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1. So you want to be a (freelance designer)?

In one of the best articles I read this week, Steve Friedl shares his experience as a technology consultant. But I think there is much to learn here for anyone who runs a very small business dealing directly with clients (i.e. freelance designers like ourselves).

I’ll share one maxim of Friedl’s — of the ethical variety, in keeping with our theme:

Never, ever lie or fudge on an invoice

If you are ever caught — or even suspected — of funny business on the financial front, you will not be trusted anywhere else. It is impossible to give a customer The Warm Fuzzy Feeling™ if they are wondering about the legitimacy of your invoices, and this is fatal to a customer relationship and to ever getting a good reference.

This is not to say that mistakes on an invoice won’t happen, but how you deal with them will tell a customer a lot about how you do business. Your goal should be to overwhelm them with integrity.

2. Google Chart Tools

Did you know Google has a chart API? It looks at least as good as Office and they have a JavaScript library for interactive charts, as well.

3. I’m Comic Sans, *sshole

McSweeney’s calls out font snobbery with a profanity-laden rant (NSFW).

The monologue made me laugh, but it also made me think: maybe a “pedestrian” font has its place. Do you really want to see a well-kerned Helvetica on the birthday card your grandma printed for you?

4. Mozilla designer touts tricks to give Firefox the illusion of speed

Another interesting article I read this week. A Mozilla developer talks about the visual tricks Chrome uses to appear faster than other browsers (particularly at start-up). It seems that speed is more than just efficiency. When it comes down to milliseconds, appearances are important, as well.