Typocracy.net

To start of 2011 with a bang, Ear X-Tacy has started a new in-store music series entitled “Ear X-Tacy After Dark”. An extension of their “Live!” show series, the After Dark set wiil feature Louisville’s louder, rougher musical acts ranging from punk to hip-hop. The music will only be after the store closes for the night, will be free*, and all-ages. *Everyone is asked to bring at the least a quality canned good for charity.

To help spread the word, I created two 11×17 posters for the first two shows after Sean Bailey expressed interests in using my photographs of Vaderbomb and Black God to help promote. I will likely do more posters, but for now, here is the artwork for After Dark 1: Vaderbomb vs. Black God and After Dark 2: Hal Dolls and Rude Weirdo.

Vaderbomb vs. Black God

Baptist Milestone.com

I haven’t been in the habit of updating this blog… ever. But I wanted to mark the launch of the new Baptist East Milestone Wellness Center site.

I recently helped Jay Lane Media finish up this project, which had seen several iterations and developers. Due to a heap of varying circumstances, the previous developers were unable to complete the site to the needs of the client. So I stepped in to help wrap everything up and finally launch this site which had been in progress for over a year.

While a considerable amount of code was in place, including versions of the now-live class scheduler, there was still a lot of work to be done. Among which was:

• Speed optimizations
• Transition of many elements such as the homepage from static images to readable, accessible, editable text
• Outline of a upgrade path as well as definition of which CMS utilites would be left accessible to the end client and which would only be accessible to the admin
• Security upgrades
• Rebuild several forms to match updated functionality requirements
• Cross-browser testing
• Provide a client-updatable system for controlling their personal trainer listings and other staff
• Rewrite parts of the class scheduler to allow interface options such as a weekly listing of classes

Some features of the site:

• Event Scheduler – filterable via AJAX, added Weekly tab, updated design to match client’s needs
• Membership Form – input data, receive customized printable trial membership card
• Section-specific collapsed navigation – you don’t need to see all 500 subpages of other child or grandchild pages in the same category. Doesn’t sound like much, but WordPress can make this a little bit of a pain at times.
• Customized backend – thanks to manipulation of theme’s functions.php file
• Security and speed optimizations via minification and .htaccess manipulation

Tech used: Photoshop CS5, Espresso, CSS3, HTML5, Javascript/JQuery/AJAX, MySQL, WordPress, PHP

TL;DR: Redid a bunch of existing work and added increased functionality, working both from designer’s PDFs and my own design elements, for both content pages and dynamic forms and content areas.

Close The Deal

One of my first projects with InGrid Design was to develop a site for a new grant program being built by GLI (Greater Louisville Inc.). We were tasked to come up with an identity, overall design theme for the program, several print pieces, web design, and completion of the site in about 3 1/2 weeks. We met our goal, and were proud to show the results.

The Close The Deal program was put in place to help those high school students that are the first in their family to head towards college. Providing documents and support for those who may not know what to expect or may be overwhelmed by all that needs to be done for the college admissions process.

I have to say, I spent years dissuading clients and bosses from using .NetNuke. Most of that was based on ignorance of ASP/.NET as well as experience with PHPNuke. But this project went very smoothly, was relatively easy to train the client to use, and everyone ended up happy.

Site Features:

• .NetNuke CMS
• Message Forums
• User Group/Permissions Management for Councellor only areas
• Rotating Flash images
• Scrolling javascript plugins

Tech used: HTML, CSS, ASP

Here’s a logo that I did for the 2010 Team MDO sports festival. Team MDO is an annual sport festival for deaf youth that is centered here in Louisville, KY.