Web
:: Go-Go Pod, Senior Thesis - 2008 ::
Multimedia Development and Design, Project Management
Technologies used: HTML, ActionScript, PHP
For my senior project I wanted to do something that would demonstrate some of the skills I’d learned at university as well as communicate some of my interests and personality. When I began brainstorming for this project, I had just gotten back from a trip to Europe where I had used my iPod to keep my itinerary, confirmation numbers and directions to hotels handy using a native iPod application called Notes. It occurred to me that my iPod was actually multimedia device, and perhaps it had the potential to offer me a lot more than just keeping notes handy. Too make a long story short, I ended up developing a couple of multimedia, iPod compatible travel guides and a companion website where they can be viewed and download.
The months of hard work that went into this project culminated into a 20 minute presentation, which was done via webcam from London and was nominated for Pacific Universities Berglund Center Award for Excellence in Internet Research, given to one graduating senior based on their research or project for their senior capstone relating to the internet. Winners have yet to be announced.
This project ultimately strengthened and proved my design, coding, copy writing, project management, photography and presentation skills. Plus, I think it’s a great idea and I plan on taking it even further.
The projects abstract:
Guide books have become an essential companion on our travels to new destinations. These books are informative, fun and designed to save us time and money while we are on our adventures. For the most part, however, they are also heavy and immediately flag us as tourists the moment we refer to them in public spaces.
By bundling important travel information into a format that can be accessed through an iPod ®, the traveler’s load is lightened and a larger degree of anonymity is granted. Furthermore, the iPod ® platform allows for more sophisticated information like, audio and video, to be conveyed. For my senior project I will be presenting the Go-Go Pod website, where two iPod compatible multimedia travel books will be available for download.
Books are heavy, liberate yourself.
All of the animation you see in the website is done using ActionScript.
The travel guides were developed using HTML.
Go-Go Pod Website
:: Acumed Ltd - UK ::
Web Developer - 2007-2008
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, XML, PHP, JavaScript, ActionScript
Details will be added soon!
acumed.uk.com
:: Acumed ::
Multimedia Intern - Summer 2007
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, XML, PHP, JavaScript, ActionScript
When I obtained the multimedia internship position at Acumed I was told that the majority of the work I would be doing would be web related. For the most part this was true however, I was also given a wide variety of tasks, which I felt rounded out my experience and truly qualified it as a multimedia position. My first challenge was to create a blog on the sales site which blended seamlessly with their current structure. Its main purpose was to allow Product Managers to keep Sales Representatives up to date on a wide array of products while also creating an arena of open communication for all to benefit. It was critical that the writers had a non-intimidating interface to post their updates and that the readers had a clear way to comment and subscribe via rss or email. Additionally, I automated the integration of blog post to relevant pages within the site. If a Product Manager posted something about a particular product, a short summary and link to that post would show up on that products page. My second major task was to create an educational, interactive CD for the Acutrak 2 product using Flash, Photoshop, Illustrator, ActionScript and XML. A terrific project, which expanded my knowledge of AS 2.0 and allowed me to get reacquainted with Flash after a 4 month hiatus. Next I developed a careers section on the main website that could be easily updated by Human Resources using Adobe Contribute and Flickr; empowering them and limiting any potential increase in the webmasters workload. I also did smaller tasks like expanding the customer service section, making changes and updates to both sites while the webmaster was in China, SEO optimization and design and copy writing for print materials. Acumed proved to be an excellent opportunity to expand my knowledge and experience with different programming languages as well as further developing my graphic design and writing skills. My abilities and confidence have increased thanks to the support, confidence and experience of my supervisors and coworkers.
:: Pacific Institute for Ethics and Social Policy ::
Web Developer/Designer
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, XML, PHP, JavaScript, ActionScript
In January of this year I was hired by the institute to redesign their website. It was important to them for the site to have a professional, conservative feel and they wanted the ability to safely update their content. My solution was to create a clean, professional looking template that reflected their identity and protected the navigation while allowing them to update the content of their pages with Adobe Contribute. This project was terrific as it allowed me to further my understanding of CSS, PHP and content management. There really is no better way to learn something than to actually do it.
***Please note that although the website says I do, I no longer maintain it.***
pacificinstitute.net
:: Centennial Software ::
Web Development Intern
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, PHP
I interned at Centennial Software from September through December of 2006. My position had me focused on creating mock-ups, HTML emails, learning PHP, CSS and doing trouble shooting for their newly designed web site. I learned a tremendous amount from Ken Westin and will forever be grateful for his willingness to guide me through many a maze. Also, if you have any gadgets you might want back in the event that they become lost or stolen check out his website: GadgetTrak: Gadget Anti-theft System.
:: The M.A.P ::
Web Development/Design - Team Member - 2007
Technologies used: HTML, XML, ActionScript
The M.A.P is an acronym for Media Arts Portfolio. During the course of two semesters at Pacific University my classmates and I planned, created and implemented a flash based website for the Media Arts department. The first challenge was to create something that was non-traditional, sassy but still somewhat sophisticated. We wanted it to reflect us. The second challenge was to get a group of creatives to get organized and create a solid project spec. We eventually did and it lives here:
I created the first mock up that we all agreed to which was pretty cool and eventually earned the responsibility of coding the majority of the site with my professor Mike Geraci. It was exciting to see the project evolve as each person contributed and inspired each other. This project revealed the various challenges and benefits associated with working with a large team on a creative project. I must say that the benefits out weighed the challenges. I don’t know if that is always true, but I can hope. The site has yet to go live however I have a sneak peak available here or just look at the screen shots.
Launch The M.A.P (requires Adobe Flash Player and a decent internet connection!)
or just view some screen shots
:: Oko Design Studio ::
Flash Developer - 2007
Technologies used: ActionScript, video compression software
I was hired by Oko Design Studio to develop a streaming video player for their client that would allow users who don’t have broadband to view their videos smoothly and painlessly. The challenges that I faced with this project had to do with not getting uniform content from the client and creating an interface that was unobtrusive. Because of the different file formats I received and the inability to convert video files that were .swf into anything else I had to create two different video scenarios, one where it preloads and another that streams (with a 30 sec. buffer). I created a simple user interface that matched the established design of the site.
charlesjacobsen.com
:: Red Cloud Catering ::
Flash Developer - 2006
Technologies used: HTML, XML, ActionScript
I was approached by a start up catering company during the summer of 2006. They wanted to me to create a website for them that matched their artistic vision and brand identity. They also wanted the ability to add photographs and change their sample menu’s without having to pay a programmer to do so. My solutions involved creating a slide show using Flash and XML and importing simple text files to populate their menus. My client need only follow a few simple steps to update the content of their site on their own, saving them time and money in the future. This site has been delivered to my client but has yet to go live. However, I have uploaded a sample of the completed project.
redcloudcatering.com
:: Shimmerbelle Designs ::
Web Developer - 2006
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, ActionScript
A talented local watercolor artist, Mary Suzanne Garvey, hired me to create a brand identity, business cards and online portfolio in the summer of 2006. By sampling colors and manipulating pieces of her own artwork we came up with a look that she was thrilled with. A year has passed and although she is still happy with her site I feel as though my design and technical skills have evolved tremendously. She has agreed to allow me to redesign her site with cleaner code and a more sophisticated and lighter look. I can’t wait as it is always a terrific opportunity to continue to improve and learn from a project.
shimmerbelledesigns.com
:: KMS Copywriter ::
Web Developer - 2006
Technologies used: HTML, CSS, ActionScript
Katherine Sprecher is a gifted copywriter who hired me in the summer of 2006 to build a website that would serve as a portfolio of her work and a place where interested clients could contact her. By working closely together, we came up with a solution and look that were both happy with. This is another site that I am excited to revamp this summer by applying some skills I have learned in the past year.