Useful Links
Cole Sones
Cole is an excellent illustrator, motion graphics and AE guru. It has been my pleasure to work with him. Check out his site.
Filter Talent
I've been thrilled with Filter Talent as a contract agency.
alistapart.com
A personal favorite, alistapart is the greatest advocate of standards-compliant design and coding. They cover it all and better than anyone.
csszengarden.com/
A site that shows the possibilities of standards-based web design and the power of css.
validator.w3.org/
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) provides a free service to validate your html code. Generates a list of issues with suggestins on how to solve them.
jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/
A CSS validator. Useful for finding errors and making your code compliant to web standards.
w3schools.com/html/html_examples.asp
HTML tutorial from W3 Schools. Online interactive examples.
mozilla.com/firefox/
Link to mozilla's Firefox browser.
addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1843
Link to finding add-ons for Firefox Firebug, as well as many additional tools.
seomoz.org/
seomoz.org has the best introduction to SEO/SEM. Check for their beginner's guide to Search Engine Optimization.
Safe Web Fonts
A listing of fonts that are present on both windows and mac and thus available for use in websites as editable text and styled with css.
Favicon Generator
Great online tool for turning a small image into a compatible favicon.
google.com/analytics/
Google provides a free service called Google Analytics that provides tracking metrics for determining a sites popularity, bounce rate, etc. Requires a gmail account.
XML Sitemap generators
A listing of xml sitemap generators.
School of Visual Concepts
Instructor | School of Visual Concepts
Currently teaching the class "Making the move from print to web" at the School of Visual Concepts in Seattle. Developed an outline and individual class plans (including a website) for this 5-week course helping design professionals develop the vocabulary and skills to pursue web design. Topics included: XHTML, CSS, SEO/SEM, best coding practices, creating accessible pages, working on servers, developing site architecture and wireframes. See the SVC Print2Web site here.
Publicis of the West
Senior Interactive Art Director | 10.2007 - Present
Worked on T-Mobile concept store launch. This included concepting portal content for the concept store in Issaquah. I worked directly with the Creative Director as part of a team to develop concepts for the store refresh. Projects included creating initial concepts from direction provided by account, several stages of client review and changes, final work production which included 3D rendering, hand-drawn Flash animation, After Effects motion graphics, illustration and design. All of the work was under a strict timeline and was delivered on-time and was deemed extremely successful.
“Worked on the microsite myfaves.com for
T-Mobile. Art Direction, design and planning interactivity for the site, featured phones page and merchandising tile design. ”
Worked on evolving the T-mobile brand. Work included color exploration, typography, creating a custom typeface, interactive design samples and collaborating on photography and design choices.
Untoil Software Group
Creative Director | 06.2007 - 09.2007
Untoil Software Group was a start-up venture to create an online application called WorkBright for managing manufacturing and small business. As the Creative Director I assisted in the feature set and UI design, initial design comps, wireframes, use-case scenarios and the general look and feel of the application. I worked directly with the Director of Software Development to implement the design using javascript, XHTML, CSS, and AJAX using the Prototype framework. I was also in charge of developing the brand and identity, developing the sales site and supporting the SEO/SEM efforts.
Lawgistix LLC
Senior Web Designer | 08.2006 - 06.2007
Lawgistix LLC is an offline debt management system to help people avoid bankruptcy. I joined Lawgistix for the opportunity to develop my web design and development skills. I worked with database designers in developing an online, debt-management subscriber system that educates consumers, manages their debt, and delivered settlement offers. I also helped develop the sales site that supported this effort.
V Design Inc.
Design Manager | 08.2000 - 08.2006
I started at V Design as a Graphic Designer and was promoted to Senior Designer and ultimately Design Manager. As Graphic Designer, I developed strategy design and editorial coverage for the monthly magazine Nintendo Power. This work included developing gameplay strategy, designing comps, developing print templates, final design, prepress and delivery. I also worked on Official Nintendo Strategy Guides; these books had up to 200+ pages and were under tight deadlines. As Senior Designer I managed designers in completing these strategy guides. I also and had the opportunity to work on packaging for games, promotional materials, strategy websites and illustrations. As Design Manager, I managed all aspects of strategy guide production.
The Rocket Magazine
Assistant Art Director | 09.1998 - 08.2000
I started at The Rocket as an assistant to the Ad Design Manager and was later promoted to Ad Design Manager and finally Assistant Art Director. I worked initially with Ad Reps in building custom ads for the magazine, doing layout and production and preparing all files for the printer. As Assistant to the Art Director I helped develop editorial direction for the magazine in support of each issue.
skills
Web Design & Coding
Hand-coding standards-compliant transitional and strict XHTML. Experience with building semantic xhtml with css for presentation and javascript for interactivity. Developing web pages for database-driven websites, coding websites for AJAX interactivity using jquery, prototype and scriptaculous libraries. Implementing SEO/SEM strategies, and managing campaigns using Google Analytics and Adwords.
- Hand-coding standards-compliant xhtml + css
- Focus on building semantic xhtml using css for presentation
- Focus on adding interactivity with Javascript
- Experience working with PHP and database-driven web sites
- Working with AJAX interactivity for online business tools
- jQuery, Mootools, prototype and scriptaculous frameworks
- SEO/SEM strategies using Analytics + Adwords
- Experience teaching web design, xhtml + css
- Flash interactive experience
Design & Print
Extensive knowledge of Macintosh OS X platform and software. Mastery of the Adobe® CS3 Suite of products: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat, Flash, After Effects. Illustration and hand skills. Cinema 4D, 3D Studio MAX. Final Cut Pro. Packaging design experience for Game Boy Advance®, Sony Playstation 2®, XBox®.
- Extensive knowledge of the CS3 Suite of products
- Mastery of Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and QuarkXPress
- 3D package modeling skills and animation
- Excellent hand skills
- Packaging design experience
- Editorial and book pagination experience
- Preflighting files and working with printers
Art Direction & Teaching
Experienced managing designers, writers, prepress and production artists to complete deadline driven products. Project management experience, scheduling, budgeting, and working with vendors. I have also trained new employees and existing employees in new techniques and skills. Great sense of humor, easy to work with, attention to detail, excellent written and verbal communication skills, excellent ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with successful outcomes.
- Experience managing multiple projects and teams
- Experience training new employees
- Experience teaching web design
- Excellent written and verbal skills