In March 2009 I went independent working for companies that need graphic design and HTML/CSS. I've been working regularly on-site at Walter Cameron Advertising and designing web sites for SNP technologies.

Millennium Communications

I worked at Millennium as an art director for three years. The focus was on web and multimedia projects. I coordinated projects from inception through completion. From the planning stages with the client to working with the developers through production. I was responsible for design, HTML/CSS, architecture and marketing solutions associated with the projects. I also did some Flash work for banners, games and multimedia projects.

NBTY

NBTY is a manufacturer of vitamins. They are responsible for names such as Puritan's Pride, Vitamin World and a host of other brand names and products. I worked at NBTY for three years as the only art director for their web division.

Here is where I learned a lot about web marketing and server-side development. This was high volume work related to their e-commerce web sites and a host of consumer web sites to be designed, built and maintained.

Creative Works Studios

I started Creative Works with my wife in 95 in New York City and continued with it for seven years. Together we designed brochures, CD jackets, catalogs, logos and got started in designing web sites. I assisted in photo shoots and went on press regularly.

I was also represented by Regina Brown Artist Rep. for my Photoshop and 3-D illustrations at this time.

Falk Communications

Falk was (now bought by Key) a pharmaceutical advertising and marketing agency. We designed promotional campaigns to promote products for Pfizer and Key Pharmaceutical. Here I started designing on the computer and learning all the software. Quark, Illustrator, Photoshop and whatever else was needed.

Adobe Photoshop - thorough understanding

I do my web designs in Photoshop vs illustrator because I find it more flexible and easier to save out to Dreamweaver. I also do airbrush-like illustrations in Photoshop.

Adobe Illustrator - thorough understanding

I've been using Illustrator since 1990 and have worked in every version since. I use it mostly for logos and illustrations these days.

Dreamweaver - thorough enough for a production environment

I use Dreamweaver mostly for hard coding my HTML/CSS and site management. I don't use the menu commands provided for designers that don't code.

InDesign - moderate understanding

I used to know Quark thoroughly but now I am focused on InDesign. I feel InDesign is a better product than Quark and dovetails better with other Adobe products. I've found that most of the functions are the same just moved around and implemented a little differently.

Quark

See InDesign

Flash - Timeline animation only

I have a thorough understanding of Flash timeline animations for banners and promotions. I can do simple things in Action Script but have not perused knowing it beyond that.

HTML & CSS - thorough understanding

While there's always more to find out about this I am one of the better coders that I know in this area. I enjoy it and always try to bring new things that CSS can do while making sure it operates well in all supported browsers.

Lately I've been implementing some jQuery( JavaScript ) into my designs bringing some Flash-like effects without the burden of Flash.

ColdFusion - moderate understanding

I have built some sites in ColdFusion. It's really a great web language and easy to learn. I've built log-in management areas, email alerts and dynamic catalog pages.

SQL - moderate understanding

Like I said, I've built some sites with ColdFusion and used SQL to access the database and build dynamic pages. Build relational - 1 to many - tables and join them etc.

JavaScript

I do little in JavaScript but lately have been implementing the jQuery library and utilizing it's simplified language.

I went to School at The New England School of Art & Design in Boston. I majored in both Graphic Design and Illustration. I used to do a lot of air brush art and thought I might go into illustration but found graphic design interesting as well. They were both fun and challenging and I wanted to pursue both.

Initially I will consult with the client about the objectives of the web site, what their desires are for the site, what marketing is or will be associated to it. And generally find out what the tone of the web site should be.

I will write up a proposal on projects with a larger scope and use it as a measurement of progress on the site. I would consult on architecture, navigation and marketing. I often produce a site-map that outlines the pages that need to be created and content map that determines what goes on each page and it's functionality. I will then design the layouts with recommendations on modern navigation techniques. Produce the HTML with CSS and jQuery where needed.

depending on the project, I will work with a server-side developer and act as project manager between them and the client to finalize the project. While I do some programming in server-side languages such as PHP, MySQL and ColdFusion. I do not consider myself an expert in these languages. I do however work well with developers and like to converse with them about best practices when building the site functionality.

Flash:

There are several aspects of Flash that I know. I can create time-line animations for banners and presentations, import and compress video and create simple navigation with Action Script, but I am not an Action Script programmer.

Overall I prefer not to use Flash in web sites. While it has it's uses for banners and games, I don't think it makes an efficient way to build a web site It takes a long time to develop, It's not very scalable, and the search engines don't read it.

What I try to accomplish when designing a web site

• Does it break new ground? Is there some aspect of it that is new and different? Whether design or navigation or some way of bringing content to the user that is unexpected and helpful.
• Is it scalable? Content needs to be able to flow in and out of it without breaking the layout. Can we add pages and navigation easily?
• Do the search engines see the content? I keep SEO practices in mind when designing a site. I keep my text and navigation in HTML if possible, use SEO friendly URL's, Meta tags, site maps and other techniques to maximize SEO.