Corne van Dooren - (Multimedia) Designer

February 28, 2007

Last year me and Nadine visited Pinkpop festival for the very first time. We were accompanied by my sister and her future husband (marriage is in August - yeeha!).

It looks like we should go back this year. Today the line-up was announced...

A few of my favourite bands will be present, including: Linkin' Park, Muse, Snow Patrol, The Kooks, Razorlight and many more - including the band mentioned in my previous post: 30 seconds to Mars.

This year could just be my second Pinkpop....

Take care.

February 23, 2007

Its been a busy week (as I mentioned below). Next Monday I will go to my last job interview at an agency close to Den Bosch (where I live). Within two weeks I hope to inform you through this blog what I have chosen to do.

But this entry has Jared Leto's name in the title so isn't about my quest for a new employer.

When I drive somewhere (like the interviews) I like to play music in my car so the travel becomes more fun. So, while driving, lately I've been listening to 30 seconds to Mars, Jared Leto's band. I think its totally ridiculous we haven't really heard much of them over here (Netherlands). Awesome tracks, great material. I like 30 seconds to Mars.

I've also been sent a great game by a friend. Really simple, yet very nice game! My personal topscore: 35 seconds. So go on, beat me!

Talk soon.

January 18, 2007

Its been a hectic week. And the one after this one appears to be another busy one!

I've been travelling all over the place for various projects and job interviews. My next week is stuffed with all kinds of stuff that need to be done. Actually the week after this week will also be a hectic week...

There's lots of things happening and I am still aiming to find a new job before April 1st. As it looks now I think there's no doubt I'm gonna make that deadline. I hope to be able to tell you more soon. I'm very excited about the opportunities currently heading my way... ;)

I'll end my hectic week with a party. My parents are celebrating being married for 30 years! An amazing feat and I am mighty proud of them. It'll be the perfect way to end this week.

Hope there's a lot of cool stuff heading your way too.

All the best.

February 13, 2007

Yeeha, it is planned! Me and Nadine will be going to London for a few days in March. We will have three days to see everything, after which we will travel to the South of the UK to visit some friends.

Its been over 10 years since I've last been to London. A lot must have changed.

No doubt the Big Ben is still there, as the Thames will be. The London Dungeon with the Jack the Ripper experience is also still there (great place to buy gadgets!).

Hmm. Maybe it didn't change that much... I guess the only changes are the London Eye (which is new to me) and Wembley Stadium (which was a great visit during my last visit). Wembley Stadium is being renewed, but I am not sure it will ever catch the feel the old stadium had to it.

Ah well, I'm just excited that I will finally go back over there. Also excited to see those friends again. Last time we met up it wasn't for the best of reasons (see blog January).

Take care, speak soon.

February 12, 2007

I just want to rectify my previous post. Today we have been helped by the online customer service from BCC.

So, although the people in the store aren't always a big help, in the end BCC does offer high service (maybe a bit slow, but service).

I will still directly call Apple when there's an issue with my or Nadine's iPod...

February 11, 2007

Sorry it has taken me some time to put something down in the blog. Its been a busy week and this week is looking just as stuffed!

Last week I've been on some job interviews with mixed results. It has also been the week I got extremely dissappointed in BCC.

BCC is a store in the Netherlands where you can buy stuff like an iPod. That is exactly what Nadine had bought last december. The iPod crashed two weeks ago. With a one-year-guarantee we went back to BCC last Saturday. Within a minute we were in and out of the store.

We had been given a piece of paper with a weblink to the Apple Support Desk. After typing the weblink in my browser, the weblink apparantly wasn't active anymore. Thank you BCC....

In the end I just called the Apple Support in the Netherlands. Great folks, within 10 minutes everything was resolved. I seriously think BCC should change its slogan though. It is "Everyday Low Pricing, Everyday High Service" and should be "Everyday High Pricing, Everyday Low Service".

Thank God my brother and his girlfriend celebrated their birthdays this Sunday - so the weekend ended in a high.

Take care.

February 4, 2007

Last week I got a good view at the new Windows Vista. It looked really great. One of the designers was explaining on a TV screen why it was so "user-friendly". Too bad that part was absolutely rubbish...

The new Windows is, in my opinion, for the generation that has grown up with computers.

If you just take a look at how difficult it was for "older" people to understand Windows (computers) before Vista - I don't think the new Windows closes the gap that could make it easier for those people to start understanding computers.

Windows clearly aims at the "younger" folks who are aware how computers work and how great the new functions really are. It is user-friendly in the sense that you can decide how to use the interface design yourself (with or without the sweet stuff). But adding new possibilities and gimmicks (like the 3D scrolling through windows) is not necessarily positive for "user-friendliness" (whatever Microsoft means by that).

Don't think I am an Apple man. I am neither. I mostly work with Windows, but also use Apple. But I just hate it when the term "user-friendly" is used wrongly. I have studied Interface Design for years, come on! You can't fool me with such rubbish Bill.

Ah well, guess there's always positives and negatives to an operating system. Actually I don't even care what Windows or Apple think of next. As long as Adobe keeps building proper software that work on Windows and Apple - I couldn't care less.

Take care.

February 1, 2007

Okay, time for an update on my job search. I have been talking to many parties since stating I am looking for a new fulltime challenge.

So far I have had about 7 opportunities to present myself. So far, none have appeared to be my next challenge. Sometimes I turned down the offer, sometimes I was turned down.

It appears to be difficult to show people I am up for a challenge for a particular role. Often people look at my portfolio and think I am too broad for a particular role.

I am quite upset about this. I have only two more months to find my new employer and it feels like I am doing something wrong. Should I make my portfolio thinner? Is it too broad? But then again, am I not showing enough when I make my portfolio thinner?

Sometimes I cannot understand why it is so difficult. And that stresses me out. All I need is a new employer where I can grow creatively. I don't really care about the money offered (showed it by turning down one very profitable offer), all I want is a place to show what I've got.

I hope to believe my portfolio shows that I've got potential. And I am in for a long commitment. The past years I have been "travelling". I feel its time to find a place and stay put.

Ah well. Two more months to find my next challenge...

Take care.

Corne van Dooren, Multimedia Designer