My website development consists of using multiple programs to create visually compelling yet easily maintainable websites. I generally begin my work with a pad and pencil and sketch out a basic site map, to work on the outlined structure of the site and to consider proper information organization for the best user-oriented experience while balancing the needs for an easily maintainable site.
To design the look-and-feek of the sites I utilize one or more of the following programs: Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks, and Illustrator, depending on the needs of the site. While I do have a working knowledge of flash, I try to avoid using it due to server-load issues as well as usability concerns. Following the look and feel, I code sites using Macromedia Dreamweaver. I mainly stick to using the code view more than the design view to tweak and fiddle with the site to make sure my vision of the site is achieved in html especially with the differences in rendering of CSS2 in various browsers.
MIT Homepage Spotlight
This MIT Homepage Spotlight was generated quicky as an animated flash graphic to advertize a cell phone rong tone contest we had decided to spotlight for the day. I felt that an animation to emphasize the creation of music was well-deserved, and hiding "MIT" as the notes, as required by designs submitted to the team.
And that's also a photograph of my dad's older-model cell phone.
The Evolving MIT Campus v4.0
This is the 4th iteration of the Evolving Campus website and the first version completely designed by me. Another version (listed below) had a sub-section redesigned by me, but this latest version had a revised information architecture, enhanced use of CSS, useability, and information architecture and organization.
This site was exciting to redesign as it was a high-priority site with associated spotlights, an opportunity to work with MIT's Department of Facilities again, as well as generate a vibrant redesign in a short time-span.
The original design concept and subsequent version 2.0 was designed by Hecht Design of Arlington, MA, and coded by Bob Wilt. As webmaster of the original website, and coder of v2.0, I had intimate knowledge of the original requirements of the design, making the new re-design carry forward a reminiscent look-and-feel of the old site while utilizing new colors for a "new dawn" concept...or might I say "evolved".
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MIT Homepage Spotlight
This MIT Homepage Spotlight was generated quicky as the spotlight variation for the dedication ceremony of the new brain and cognitive sciences project, and to spotlight the Evolving Website v4.0 as seen above.
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Norwell High School Class of 1995
This page was designed quickly as my 10th year class reuinion website. This site was envisioned and created within 2 hours, so doesn't quite display an intricate design, but emphasizes a utilitarian site that is functional, playful and aesthetically enjoyable at the same time.
The site originally included a video in realmovie format available for viewing, unfortunatly due to server space I have had to pull this down. Hopefully, in the future, I will be able to re-add this streaming content.
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University of Virginia
Research & Public Service Webpage
Hired as a semester employee while I was a full-time student completing my degree at the University of Virginia, the Provost's Office utilized my web expertise to redesign their Research & Public Service website. The old site had been outdated with broken links and a "clunky 8-track tape" look-and-feel (to quote my former employer).
Their department had begun a redesign of the site in May of 2004, with a tentative look-and-feel, but due to a lack of manpower, the site was left on the back-burner. After being handed the site, a comprehensive analysis of the old site was conducted to analyze content migration, and a site map was established to develop the new site. The homepage was streamlined, navigational elements re-titled for easier usability, and analysis of the original design required a more flexible second level page.
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The Evolving MIT Campus Stata Mini Site
The Stata mini-site was created to commemorate the dedication of the Ray and Maria Stata Center in May of 2004. This building was the 'big kahuna' of a $1.4B capital construction program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Designed to convey infomation to both the MIT community and the international media, this website was the gateway to a host of information about the architect, photographs by architectural photographer Andy Ryan, as well as collateral press material.
Designed with Adobe Illustrator, and coded with Dreamweaver, This site featured a main-photo refresh on the homepage to showcase the various views of this building designed by Gehry Partners, LLP. One of the difficulties associated with the development of this site was a tight timeframe and the synthesis of the look-and-feel of two different sites: The Evolving MIT Campus website and the newly re-designed MIT Department of Facilities website.
This page has been deleted and replaced with a new Evolving MIT Campus full website designed by me.
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Archbishop Williams Class of 1962 40th Reunion Webpage
This website was designed to help reconnect the class of 1962 for their 40th reunion in the fall of 2002. The class requested a simplistic site with many photographs, both of memories past and of the reunion itself. The challenges involved with this site were obtaining permissions to use various photographs in the website, as people were easily identifiable, or the photographs were taken by professional organizations.
Prior to the reunion, the website showcased a javascript slideshow with captions, however due to the sheer volume of photos obtained at the reunion (both print and digital) the slideshow was scrapped for photo pages. Highly visible using most search engines, this site still continues to be explored by many involved with Archbishop Williams High School and is ready to take on the next reunion, pending a redesign.
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Boston Bay Blades Website
I designed this site pro bono for the Boston Bay Blades, a gay-friendly rowing club. They were looking for a site that was easier to maintain and more visually appealing than their old site. This group was born from a sister club in San Francisco, but the Boston group wished to establish their own identity while remaining loyal to their west-coast sisters and brothers.
Originally I was going to assist the group in writing their web content, however due to time constraints only the look-and-feel was created for the group. The site was designed using Adobe Photoshop in 2001 and coded using Dreamweaver. This was one of my earlier sites and therefore maintains some of the older website motifs.