Showcase websites
If you only have time to look at a few of the websites I've had a hand in creating, these are the ones I'd like you to see first.
Holmes Consulting Group
Website: Holmes Consulting Group
Client: Holmes Consulting Group
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The international architecture firm Holmes Consulting Group asked for a completely new photography-centered design, new HTML/CSS templates, and a new CMS, which would be populated with all-new content. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, putting together the skeleton site in Silverstripe, training, QA and ongoing support.
I have selected this site as an example of one that showcases my design style, which is crisp, clean, minimalist, aesthetically-pleasing and easy to use.
Environmental Protection Authority
Website: Environmental Protection Authority
Client: Ministry for the Environment
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The HTML for the EPA site is based on our Ministry for the Environment templates, with the CSS re-skinned within a completely different design. The HTML/CSS is best-practice e-government compliant and the site was tested for accessibility once it was built. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-government and accessibility compliance, site build and content-coding, testing, site delivery and ongoing support.
I have selected this site as an example of excellent coding, and also as an example of extremely high accessibility.
The EPA site was a double-finalist in the ONYAs web awards, in the Best use of HTML & CSS category, and in the Best accessibility category.
Read more about the Environmental Protection Authority project
Optimation
Website: Optimation
Client: Optimation
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
In contrast to the old Optimation website, which was largely passive and not well integrated with Optimation's other marketing activities, the new site needed to work much more actively as well as being an interactive space between the company and its clients - and it had to be designed to enable busy clients to get what they need in the minimum time possible. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, testing, QA, CMS training and ongoing support.
I have selected this site as an example of excellent coding, showing the range of functionality that can be achieved using the SilverStripe CMS.
The Optimation site was a finalist in the ONYAs web awards, in the Best use of HTML & CSS category.
Ministry for the Environment
Website: Ministry for the Environment
Client: Ministry for the Environment
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
The Ministry for the Environment wanted a medium-term redesign solution fot their 13,000-page website that would allow them to keep their old legacy content, while bringing the look & feel up to date. Their web team needed to be able to seamlessly transfer the entire site into our new design and set of best-practice e-government compliant Dreamweaver templates, and the CSS had to include matching styles for all their old content code. I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery and JavaScript, e-government and accessibility compliance, testing, site delivery and ongoing support.
I have selected this site as an example of a large reverse-engineering project for a Government agency.
Cavalier Bremworth
Website: Cavalier Bremworth
Client: Cavalier Bremworth
My professional status: contractor at DNA
This website represents the first roll-out of the new Cavalier Bremworth branding by DNA. My responsibility was to build a large set of template pages within a very tight timeframe and budget, and prepare them for integration into a custom-built .net CMS. The new site incorporates a very high level of interactivity for visitors and included a large amount of jQuery and Shadowbox programming, for which I was also responsible.
I've included this site as an example of a highly technical build, with an extremely steep learning curve when it came to extending my jQuery skills.
Historic Places Trust membership forms
Website: HPT membership forms
Client: Historic Places Trust
My professional status: employee at Shift
The Historic Places Trust needed a set of 7 membership forms for their corporate website. The IA and design originally called for a large master form, which I built in XHTML and CSS and which was controlled by a JavaScript file. As the functionality requirements became more and more complex I broke the master into 7 separate forms and rewrote the JavaScript. The programming and integration of the forms was carried out by Datacom using the Sitecore CMS.
I'm showcasing this project as an example of my ability to lay out complex forms using XHTML and non-table CSS, to indicate my experience with Sitecore, and to show my ability to adapt and rewrite JavaScript where necessary. As an added bonus you might also like to view the Historic Places Trust - Our Properties project.
Read more about the Historic Places Trust membership forms project
NIWA
Website: NIWA
Client: NIWA
My professional status: employee at Shift
The NIWA website acts as a repository for their very large collection of research documents, photographic images and publications - as well as information about NIWA itself. The design is complex and multi-layered and required a range of dynamic graphical elements. I was responsible for building 28 templates for the site in XHTML and pure CSS, and liaising closely with the integration team at Squiz. I used jQuery to create the dynamic elements and also wrote a comprehensive handover document for Squiz to facilitate integration of my templates into MySource Matrix CMS.
I've included this site as an example of my experience with jQuery, to show my ability to build a pixel-perfect rendition of a complex design, and to show my skills in creating extensive handover documentation for the development team. It's also an example of my experience in creating templates for another CMS.
New Zealand String Quartet
Website: NZSQ
Client: New Zealand String Quartet
My professional status: employee at Shift
The New Zealand String Quartet wanted a new, easy-to-edit website. We recommended WordPress, and my responsibility in phase 1 was to build a set of HTML/CSS templates, which were integrated into WordPress by a colleague at Shift. In phase 2 I added a range of new sections and widgets, and was responsible for designing and integrating the new templates myself, as well as wrangling with the WordPress PHP.
I'm including this site as an example of my experience with WordPress, and to show my ability to extend a design originally created by another designer. It's also a good example of my ability to train clients in the use of their new CMS and to write accompanying training documentation.
New Zealand Educated
Website: New Zealand Educated
Client: Education New Zealand
My professional status: employee at Shift
New Zealand Educated wanted a fun, compelling and informative website that would encourage overseas students to study in New Zealand. I built a set of 36 complex templates for the site in HTML and pure CSS, which were tested across a wide range of browsers and platforms and which achieved a high level of compliance with e-government accessibility guidelines.
I'm showcasing this site as an example of a large, complex build, with high e-government and accessibility requirements - and as an example of my extensive experience with the Expression Engine CMS.
Tourism New Zealand intranet
Website: intranet (not accessible to the public)
Client: Tourism New Zealand
My professional status: employee at Shift
Shift has a Webby award-winning relationship with Tourism New Zealand, and also provides the TNZ team with an intranet, run on the Shado CMS. TNZ wanted a new look and feel for their intranet in four different colourways, while retaining the existing HTML and CMS as far as possible.
I've selected this site as an example of a re-skinning job, and also because it's a gorgeous design that was quite a challenge. I re-skinned a number of the master templates by changing the CSS and rebuilding the header and footer HTML, and built a new homepage.
The Gathering Archives
Website: The Gathering Archives
Client: me
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
In October 2006 I began The Gathering Archives website and accompanying WordPress blog, with the aim of becoming the authoritative source of information on the history and background of iconic New Zealand dance party, The Gathering. The site includes sections for each of the six New Years parties, with the design for each being based on the official artwork from that year.
I'm showcasing this site as an example of my ability to see a project through from concept to completion - including project management, site scope, design, HTML/CSS build, research, writing and WordPress blog design and development.
The Gathering Archives site was a finalist in the ONYAs web awards, in the Best content (personal) category.
WebWeaver Productions
Website: WebWeaver
Client: me
My professional status: independent web designer/developer
I've decided to include my own website because it shows my style of design and development when I'm free to do what I like. It's a work in progress.
Commissioned, designed, architecture-d, developed, built, written, edited and project-managed by me. The site is designed to be fully accessible, is written in valid HTML 4.01 Transitional and CSS, has been fully tested and displays consistently across a wide range of browsers in Mac and PC. I've built it using templates and Dreamweaver library items so that in the future I can easily update it and make alterations.
