WEB DESIGN

Web design encompasses many different skills and disciplines in the production and maintenance of websites. The different areas of web design include web graphic design; interface design; authoring, including standardized code and proprietary software; user experience design; and search engine optimization.
Often many individuals will work in teams covering different aspects of the design process, although some designers will cover them all.
The term web design is normally used to describe the design process relating to the front-end (client side) design of a website including writing mark-up. Web design partially overlaps web engineering in the broader scope of web development.
Web designers are expected to have an awareness of usability and if their role involves creating mark up then they are also expected to be up to date with web accessibility guidelines.

Web designers use a variety of different tools depending on what part of the production process they are involved in. These tools are updated over time by newer standards and software but the principles behind them remain the same.
Web graphic designers use vector and raster graphics packages to create web-formatted imagery or design prototypes.
Technologies used to create websites include standardized mark-up, which can be hand-coded or generated by WYSIWYG editing software.
There is also proprietary software based on plug-ins that bypasses the client's browser versions. These are often WYSIWYG but with the option of using the software's scripting language.
Search engine optimization tools may be used to check search engine ranking and suggest improvements.

User understanding of the content of a website often depends on user understanding of how the website works. This is part of the user experience design.
User experience is related to layout, clear instructions and labeling (navigation) on a website. How well a user understands how they can interact on a site may also depend on the interactive design of the site.
If a user perceives the usefulness of the website, they are more likely to continue using it. Users who are skilled and well versed with website use may find a more unique, yet less intuitive or less user-friendly website interface useful none-the-less.
Much of the user experience design and interactive design are considered in the user interface design. However, users with less experience are less likely to see the advantages or usefulness of a less intuitive website interface. This drives the trend for a more universal user experience and ease of access to accommodate as many users as possible regardless of user skill.

Transit Auto Service Center (TASC), the "home of domestic and continental vehicle repairs, servicing, and pre-owned vehicle sales." TASC is an established auto center, located on Transit Road, East Amherst, NY 14051. In business since 1978, the center has been a hub of activity for both local and visiting motorists. The owner "Peter Azizan" has maintained a quality relationship with old and new customers, and has a loyal staff always ready to serve the public.

As a former Volvo driver and customer who sought out a local continental car servicing facility, I got to know the owner quite well on a professional basis. Using that professional comradeship I was able to persuade Peter to consider a website as a method of advertising and attracting new customers, as well as providing greater communication tool for his current customers.

The original HTML4 website was not a resounding success unfortunately. However, with the growing popularity of smartphone use, the newer HTML5 "mobile friendly" website is hugely popular with both the company and its clientele.

"When a task needs to be done, it needs to be done by TASC."

Website link TASC
(website opens in a new window)

A college project for the "Interactive Telecommunications" class, which involved the creation of an app, along with factual data in support of its potential user benefits.

The i3D application is a 3D photographic imaging tool for the iPhone, that creates 3D digital photographs. In accordance to the iOS Human Interface Guidelines, the application is launched in its supported orientation (landscape), this view supports superior depth for 3D imagery, and is more acceptable when viewed on both television screens and computer monitors. The i3D is a purely internet image device for viewing 3D media. Though prints can be made from images, they will appear as 2D prints on standard paper from standard printing devices.

Function

With its linear navigational function, the user moves forward through the 3D image production process that ensures perfect exposures in high dynamic resolution with 3 dimensional depth. The camera's "Instruction" screen allows the user to read through the camera manual (viewed online in PDF format), or view quick tips and suggestions. The camera function takes the user directly to the camera screen, where navigational icons are kept to a basic minimum for minimum disruption on the camera's view. With the applications automatic focus sensors for all three layers, the camera controls are its aperture for greater depth of field control, its shutter speed, which will adjust to the aperture, and a steady cam control to prevent possible camera shake. When the user is satisfied with the camera's setting, the user is then free to take the picture.

Website link i3D
(website opens in a new window)

Project Analysis : The Tonawanda Theater Troupe has been in existence for just under seven years, coexisting as an amateur production company in the theater arts. The troupe consists of 32 regular members under the guidance of their stage director "Derrick James." The troupe have presented shows for the local community, paid for by the actors themselves, a small award given to them by the local Arts Council, and by donations through local business sponsorship. All advertising has been via word-of-mouth, or a small article in the local free paper. The new Website would open up avenues of new patronship through broader customer territory, specific advertising with information and media pertinent to the Troupe and all new and future presentations.

Project Definition : On the surface the Website would be an advertising platform displaying all past and present theater presentations undertaken by the Tonawanda Theater Troupe (TTT). By nature the theater is a very visual and audible art, and the Website will reflect the power and creative flavor of the theater. There will be relative information regarding the business end of the Website, including contact and booking information, thereby bringing potential customers closer to the company's objectives. On the visual side there will be an array of photographs including a slide show displaying highlights from past productions. While the site will display a theater appearance, there will be no dramatics in regard to the site's function. All pages and functions on the site must be user-friendly. All images will be compressed for the best possible quality with maximum upload speed. Other topics included on the site will be the mission statement, a brief history, contact and booking information, presentation critiques, and sponsorship information. Potentially the project will enhance the customer interaction, broaden theater interest, funding, and ultimately the quality of each production, thereby making the TTT a figure head in the world of amateur dramatics.

Website link STAGE FRYTE
(website opens in a new window)

The band formed in 2007, with all it's members originating from within the Western New York area. They became very popular on the local circuit, selling out at each location, and gaining a vast fan-base out-stretching beyond the home state and across the Canadian border. The band consists of "Jinge" on lead guitar, "Baz" on rhythm guitar/vocals, "Phil" on bass, "Deke" on percussion, and "Throat" on vocals. While there have been a number of guest appearances to the band, there has been little change in the original line-up of band members.

To date the band have been unable unable to cut a record deal, though have conscientiously reached their audience through developing their own studio cuts and selling recordings, tickets, and merchandize online. The band have had a very full list of gigs throughout the last few years, and look forward to a very busy season ahead. Always appreciative of their strong fan base, the band want to thank all their fans, past, present, and new, and look forward to performing for you all this year, and to the future.

Website link Red October
(website opens in a new window)

Boogie Knights

Camelot 537 AD. It is a number of years prior to the battle of Camlann, a time when King Arthur held jousting matches so that all his bravest and most loyal knights could sharpen up their dance moves. The annual Camelot Disco Jousting Championships are underway, and the evil Mordred has bewitched the judges with his rendition of the "Disco Dragon Dance." Can he beat King Arthur's bravest knight "Sir Prancealot" to the coveted golden stoned excalibur award, and therefore become the true King of Disco!

(Boogie knights) ain't no doubt we are here to party
(Boogie knights) come on now got to get it started
Dance with the boogie get down
(Dance with the boogie get down)
'Cause boogie knights are always the best in town

Website link Boogie Knights

Dave, like myself, was a former photographer in the Royal Air Force, and a good friend of mine (even though he didn't play rugby) at RAF Northolt, Middlesex, UK. Though we lost touch with each other after I left the RAF, we both found work through photography. We also found each other again through Facebook, and through ex-military contacts. While I have expanded into the world of all things digital media, Dave has remained faithful to his love of photography, and is currently self employed as a photographer in South-West England.

While Dave is rightfully proud of his achievements in his chosen venture, his old business website was holding him back from reaching many new potential customers who rely on mobile media to "surf the net." This was no longer an issue when Dave had his website remade using HTML5, along with some needed SEO, making it now mobile-user-friendly, and the source of a greater potential customer base.

Website link DSP
(website opens in a new window)

The Laarbruch Museum website is a professional site show-casing the Royal Air Force's role as a NATO deterrent during it's 45 year history in West Germany between 1953 - 1999. The museum exists successfully in a relatively small area of the former airbase, of what is now the operational Airport Weeze. Using the former Roman Catholic Church and Astra Cinema that are located next to each other, the museum displays a vast number of large and small historical relics that spans its 45 years there, relaying a true epitaph to the Royal Air Force's role as a nuclear deterrent during peacetime.

The website is in many parts, informing the viewer of factual information and media pertinent to its historical value, and current news. The museum relies on donations of artifacts, of which there have been many generous contributions, and is currently in the process of adding new exhibits, offering numerous pleasant memories to those who served there in its 45 year history, to those with interests in military air defense, and as a extension to the busy airport's success and popularity.

As a former airman who served there, I was very pleased to offer my services as a web designer in the much-needed modernization of their former website. While the main museum web site was completed on schedule, it is a current on-going process of re-working many of the digital archives. Addtionally, there is the increased work-load of being a trilingual website. Laarbruch (Weeze) being located near the Dutch border, has many visitors from Holland as well as the UK, and naturally from its home base in Western Germany. Therefore, the site is offered in all three languages which can be navigated to from the opening page.

Website link BFPO43
(website opens in a new window)