn’t enough. Only when your data is visible, adequate, and complemented with external data and representative for your demographic, can you really profit from AI’s huge potential. We’ve written a blog post about this earlier, click here to read ‘ Is your data ready for Artificial Intelligence? ’. No, we’re not helping the robots enslave humanity Okay, so structured data and a mathematical model are all we need to give people superpowers. But… what about creating supervillains? Robot overlords enslaving all of humanity in the not-so-distant future is a concern that’s often portrayed in popular culture. Think for example of 2001: A Space Odyssey ’s HAL 9000, Terminator’s Skynet and the androids from I, Robot . And it’s not just popular culture: well-known scientists such as Stephen Hawking have already warned us of the dangers that advanced AI might pose . So, that’s it then. We have a few good years left before AI takes over the world and enslaves us all. Right? Well, not really. Even though popular culture and science (-fiction) is rife with examples, AI advanced enough to rule the world is still a long way off. Besides, that’s not what we’re focusing on here at ACA. At least, not right now… 😉 Instead of artificial intelligence, which intends to replace humans, we chose to focus on augmented intelligence . Augmented intelligence is the use of technology to supplement and support human intelligence, with humans remaining at the center of the decision making process . Basically, augmented intelligence allows us to give people superpowers : predicting the future, optimizing processes in ways that weren’t possible before, helping us to make decisions and so much more. What use is there for AI then? Artificial intelligence impacts businesses in 4 benefit domains : engaging your customers, e.g. by shorting conversation cycles through chatbots; enabling your employees, e.g. by automating repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus more on creativity or difficult to automate tasks; transforming your products and services, e.g. through providing added value with new services; optimizing your operations, e.g. by reducing costs through prediction and deep insights. Companies today use AI mainly for the 5 business cases listed below. For clarity’s sake I’ve added a tangible example for each business case, based on a service most of us are familiar with: Google Maps. Predicting: anticipating events and their outcomes. For example: Google Maps will predict how long your commute to work will be for your chosen means of transport. Through a predictive model, we were able to reduce the inventory carrying cost of one of our clients by almost 75%. You can read more about how exactly in this blog post . Automating: handling tasks without human intervention. For example: Google Maps asking you if you want to navigate home as soon as it notices you’re driving away from work, after it previously figured out which location is work and which one is home. Insights: identifying and understanding patterns and trends. In this case, Google Maps provides insights to its users (e.g. notifying them of traffic jams), but also to advertisers: how long people commute, when they work from home, and so on. Personalizing: tailoring content and user-experiences to specific users and providing them with recommendations based on their profile. This should sound familiar to anyone using Netflix’s ‘Recommended for you’ or Spotify’s ‘Discover weekly’ feature. Google Maps does this as well, for example providing you with tailored points of interest along your route. Prescribing: complex decision-making based on numerous factors. For example: Google Maps will tell you to take the next exit on the highway to reach your destination while avoiding the traffic jam ahead. Why should I care about AI in my business? Remember when we used actual film rolls in our cameras to take pictures? In the early 2000s, Kodak was still a well-known and lucrative company. However, by failing to truly embrace the opportunities that the shift to digital photography brought along , it was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2012 with a debt of 6.8 billion US dollars. It doesn’t matter if you call it digital disruption, digital transformation or digital revolution: the fact is that businesses that don’t go digital now may not survive ( Cisco 2015 ). And even if you are still in business, investing in digital is understood in an effort to catch up. Everyone realizes the power of going digital now. But many people are yet to realize the power of artificial intelligence. It’s not that Kodak didn’t do anything with digital photography – they even invented it – but they didn’t capitalize on its potential to change the industry. Just like the digital transformation before it, AI will change industries. AI will alter the relationship between businesses and technology, reduce the burden on skilled labor and ease the decision-making processes of management while revolutionizing business models ( Observer 2016 ). You don’t want to make the same mistake as Kodak when it comes to AI. You have to stop looking at tech itself, and start looking at its impact. You can bet your competitors will. The simulated statistics above show why it’s important for you to start adopting AI now (see front-runner breakdown). The sooner you do, the more revenue you’ll get in the long run. Yes, adopting AI will take a lot of resources, however the profits far outweigh the investments. Don’t delay: act today and enjoy your strong competitive advantage tomorrow. If you act tomorrow, your competitive edge will be largely gone and if you don’t act tomorrow, you’ll end up with a hopeless competitive handicap (see laggard breakdown). When it comes to AI, it’s do-or-die. But I don’t even know how to start with AI! There are indeed a few obstacles to overcome when it comes to incorporating AI into your business: there might not be a clear strategy for AI in your business, it's difficult to find people with the appropriate skill set for AI work, functional silos still constrain end-to-end solutions (e.g. different departments all working according to their own processes without sharing information), your organization might lack the technological infrastructure to support AI, and there might be a lack of available data (i.e. collected and structured) data. This is where we can help you. You need to get on the AI train, but don’t jump the AI wagon blindly. It’s never nice to start with something and then discover you skipped a few essential steps later on. That’s why we propose a step-by-step approach with 3 essential steps to transform your business into an AI-driven organization. First, you'll need to have leadership with the ability to lead an AI transformation from top to bottom. You can do this by articulating a vision, setting goals and securing broad buy-in across your organization. Identify which problems you want to solve and which opportunities to pursue. Manage your data. Capture, store, structure label, and govern your data to build the foundation and infrastructure to work with AI technologies. Obtain and deploy specialized data science, data engineering, data architecture and data visualization skills by relentlessly training employees or attracting new talent, preferable ahead of the curve. You don’t have to do this alone. We can help you bridge the gap and get started with a workshop in which we demystify AI and have an interactive session around 1 to 3 specific pains, with the goal to check whether: you need AI to solve that pain, your organization is ready for an AI solution. Contact us for personalized advice and let’s get you your superpower.

Reading time 3 min

Stijn Schutyser

That’s how long the average recruitment specialist takes to decide whether you are suited for a vacancy. In those 6 seconds, that recruitment specialist is only able to look at your resume and briefly scan it. So in order to grab their attention, your resume should be as scannable as possible . With these 3 tips, you are sure to increase your chances to get the job you apply for! 1. Try a functionally written resume Most resumes are written chronologically, which is easy for recruiters and feels familiar to them. A disadvantage, however, is that your cv (curriculum vitae) might look a bit poor if you don’t have all that much work experience. The same goes for your academic past. It’ll stand out rather negatively in a chronologically written cv if you’ve started a few different majors or tried a few fields of study, but never actually completed most of those. If this is the case, you might want to opt for a functionally written resume. A functionally written resume does not start with a chronological list of years, but with your skills and know-how. The best way to write this type of resume, is to first analyze the vacancy you’re applying for. Then sort your cv in such a way that the skills your potential employer is asking for are clearly visible at the top. Don’t forget to mention any education, experience or interest per skill. Bonus: a functionally written resume is less common and stands out more than a chronologically written one. If you do decide to use a chronologically written resume, try to make it as scannable as possible. The most important and relevant information should be visible first. Mention your highest degree of education and your most recent work experience therefore first. 2. Add a picture Most recruiters will tell you it doesn’t matter whether or not there’s a picture on someone’s resume. There are even recruiters that say that a picture distracts from relevant information on the resume. However, research proves that solicitors with an attractive profile picture are almost 40% more likely to be invited for an interview. So why not make it easier for them and include a professional picture of yourself on your cv? If you do, eye tracking research shows they spend a whopping 19 percent of the time spent on your resume looking at it (see page 5 of this report ). However, the research doesn’t show exactly how much more time recruiters spend on resumes with a picture. 3. Include links to social media profiles 93% of recruiters checks potential candidates online. So why not get ahead of them and list your most used social media channels yourself? Linking to your social media can show a recruiter that you use those to share information about your field, that you are confident about your online profile and possess enough digital skills. Make sure the data of your LinkedIn or Twitter profile matches the data on your cv. However, it goes without saying that if you only tweet funny links or post comments about a tv show you’re watching, you’re better off not sharing your social media profiles. Takeaway Write a functional resume if you don’t have a lot of work experience yet. Put your relevant skills, education, experience or interests at the top of the resume. Add a professional picture. Include links to your social media profiles if they are fitting and appropriate for your resume and field of work. Bonus tip: avoid these 3 mistakes Don’t include references or personal goals in your resume. If an employer is interested, they’ll ask for it. Avoid cliché words! In 2014, these were the 10 most used words to describe yourself in a resume: creative, strategic, enthusiastic, driven, ambitious, motivated, proactive, passionated, exceptional and inventive. Weirdly, ‘responsible’ wasn’t one of them. Don’t mention your political or religious preferences, or the reason why you quit your previous employer.

Reading time 5 min

Stijn Schutyser

In this blog post, we’ll teach you 4 strategies to set the fees that feel right for you . 1. Track your time Setting a correct fee begins with tracking the time you spent on certain tasks. That also means that you’ll need to track your time task by task . It doesn’t really matter how you track your time, be it pencil-to-paper or using a digital tool, but in this day and age most people – and clients – prefer a digital system. In some cases you might even be able to log your work using your client’s system. In other cases there are tons of (free) online tools you can use to track your time. Toggl is a great one, for example (and their comics are freaking hilarious ). At ACA IT-Solutions, we use Tempo Timesheets for JIRA. But there’s tons of others to choose from! In order to pick the right one for you, ask yourself this: Am I working alone or with a team of people whose time I also need to track? Do I need to track time worked offline? Will I forget I have a timer running? Does the time tracking app have idle detection or a running timer visible no matter what I’m doing? Do I need thorough invoicing and expense-tracking tools included? Will I use a separate invoicing system, and if so, which time-tracking apps integrate with it? Can I get by with a free time-tracking tool or do I need to pay for a more thorough feature set, and if so, what’s my budget? Answer these questions for yourself and go through or try out some time tracking apps to see whether they really suit you. 2. Know your pricing Knowing your pricing includes avoiding feast or famine pricing and knowing your rock bottom . You should find the zone that reflects your value, but leaves room to negotiate. This means you’ll need to do some market research, get a sense of job scope and, if possible, budget from the client before you crunch numbers. Your market research should involve learning the benchmark for rates in your particular industry. Check industry discussion boards and professional networking sites where people swap stories, strategies, magazines and books or ask a professional you trust. Also find out your lowest number — the price you won’t go below, no matter how great the gig is. Knowing your pricing is not just important for your business, it also avoids a lot of frustration. Going too low or too high with your prices causes stress and costs time. Undercharging can lead to a feeling of being taken advantage of, while asking too much can lead to a loss of potential clients. 3. Communicate your value If you’ve done your market research properly, you know how much you can charge for your services. But your clients may not. It’s okay to educate a client about what you’re worth. In fact, calculating and communicating your value to your clients is part of your job . It’s not their job to know exactly what you do and what you ask for it, as long as you offer a solution to their problem. So what’s the best way to communicate your value to your clients? Here are a couple of tips: Emphasize exactly what’s included in your pricing so people know exactly what to expect. This means you also may have to talk about things that are not included in your service. Explain to your clients where their money goes . You might relate to this yourself: how often have you gone shopping and wondered why something costs that much? A great way to build trust with your audience (and set yourself apart) is to tell them just that. Explain exactly where your buyers’ money goes and why you charge what you do. Online or in-person, this kind of transparency is rare and seeing this information readily available alongside your price tags lets your audience know that you’re not just out to turn a profit. Measure how satisfied your clients are with your level of communication and transparency . Do this when clients decide to take you on for the job, but also when they don’t . This may reveal some interesting information that you can use to your advantage in the future! You might feel you’re doing an excellent work of maintaining communication with your clients, but without direct input from your clients themselves, there might be a nasty surprise in store. 4. Prices don't have to be fixed Earlier in this blog, we discussed finding the “zone” that reflects your value. That means your prices shouldn’t always be exactly the same. Don’t fear fluctuation . In some industries, it’s pretty much “one price fits all” for a given task. But if there’s a price spectrum, why not quote ’em as you see ’em? Do you anticipate hours of meetings and revisions in your future? Perhaps there’s tons of overhead? Think of the cost to you of serving that client: you won’t have time for other projects and you’ll have to deal more with the less fun parts of your job. And if it’s your busy season or you’re cramming this gig onto an already full plate, that can be another reason to raise your prices. On the other hand, will this gig boost your career, add visibility, or give you a new skill? Do you believe in the project and want to help it happen? Do you need the work? All valid reasons to allow a (reasonable) discount. Takeaway 🚀 In this blog post, we’ve shortly discussed 4 strategies to help you set the right fee as a freelancer. The two most obvious ones are tracking your time and knowing the pricing zone that feels comfortable for you. Additionally, you should let others know what price you think you are worth and why. Communicating your value to your clients is essential. Don’t think of it as a way to justify your prices to them, but rather as a way to build trust. Finally, your prices shouldn’t be set in stone. Depending on the situation, it’s fair to raise or lower your prices by a bit. We hope this blog has helped you set the right fees for you! If you’re looking for a new gig, check out all the current opportunities on our website!

Reading time 12 min

Stijn Schutyser

Ever wondered why one website is easy to use whereas other sites only bring frustrations? Why you are happy to use that one particular app on a day-to-day basis and you would rather ignore other apps as much as possible? The thing is that, in most cases, the people that designed those practical and widely used products took the user’s needs and requirements to heart. As you will have noticed, far too often, a lot of websites and apps continue to sin against the basic rule of listening out to users’ needs. Which is why this practical guide is intended to help you avoid these frequently encountered mistakes in product design. Every smartphone user knows that their phone slows down or may even freeze if they use too many apps all at the same time. Actually, this is pretty much the same thing that happens in the human brain. Our brains constantly use RAM memory at all times of the day, whether consciously or unconsciously. And this working memory has its limits. It'll start slowing down if it: needs to learn too many new things is overstretched by constantly having to juggle multiple tasks is asked to concentrate for too long is required to activate the memory too often is called upon to make too many decisions in a short space of time is expected to deal with frustration and confusion Unlike computers, humans do not take extra working memory. Which is why our job as UX and UI designers is precisely to relieve users’ working memory. We can do this by showing the shortest and easiest route towards the desired result. In this respect, it's essential that we show information and features as simply and as methodically structured as we can make them. Go for K.I.S.S. - Keep It Simple Stupid! So how do you strike the right balance? This blog sets out five practical tips to instill simplicity into your designs and ways to make user-friendly choices to benefit the users. Definitely worth a read! Don’t make me think Suppose you land on a website’s home page, which looks as shown below. The information is neither particularly clear nor very structured. As a user, you then need to elbow your way through various pages and click multiple buttons. Moreover, you are also invited to create an account and to remember your password. Until suddenly… you’re logged out of your session. Wallop! Can you sense your frustration welling up? All of these barriers combined are a cause of considerable irritation, demand a great deal of concentration and place an unnecessary burden on your brain. What is worse, it stops you from achieving what you set out to do by visiting that website. Which is why it is vital that, as designers, we avoid cognitive thresholds in the interfaces we build, and ideally elsewhere across the entire customer journey. Steve Krug’s book “ Don`t make me think ” is a definite must-read on this topic. So, we now know that every extra element on the page raises the complexity of the interface as a whole and consequently has a negative effect on the way our brain works. Here are five ways to keep your designs simple and focused . 1. Make sure each page has a clear hierarchy People scan a web page by sight, reading that page in the reading direction they are most familiar with. Eyetracking research by NN Group shows that Z patterns or F patterns are very prevalent, especially among readers from the Western world who read from left to right. Users that adopt an F pattern first scan the page in a horizontal movement, usually starting across the top part of the page. They then go down the page a little and continue to read in a second horizontal movement. Finally, these users scan the left hand side of the content in a vertical movement. So make sure the main item you wish to draw the user’s attention to is the central point on the page. In the example seen below, the call-to-action button is the central stand-out point in the mail. Be aware that users will often not even bother reading the text but will directly click a button instead. So focus on the actual call-to-action! 2. Don't make me remember Do you know how many passwords you use online? Do you know all of these passwords by heart? If the answer is yes: congratulations, you could well be a super genius blessed with an incredible memory. Unless you are using the same password wherever you go, which is not exactly the safest way forward either. If your answer to these questions is ‘no’, you are like 99% of the population, and feel slightly panicky whenever you’re asked to enter your login details. Remembering passwords is an everyday battle for many users of the modern web. Tackle the root cause of the problem and stop users from getting frustrated when they are asked to perform actions for which they need to call on their memory. Which is why automating the login process is a must to deliver a positive user experience. One way of achieving this is by way of a login they often use, as with Google accounts. You can also allow a different integration so the user is able to manage their passwords (e.g. LastPass). In e-commerce, you can enable users to check out as guests. This is every bit as much a commercial decision, and one that makes sure users are able to swiftly and easily check out and pay for their shopping basket. 3. Speak the user's language This is an element that is often overlooked. Precisely because good copy is very clear and simple, it often does not get the attention it deserves. One example of confusing jargon is seen in the login process. How do users understand ‘logging in’, ‘signing in’ or ‘registering’? Give the words you use a great deal of consideration so the copy speaks for itself. And be consistent in using the same words throughout the entire interface. The thing that stands out in this example is the simple and straightforward copy. Difficult concepts are described using clear and comprehensible words to make sure every user understands. 4. Goals before options What is your favorite? Pasta, fries, pizza, meatballs in tomato sauce, beef stew...? A salad? Or would you say you have more of a sweet tooth? Struggling to choose? In that case, you're likely to suffer from choice overload. And you are not alone in that. When our brain is faced with too many choices, it is required to process too much information all at the same time, which is what gives us choice overload. The same applies in the digital realm. Showing all of the options on-screen at once stops people from continuing their visit. Too much on-screen information is overwhelming and may create a bottleneck. Our brain is limited in the amount of information it is able to process at the same time. So simplicity also means you do well to limit the number of steps or options the user is presented with on-screen. This enables the user to focus on the task he is performing right there and then. Rooted in psychology This idea is based on Hick’s Law . This psychological principle says that the amount of time needed to make a decision is based on the combination of the number of choices and the level of complexity. When the level of on-screen complexity increases, it also takes people longer to make a decision. If your user is forced to go through a complex process anyway, break up the process into logical steps or limit the number of options. This can be done by only showing certain parts of the process on-screen at the same time. Take checking out on an e-commerce website for example. Instead of presenting the entire process in a lengthy, complex form, break it down into logical steps. First ask users to register their e-mail address and create a password (or enable them to check out as a guest). The next screen could have the details of their shopping basket, followed by another screen that collects the delivery details, etc. Reducing the number of options on-screen makes the payment process more user-friendly, thereby increasing the likelihood that the user reaches the end of the process and pays for the items in his shopping basket. This is a good way of restricting abandonment behavior. Don't overdo it That being said, do not be too quick about scrapping certain options or steps either! It is important that no elements are left out that support the user’s primary purpose for visiting the site in the first place. In other words: always bear in mind functionality from the user’s perspective in limiting the number of choices he is asked to make. Google for instance focuses on one thing only, which is main thing the user is using the search engine for, and that is to run searches. Another thing that can be helpful is to test the interface with people who are more likely to come up against the limitations of their working memory, such as elderly people or people with ADHD. What we are saying is: try testing out your designs with your nan or grandad! And do not be too concerned about the number of times a user is asked to click a button. Users do not usually complain about the number of clicks. What they do get frustrated with is the length of time it takes to complete the task or to find the right item. And the thing that drives away users is pointless clicks. Do not count the clicks, make the clicks count! “Consumers want websites and apps that enable them to make smart choices.” The main thing to remember is that our job is to help users complete their actions swiftly and with ease. Part of that job is to get rid of the least appealing alternatives. Another thing that helps is to offer them different basic functions such as search, sort and filter. This makes it easy for users to find what they are looking for. Or go for a personalized approach and enable them to decide what is shown on-screen. 5. Create visual calm rather than overstuffing the screen White space is very often greatly underrated in interface design, in the same way as silence between musical notes. Yet white space is a powerful way of restricting the amount of visual input and keeping people on your page. Websites and apps often feature a great many different visual elements. These include words, blocks of text, lines, icons, images, etc. The space between these separate elements is what we call white space. The more white space between the elements, the more calm you instil in your interface and the less noise the user has to deal with on-screen. As a designer, this is something you can purposively use by making white space an essential part of your interface. In doing so, white space is no longer the empty canvas you are painting on, but becomes a key component of the painting . In spite of the name, white space does not need to be white. It can be any colour, texture or pattern. It could even be a background image. Unfortunately, white space can also create quite a few problems between designers and clients. The thing is, many clients consider white space as a waste of space, which they prefer to see filled with more on-screen information or extra features. Which is a pity, as white space is very much a great aid to instil a sense of balance between standalone elements, enabling you to create calm and focus on your screen. The reality is that, as people, we get frustrated when we are swamped with information. We are people, not machines. White space gives our mind a sense of calm and allows us to ‘breathe’. Let’s take an example we can all identify with by way of illustration. Few people ever read manuals for fun. Which makes it all the more crucial for the manual writers to hold DIYers’ attention! To do that, white space is the star of the show as it helps to bring out important visual elements. It helps to make sure that DIYers quickly and clearly know what they need to get started. Rather than calling a helpline, DIYers are enabled to resolve their problem by themselves. The Customer Service will thank you for it ;-) Not a lot of whitespace and little focus More whitespace and better focus H ere too, it is important to strike t he right balance: do not scrap elements that are conducive to achieving the user’s main aim. You want to give DIYers just the right amount of information to enable them to put together that cabinet, without feeling discouraged by the amount of information. It’s all about experimenting! Conclusion All of which goes to show that simplicity and focus are paramount when it comes to designing an interface. All elements, functionalities, texts and options need to come in support of the users’ main aim and should ideally be shown to users on a step by step basis. Many designers struggle to translate all functionalities and requirements into a simple and straightforward design. Designers will always need to work hard to deliver a straightforward interface, so users know exactly what they are supposed to do, do not feel tired out after visiting the website or leave the website (prematurely). Unfortunately, there is no standard recipe to address this. To a large degree it is the context that determines how a design works to best effect and the right ratio between minimalism and functionality. So do not be distracted by general best practices. Instead, properly trial run your flows to strike the right balance for your specific situation and target audience. Keen to find out how to run a proper test? Find out all about it in one of the next blog posts in this series (coming soon). In the next blog post, we will continue to focus on a number of important basic features such as the search engine, microcopy and navigation. Stay tuned! This blog is the second of a series of five blog posts that provide designers with first-hand tips and tools to get the user-friendliness of their digital designs just right. Read all articles in this blog series: Tip 1: Fill your backpack with theory Tip 2: Instill focus and simplicity in interfaces (coming soon) Tip 3: Be aware of the importance of the most common interface elements (coming soon) Tip 4: Design interfaces for all users (coming soon) Tip 5: Gain a better understanding of your users by involving them (coming soon) {% module_block module "widget_7d968885-d535-43e3-9629-cae31c958f55" %}{% module_attribute "buttons" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}[{"appearance":{"link_color":"light","primary_color":"primary","secondary_color":"primary","tertiary_color":"light","tertiary_icon_accent_color":"dark","tertiary_text_color":"dark","variant":"primary"},"content":{"arrow":"right","icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"tertiary_icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"text":"Connect with us"},"target":{"link":{"no_follow":false,"open_in_new_tab":false,"rel":"","sponsored":false,"url":{"content_id":230950468795,"href":"https://25145356.hs-sites-eu1.com/en/contact","href_with_scheme":null,"type":"CONTENT"},"user_generated_content":false}},"type":"normal"}]{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "child_css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "definition_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "field_types" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{"buttons":"group","styles":"group"}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "isJsModule" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}true{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "label" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "module_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}201493994716{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "path" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"@projects/aca-group-project/aca-group-app/components/modules/ButtonGroup"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "schema_version" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}2{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_objects" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"NOT_SMART"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "wrap_field_tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"div"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% end_module_block %}

Reading time 6 min

Stijn Schutyser

In this blog post, I’m going to share some of my experiences as a junior Java developer. What a working day looks like, some useful things you should know and finally I leave you with some advice that will hopefully help you achieve a personal goal or two. Exercise made me a better developer The odds of a person studying computer science and them being a gamer is pretty substantial. In my experience, one of the biggest reasons someone devotes their life to the magnificent world of software development is that they are or were once a fanatical gamer. I have a long history with playing video games and I can tell you right now: they won’t help you become a better developer. I do want to acknowledge that they can help to improve your proficiency of using computers in general. Games are an amazingly effective tool to release a quick rush of dopamine and get you addicted to spending many hours a day playing them. But when it comes to school, they wasted a lot of my study time, distracted me from learning efficiently and eventually made other things in life feel bland. “But Kiryl, watching TV or Netflix is the same as playing games!” Yes, and those are also a less than optimal way of spending my time. Instead, one of the most obvious things I can recommend is exercising. It improves your health, energy levels and your overall mental state . Hit the gym, go play soccer with friends, join a sports club (Ultimate Frisbee is fun), go for a walk or try something new! The most important part is to actually enjoy being away from your computer. If you implement exercise into your lifestyle by making it part of your daily/weekly routine, you will quickly start noticing the many benefits of being physically active. I even would go as far as saying that exercise helped me become a better developer! Do you need a university degree to become a Java developer? I’ve been working for a couple of months now and had the chance to ask my experienced colleagues their opinion. I asked them: “Would having a master degree help me do my current job better?”. We had a great discussion with a lot of viewpoints, but there was one thing we could all agree on: you can gain more hands-on experience while working on the job than spending 2 or more years behind your books. Personally I chose to go with a bachelor’s degree at a college ( Hogeschool PXL ) and it’s one of the best decisions I have ever made. Why? In college, I could focus on the applied side of software . How to write readable code, performant and enterprise-focused software, how to use the various tools to manage these big projects, … I practiced my soft skills by giving presentations, working on many group projects, collaborating with real businesses, and more. And all these things improved the necessary skills and knowledge that I need when working as a software developer. Personally, it was the right choice for me and it worked out really well. So do you really need a Master’s degree? I believe if you’re great at math, physics, algorithms, handling very large amounts of knowledge and you want to understand the complete theoretical side of how software works: go for it! But you definitely don’t need one to pursue a successful career in IT. Coding is easy to learn, hard to master As with many things in life, programming is a fun and relatively easy skill to get into, but becomes exponentially more difficult as you try to become an expert. You may be in your first, second or last year of completing your bachelor, and may think that you’re a good programmer already. But let me tell you: there is so much more left to learn. I’m looking at code for 30+ hours a week, and I still feel like a complete beginner sometimes. But while that may leave you a bit frustrated once in a while, it’s also great to experience an environment in which I can learn so much at such a fast rate. Like learning to drive a car, programming is a skill that takes time to develop (get it?). You can’t start studying it two days before your exam and expect to get a good grade. It’s a skill you have to practice every single day. If you want to learn more about practicing regularly, check out Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell . It should provide you with some insights about the 10.000 hour rule . What’s it like actually working as a Java developer? After completing your bachelor, the most straightforward path is to start working as a Java developer at a software consultancy or join the software division of a company. You’re going to learn like a madman, your skills will improve daily and in the meanwhile you’re getting paid to do something you enjoy. My daily routine as a junior Java developer at ACA IT-Solutions consists of doing stand-ups, meetings throughout the day about any issues or technical implementations, and the rest is spent coding . On my current project, we try to always code in pairs or mobs. This differs from project to project and team to team, but for creating complex software as we are doing, I believe it’s the best and fastest way to create clean and highly performant code. The main advantage of pairing is that you learn to code faster, since a more experienced developer teaches you their many tips and tricks. It’s so important to have someone explain why something is being implemented a certain way and actually letting you think out loud about the functionality of the software being written. Also, you’re going to learn your keyboard shortcuts. The running joke at the office is that we WILL take your computer mouse away if you don’t use the most common shortcuts. Another great benefit of working at a company like ACA is that it gives you the necessary tools to improve yourself . How? By having an on-the-job-coach, learning from senior developers, getting certifications, meeting new people and having a fun time with your colleagues. My takeaways Reading can exponentially increase your knowledge about complex topics like software architecture, object oriented programming, design patterns, and more. The perfect book to get started with is Robert Martin’s clean code . I also recommend bibliographies of entrepreneurs like Phil Knight , Bob Iger , Steve Jobs and Elon Musk . They are fun to read and there is an insane amount of life lessons contained in those books. And at the same time, it teaches you many things about history. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share it with a friend who may find this useful. Don’t hesitate to ask me a question or share your own experiences via kiryl.maltsav@aca-it.be or down in the comments below. import java . util . Scanner ; public class HelloWorld { public static void main ( String [ ] args ) { // Creates a reader instance which takes // input from standard input - keyboard Scanner reader = new Scanner ( System . in ) ; System . out . print ( "Enter a number: 2 " ) ; // nextInt() reads the next integer from the keyboard int number = reader . nextInt ( ) ; // println() prints the following line to the output screen System . out . println ( "You entered: " + number ) ; }

Reading time 10 min

Stijn Schutyser

At ACA, we have an enthusiastic and creative UX/UI team, internally known as Studio. To provide a behind-the-scenes look, Stijn Schutyser , UX designer within the team, shares his insights on how Studio operates, how they collaborate with other teams, and the impact of their projects. How our UX/UI team works at ACA You call it internally the "POD Studio," where does that name come from? To be honest, I have no idea. The pod had already been named before I became part of it, so if you want to know the real reason, it's best to ask Yildiray. I can imagine that it might have something to do with the fact that a studio often has to do with creativity. Think of a recording studio, a dance studio, and so on. It's a space where something is created with passion, creativity, and inspiration, and that fits well with what we do in our business unit. Editorial note: We asked Yildiray , our Senior UX/UI Designer, about this! It turns out that the POD used to be called ACT (ACA Creative Team). But then a former POD lead felt that the name didn’t fully reflect what they did, and he renamed it to Studio. Why exactly? Well, that still remains a mystery. How big is your UX/UI team and how is it composed? The Studio team currently has 6 full-time members, one part-time freelancer, and 2 interns. The majority of the team consists of UX/UI designers, but we also have Product Managers, Service Designers, Digital Strategists, and Front-end Developers. Most of our team members combine several of these roles within the team. How does your team work with the other pods, such as development and strategy? Close collaboration with the development teams is crucial for the success of a project. Therefore, we always align our designs internally first to check the technical feasibility. We also make sure that our design systems are as easy as possible to develop, with clear documentation or a playground where developers can experiment with how design components work. For projects with a strategic angle, we, of course, prefer to be in the driver's seat to define new business opportunities and value streams for our clients. What methods and tools do you use most in your UX/UI processes? For a UX/UI designer, Figma is an indispensable tool and the industry standard for designing digital experiences. We also use some tools from the Adobe Suite, such as Illustrator or Photoshop. For Front-End Development, we use Brackets, IntelliJ, or another IDE. Slack, Confluence, and Jira are also tools we use daily. What does your role involve within the UX/UI team? Within the Studio team, I am mainly responsible for delivering beautiful and intuitive screens for both mobile and desktop use. This delivery is the final step in the process. To get there, I first speak with clients to understand their business context, make sketches to quickly visualize an idea, create user journeys, draw wireframes, and link them together into clickable prototypes. Occasionally, I also work with code myself, but that is limited to web development. Lastly, I contribute by guiding interns and occasionally speaking at UX/UI meetings. A day in the life of... What does a typical workday look like for you? On most days, I start working between 8 and 9 a.m., but the content of the day can vary a lot. Some days, I focus on one project and end the day with several new wireframes or components in my design system. On other days, the day mainly consists of meetings to gather feedback or brainstorm new ideas, or holding workshops at the client’s office. What is a skill or insight you've learned here that you didn’t expect? Hmm… I had to think about this one for a bit. 🙂 Thanks to the diversity of projects and people I’ve had the chance to work with, I’ve learned a lot about myself over the years. I’ve learned, for example, where my strengths lie and where I see room for growth, the importance of having the right person in the right role around you, and that I can turn stressful situations into opportunities to think creatively and find innovative solutions. I didn’t expect to encounter myself this often, but I’m happy that I have. It makes me a stronger, more experienced person who, in turn, can support others. What do you enjoy most about your role? I aim to give the client a “wow” feeling every time I present a design proposal for the first time. There’s nothing better than the feeling a client gives you when they say that your design is exactly what they wanted or even exceeds their expectations. I ride that feeling all day long! Projects Which projects and/or clients has the Studio team worked on so far? There have been many of them by now 😉 A few of our latest projects include: Ecofix: As a startup, Ecofix needed a partner to help shape their brand identity, design a seamless digital experience, and build a complete digital platform, app, and website, all in a very lean way. Be sure to check them out ! EBTS: EBTS is available 24/7 across Europe to ensure that commercial vehicles can quickly get back on the road after breakdowns. To further improve efficiency, we gave their customer portal a complete makeover with improved ease of use and a renewed user interface. Vias: Vias is an independent knowledge institute aimed at improving road safety, mobility, security, and health. To achieve these goals and expand their reach, we identified several digital value streams for Vias and created an action plan to turn this strategic vision into exciting projects with real business value. We are currently working hard to further develop these projects. Which of these projects has been the coolest project you've ever worked on? I’m quite the car geek myself. For MobilityPlus, we worked on an app and platform for EV charging, managing charging stations, and much more. It was really fun to incorporate my passion for cars into the project. How do you work with clients who have little UX/UI experience? We love working with our clients in a co-creative setting. We actively involve them through workshops, brainstorming sessions, and iterative feedback rounds. By working together and asking for their input, we not only build a strong product, but also help the client understand the impact and importance of UX/UI. Using visual tools like wireframes and prototypes also helps us quickly make things tangible for everyone. How do you test a design before it goes live? There are several ways to test a design before developers start working on it. We often build an interactive prototype to be tested by both internal stakeholders and end users. This way, we can validate usability early on and address any issues. That prototype can also be combined with A/B testing, where we test different designs to measure which one yields the best results. In the past, we’ve also worked with a beta launch. This gives a limited group of users early access to the product, allowing us to gather real-world feedback and make improvements before the product goes fully live. Each method has its pros and cons, so we always make a well-considered choice based on time, budget, and other factors. Additionally, designs are checked within the team by fellow experts to ensure that we are following best practices for UX and UI. What are the growth opportunities within the UX/UI team here? If you want to continue focusing on the creative and analytical aspects of UX/UI, you can grow into a Senior or Expert UX/UI Designer role. If you prefer to broaden your horizon and contribute more strategically, there are paths to roles like Product or Service Designer. Finally, you can dive deeper into areas such as the psychology and data behind user experiences and grow into a UX Specialist. Is the role of a UX/UI designer changing due to technological innovations? If so, how? Of course! Without the innovation of graphical interfaces in the 1970s, the role of a UX/UI designer wouldn’t even exist. ;) The trend of technology changing the role continues: in the past, there was little or no focus on mobile design, whereas now, in a B2C context, it is often the primary focus. With the advent of AI, I think interfaces will become simpler because the system behind the scenes is becoming smarter, and the user will be shown fewer, but more targeted options. The focus of a UX/UI designer may shift towards understanding the user and their intentions even more, and less on the UI aspect. What is a recent UX trend that you are excited about? Technology is becoming increasingly all-encompassing. Our smartphones can do and know a lot more than they did five years ago. The next step is to integrate that technology more seamlessly into our daily lives. Apple, Meta, and other companies have been making strides in this direction with their mixed-reality glasses. I'm curious to see where technology will go in the coming years and what impact that will have. Another trend worth celebrating is that some car manufacturers have seen the light and given up the quest to cram all functionality into a touchscreen or use capacitive buttons. Three cheers for the return of real buttons! Which books, podcasts, or courses related to UX/UI design do you read/listen to and recommend for UX/UI professionals? I also attend the Meetups organized by UX Belgium in our region. But also the accessibility book and some other things I’ve read recently. Growth opportunities best team moments at ACA You’ve progressed in your career to become a UX/UI designer. What was the moment when you realized UX/UI is your true passion? I used to do both UX/UI work and tasks from my previous role, such as copywriting and content management. I noticed that I got more and more energy from the UX/UI work, and I preferred to put the other tasks on the back burner. It was then time for an honest conversation with myself and the pod leads, who fully encouraged me and ignited my passion. I’m still very grateful to them and ACA for their advice and support. Going back to writing felt like something I got less energy from than before. What’s the best team moment you’ve experienced at ACA? The hardest question in this interview! There have been a lot of great team moments over the years: celebrating successful project deliveries, team activities within the pod, spontaneous activities with colleagues like go-karting or billiards, and of course, the ACA weekends. If I had to pick a favorite moment, it would probably be one of the evenings when we go out with a big group during the ACA weekend. A beer in hand, good music, and cool people around you: I can't ask for more. Which small UX details do you think make a big difference? It’s often the small details that make a big difference. Personally, I love seeing smooth micro-animations, like the "bounce" effect at the end of a list on mobile or the jumping heart when you like a reel on Instagram. The most important thing, of course, is that you show you truly understand your user. I recently noticed that I hadn’t been receiving notifications from one of my Ring devices for a few days. When I checked the app, I saw the device was offline. My concern was immediately addressed with some microcopy: “Your device recently had a low battery. You may need to recharge it.” It was great that Ring immediately understood my situation! What is the best feedback you’ve ever received? I once had doubts about whether I should leave the marketing world and fully focus on UX/UI. Such a career switch brought some uncertainty. As a test, I did a mini-project for a client. After a few days working at the client's office, the Product Owner called me over to discuss a few things. He told me that everyone was extremely positive about my dedication and designs, with a prompt question of whether I would like to become their permanent designer. You can’t get better feedback than that! That mini-project eventually grew into a project where I worked for that client for six months. What’s the best advice you can give to an aspiring UX/UI designer? It’s easier said than done, but… step out of your comfort zone! The best designers keep asking questions, exploring new avenues, and challenging themselves (and their clients!). Occasionally work at your client's office to experience the company context and meet new people with different insights. You’ll learn a lot quickly. Want to join ACA and become part of our team? {% module_block module "widget_65b313c4-bb91-4ef7-8862-e2cc5335eac7" %}{% module_attribute "buttons" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}[{"appearance":{"link_color":"light","primary_color":"primary","secondary_color":"primary","tertiary_color":"light","tertiary_icon_accent_color":"dark","tertiary_text_color":"dark","variant":"primary"},"content":{"arrow":"right","icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"tertiary_icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"text":"Check out our jobs"},"target":{"link":{"no_follow":false,"open_in_new_tab":false,"rel":"","sponsored":false,"url":{"content_id":229291012283,"href":"https://25145356.hs-sites-eu1.com/nl/jobs","href_with_scheme":null,"type":"CONTENT"},"user_generated_content":false}},"type":"normal"}]{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "child_css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "definition_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "field_types" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{"buttons":"group","styles":"group"}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "isJsModule" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}true{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "label" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "module_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}201493994716{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "path" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"@projects/aca-group-project/aca-group-app/components/modules/ButtonGroup"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "schema_version" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}2{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_objects" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"NOT_SMART"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "wrap_field_tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"div"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% end_module_block %}

Reading time 4 min

Stijn Schutyser

Some differences: the labels Shop and Shop/Upgrade are not consistent, the blurred labels stand in a different place, like "Support" and "Account", "TV", "labels" and "Sign in" are sometimes labels and sometimes icons, the search function is missing in the top header, only the first header had a menu hamburger. You may recognize this situation: as your application grows, the diversity of elements grows with it. Buttons on different pages are slightly different or not exactly in the same place, icons don't all belong to the same set, newer forms don't follow the same structure as previous ones, there are different fonts or sizes for the same purpose, and so on. That's annoying and downright messy. It is worse when this inconsistency ensures that your application no longer works as expected according to your users because there is also too little consistency in the interaction patterns. This can lead to users using your application or part of it less and less or even stop working with it. The importance of consistency “Consistency” is an important metric that most companies underestimate. Consistency is a crucial part of any company with a digital platform or service. It not only ensures a user-friendly product, but also numerous other benefits including: a unified experience across different devices, correct implementation of branding, brand awareness and much more… We all recognize the importance of that consistency, but how can you ensure for now that you also guarantee this within your organization? What is a 'design system'? A design system is a central place where all components of a digital product or set of digital products are described . You can think of it as a kind of library in which different visual components are stored for use in your website, app or social media content. Color and typography are primary components in a design system, just like buttons, forms, footers, and other components. Design system 'Atomus' , available for free design system within Figma The advantages of a design system The use of a design system has 3 big advantages: it creates more cohesion and consistency, iensures a high degree of reusability, and is very easy to use. A design system helps to create a consistent brand image. Once you create a design system, it becomes the "single source of truth" for your visual identity. Everyone will be able to create designs that look and feel the same and work according to the same interaction patterns. High degree of reusability Your team can quickly design new components based on existing smaller elements called atoms . So you can always reuse your current atoms to create new things that immediately fit within the design and look feel of your design system. Quick and easy to use Existing or new colleagues who have less experience with UX or UI design can help create modern, user-friendly and beautiful interfaces. This speeds up your developers' work and increases your efficiency! In addition, this efficiency also offers another advantage, namely that changes in your product or service can be implemented very quickly. This means that you can realize a much faster time-to-market . Do you recognize one or more of these challenges? Do your applications sometimes suffer from inconsistent operation or visual display and are you curious about how you can remedy this with a design system? Or do you have questions about exactly how you can set up a design system to ensure that you do not run into problems in terms of consistency? Then book a free and non-binding slot in our agenda for a Q A session below. During this meeting we are happy to listen to your questions and give you specific advice. {% module_block module "widget_4ef2ded0-7241-4df2-939c-0070891b3837" %}{% module_attribute "buttons" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}[{"appearance":{"link_color":"light","primary_color":"primary","secondary_color":"primary","tertiary_color":"light","tertiary_icon_accent_color":"dark","tertiary_text_color":"dark","variant":"primary"},"content":{"arrow":"right","icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"tertiary_icon":{"alt":null,"height":null,"loading":"disabled","size_type":null,"src":"","width":null},"text":"Book Q A session with an expert"},"target":{"link":{"no_follow":false,"open_in_new_tab":true,"rel":"noopener","sponsored":false,"url":{"content_id":null,"href":"https://calendly.com/q-and-a-session/boek-een-q-a-sessie-met-onze-expert-clone?month=2022-11","href_with_scheme":"https://calendly.com/q-and-a-session/boek-een-q-a-sessie-met-onze-expert-clone?month=2022-11","type":"EXTERNAL"},"user_generated_content":false}},"type":"normal"}]{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "child_css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "css" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "definition_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "field_types" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}{"buttons":"group","styles":"group"}{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "isJsModule" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}true{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "label" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "module_id" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}201493994716{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "path" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"@projects/aca-group-project/aca-group-app/components/modules/ButtonGroup"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "schema_version" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}2{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_objects" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}null{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "smart_type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"NOT_SMART"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "type" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"module"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% module_attribute "wrap_field_tag" is_json="true" %}{% raw %}"div"{% endraw %}{% end_module_attribute %}{% end_module_block %}

Reading time 4 min

Stijn Schutyser

Summertime is traditionally a period of ‘dry time’ for a lot of freelancers. That’s okay: a lot of people are on vacation and there’s usually just less work overall. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use this dry time to your advantage. In this blog post, let’s look at dry time in a positive way and discuss its 4 benefits. 1. Dry time can push you and your business further Dry time means less income and more pressure to ask around for work in your network. You might feel a bit ashamed for asking for work, but you really shouldn’t. You’re just letting people know your skills are available to them. There are a couple of ways you can ask for work. The simplest way is to just contact some of your (previous) clients and tell them that you’re open for new work. You might also ask them to recommend you if they spot an opportunity in your field of work. Another approach you can try is asking your network (clients, colleagues, partners, …) if they have any info or recommendations on who to check out to score a new gig. Don’t forget to check out groups on social media platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, either! You can also make dry time ‘you time’. If your business has predictable slow periods (post-holidays, post-taxes, post-wedding season, postschool year), prepare a financial cushion during your busy time so you can take that down time for rest and personal development: your vacation, a class, or anything you want. Planned dry time keeps it from being so dry. 2. Work can come from anywhere We can talk about clients on four levels: major clients that provide a regular source of income, new prospects a.k.a. growth investments for your business, opportunistic gigs that fill time or income gaps, and new ventures and growth for long-term future income. Dry time reminds you that work can come from clients on any of these four levels. Level 3 deserves some extra attention during dry time, since that level holds the opportunistic one-shots and long shots that fill time or income gaps. You’ll usually find work like this from online job boards and professional association job boards listings. Alternatively, dry time may prove to be the perfect opportunity for you to reach out to some of your ‘colder’ contacts again, or contacts that have ‘cooled’ over the last period. Remind yourself that during dry time, work can come from anywhere, so don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. 3. Tend to your portfolio Being struck with some dry time puts a lot of freelancers with their two feet back on earth. Suddenly, there’s the realization they haven’t really thought about a long-term plan yet. Hitting a slow time may make you think more about planning, strategy, and diversifying your client list . Treat your dry time work days like any other, but this time your portfolio is the project: touch base with former clients and potential long-term customers, prospect, do some cold-calling, seek referrals, follow up with new contacts, go to events where you can network, and checking job boards and work exchanges. You can also do pro bono or volunteer work. It feels great, and you’ll find new friends, connections, and community. 4. Re-evaluate the market and your business model Have you been working all the levels of your portfolio and still no gigs coming in, or too few? A prolonged dry time may point to market changes. Perhaps the demand is changing, and you need to add new skills to your bag of tricks? Maybe you need to seek clients in a broader range of businesses, or make alliances to expand your offerings? Perhaps the gaps in your work are the result of a business model that’s not optimal yet. Are you delivering the right amount of value for the right price ? Research where your fees fall on the spectrum for your profession and check whether your daily rate is still up-to-date with your current spending . Takeaway Dry time sucks, but why not see some of its benefits as well? The good news is that you can use dry time to work on yourself and your business, your client list and re-evaluating the market you’re in and your business model. Still, it’s best to avoid dry time as much as possible. We might have got you covered there! Check out all our available opportunities for exciting projects and the right challenge for you!

Reading time 5 min

Stijn Schutyser

Structuring your management summary There are numerous ways to structure your management summary and everyone’s got a different opinion. In practice though, it doesn’t matter all that much. As long as your management summary contains the following main sections, you should be good. Play back the customer’s objectives, key requirements and the benefits they’ll achieve from the project. This shows them that you understand their business and their needs. Describe the characteristics of a successful solution and the supplier of that solution, the latter of course slanted in your favour. It’s a great way to set traps for the competition while at the same time showing off your competence. Provide an overview of your offer. Not so coincidentally, it happens to meet everything needed for success. 🙂 Introduce your proposal strategy . Make sure the reader understand why they should pick you and not the competition and introduce each of your themes: the three or four key messages that you want the potential buyer to remember from your business proposal. Conclude with a brief summary of the next steps as you see them, e.g. how your team is looking forward to make the project a success and that you’ll keep [date] free in your calendar to personally clarify your approach and the benefits that it brings. You can easily write down this structure beforehand already and then just fill in the blanks. This also helps if you want other to contribute. Nobody likes to start from scratch, and most people that are expected to contribute put it off for as long as possible or just don’t do it. So, the best way to get contributors to contribute in a timely manner and with a quality response is to already provide a structure that they just have to fill in. The length of your management summary It’s a question tons of people ask: “How long should my management summary be?”. The key consideration is that you need to capture your reader’s attention quickly . If you ask me, that doesn’t necessarily translate to how long your management summary can be. It might be 5 pages long and still grab your reader’s attention. If those 5 pages are well-written, it doesn’t matter that it’s 5 pages long instead of the usual 1 or 2. That said, don’t make your management summary any longer than it needs to be. A short text will always be easier to digest than a longer one, and there’s less chance of you losing the reader’s attention. When should you write your management summary? Another question I’ve heard time and time again. When should you write your management summary, before or after you write the rest of the proposal? Some people feel that you should write a management summary after you’ve prepared the rest of the proposal. This approach gives you the chance to work through the objectives and the solutions first, leaving you with a better idea of what you want to say and how you want to say it in the management summary. Another benefit is that if your solution has changed since you first started the proposal, it’s easy to adjust your management summary to these changes. Other people feel you should write the management summary first, because it helps you outline your concept and organize your thoughts for the entire proposal. Writing the management summary first is also a way to guide members of your team who are tasked with preparing sections of the proposal. In a management summary in the IT industry, I suggest you pick a bit of both approaches. Draft your management summary early in the process, after you and your team have decided what the ideal solution for the customer would be but before you’ve written out the entire proposal. Decide on the right technology, the right implementation and the right approach, include and structure them in your management summary and then write the rest of the proposal, with the management summary acting as a guideline. Some best practices Avoid overly technical language Using technical language is something that’s unavoidable in IT, but save that language for in the proposal itself. Management summaries are usually not read by people with extensive knowledge on various IT technologies and approaches. Unless you are absolutely sure that the only person who will read the executive summary is an engineer or a developer or someone who will understand exactly what you’re talking about, don’t get too technical. Remember, a management summary is a persuasive document: you’re selling the benefits, not the features. Focus on your client Tell your client what they want to know, not what you want to tell them. Like any piece of copy, you need to write for your audience so make sure you think about them; what turns them off and what turns them on. Also: it’s about them, so not about you. Mention your client’s company name, include their logo somewhere and so on. It makes your management summary, and by extension your proposal, feel personalized just for them. Review, review, review Lastly, and this should probably go without saying: always let a few other sets of eyes go over your text so avoid typos, grammatical errors and the like. 🚀 Takeaway A captive management summary is of course no guarantee that you’ll win a proposal, but it does increase your chance. A lot of the tips and best practices in this blog post count for management summaries in general (like keeping it as short as possible or focusing on the client), but specifically for IT I would always make sure that the management summary is legible by anyone . That means you should use plain language and avoid technical terms as much as possible. You can get into the technical details in the proposal itself. you write your management summary immediately after deciding on the technology, implementation and approach with your project managers and developers. That way the management summary can act as a guideline, while still being flexible enough to include some of the details of the solution in the proposal. If you want more tips and tricks on how to write a management summary or proposals in general, I highly recommend Proposal essentials by Jon Williams and BJ Lownie.