Art Direction and Design // With over 10 years experience in:Web Design, User Experience, Print, Illustration, Brand, and HTML.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Three's Company Catering Inc., 2007
Three's Company Cafe & Catering
This client required a website elegant in design and simple in functionality. The owners needed to keep in touch with their clients: regular newsletter, easy to print menus and an on-line quote request form.
Challenge // Creating a smart content management solution that didn't break the bank and would be easy for my client to use. With constantly changing menus and catering specials flexibility was a must.
Solution // By combining Dreamweaver and Contribute the chefs at Three’s Company are able to update all of their content, thanks to the WYSIWYG interface. This website is a real hit with their customers and a dream site for my client.
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Web Design // User Experience // Brand L'Arche Foundation Canada, 2010-2011
iBelong!
iBelong! is a bilingual website assisting young adults with intellectual disabilities obtain skills to make friends outside the support of a school system.
Challenge // Design an accessible and inspirational website. Plan for a content rich site with only partial sample content and create flexible templates that work with the CMS.
Solution // Detailed wireframes helped define content and functionality. The Youth navigation is supported by icons and an additional nav to move easily through all topics sequentially. Texture, colour, photography and video create a dynamic and welcoming website. The handwritten logo is creates a personal, human touch.
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Brand // Web Design Canadian Music Centre, 2010
Centre Tracks
The CMC contracted me to design a logo and interface for a web app prototype that would allow the film and tv industry to search CMC's vast music database by mood descriptors.
Challenge // The design was tied to existing functionality that could not be modified. The brand needed to convey the ability to select and edit music tracks. Project timeline: a few weeks.
Solution // Worked closely with the CMC team to understand functional limitations. Simple visual organizational devices are used to structure data. Colour is used to define steps and create user focus. The selected logo informed the final look and feel.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Path to Health, 2009
Path to Health
Path to Health, a website about the holistic nutritionist practice of Michelle Weir, needed to describe services and inform as well as provide support to her clients.
Challenge // Provide a contemporary design and a simple interface to make content accessible to all of her clients.
Solution // The general tone is set by a wonderful logo designed by Heather Godden. The content is set in large type, resources have a printer friendly CSS and the navigation is clear and simple. The palette and style is a fresh take on traditional health care designs.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Keen Technology Consulting, 2009
Keen Technology Consulting
This Toronto-based recruitment and staffing company needed a new website to showcase their services.
Challenge // Build a website that appeals to both clients and candidates; Most of the competition at the time separated the 2 user groups via a splash selection page.
Solution // Design a fresh and professional website using the modern geometric existing brand. Implement a simple navigation that gets candidates to jobs and clients to service information. Ensure the information provided clearly address questions that both audiences may have about their services.
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Web Design // User Experience Planet Kid, 2008, 2011
Planet Kid – Ecommerce
Planet Kid is a Toronto children's boutique. This project began in 2008 when owner Sara Filmore was interested in taking her store online.
Challenge // Expand the unique store brand (by Carol Pitre) onto the web. Create a unique design that uses predetermined x-cart templates. Small budget.
Solution // A fun 40s flare has guided the tone, with a contemporary twist and playfulness. Worked closely with the coder exploring template flexibility. Seasonal products are a key marketing focus. Social media integration is essential.
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Web Design // User Experience Jeremy Tankard, 2007
Jeremy Tankard
Jeremy Tankard was an illustrator launching his career as an emerging author when he approached me to create a promotional website.
Challenge // Design a website that is reflective of his unique style. Build a structure that will grow with my client as he advances in his career.
Solution // Worked with a coder to build the site in WordPress, allowing Jeremy to maintain the website and stay in touch with growing fans. His latest sketch and blog entries automatically feed to the home page. The design is inspired by his sketch books, incorporating Jeremy's line work and sketches. As his career has taken off the structure and design of the site continues to meet his needs.
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Illustration Various Clients
Illustration
Illustration is often a part of design work. These are some specific examples of illustrative work I've done on various projects. My most challenging illustration was re-creating the SDAC featured race cars from poor-quality photographs. What’s life without it’s challenges?
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML North Toronto Naturopathic, 2008
North Toronto Naturopathic
NTNC needed an online presence.
Challenge // Create a robust site architecture to allow for flexibility in services. Incorporate nature photography into the design.
Solution // The information architecture of the site continues to be flexible, adapting to changes in content. The cropped, close up images of plants reference the principles of naturopathy. The palette of the site was derived from these photos.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Theatre Museum Canada, 2005
Theatre Museum Canada
Kate, then TMC president, approached me to review the design of their website. I quickly determined that basic steps in planning, i.e. user experience design, had been skipped.
Challenge // Define a clear strategy for the current website while planning for future growth.
Solution // Design a simple website that promotes the museum, building interest and financial support. Since it's original launch, the website has grown to include on-line videos of iconic figures in Canadian theatre and is currently planning the opening of a bricks and mortar space.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Karen Lang, 2011
Martha the Mouse
Karen Lang needed a website to promote her series of books.
Challenge // Create a site that promotes Martha the Mouse as a brand
Solution // With direction from Karen and her book designer, I created a slide show/animation emphasizing Martha's expressive personality. The site structure is built with expansion of products in mind.
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Print Design Earl Haig Public School, 2009-2011
Volunteer
Participating in the community is an important part of my life. After joining our community school council it became apparent that I could apply my talents to assist the school.
My biggest contribution was updating the school mascot. This mascot was applied to t-shirts, jerseys and other apparel that helped raise funds to support our school sports teams. Not only has it help raise funds but also has built great pride and school spirit among staff, students and families. Win. Win. Win.
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Web Design // HTML Bayview Dental Centre, 2009
Dr. Stephen Simpson
I was contracted by Nine Design to design a website for their client. The content and information architecture was complete when I received the project.
Challenge // Design a website that complimented the existing brand.
Solution // Working with art director Heather Godden, I came up with the idea to base the design on curved and glass-like elements that are present in the stunning interior design of the clinic. I chose these elements for their aesthetic qualities and conceptual resonance.
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Web Design // User Experience // Brand House of Compassion of Toronto, 2011
House of Compassion
House of Compassion wanted to draw attention to the larger issues of mental illness and homelessness, bring personal stories to the public, and attract funding to expand their vision.
Challenge // Look at their brand as a whole and clearly evoke the spirit of the home and the people who live there. Finding the right imagery would be essential.
Solution // I modified the existing logo, opening it up and softening the line work. Focus was given to resident artwork to represent the individuals that make this organziation unique and reflect the core values of HOC. Colour plays an important emotive role in this design. The use of layered textures echoes the content.
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Web Design // User Experience // HTML Crisci & Mayer, 2010
Crisci & Mayer
Crisci & Mayer is a mental health practice with 3 distinct services: consulting, counselling and training. I originally designed their website in 2007 and had the unique pleasure of redesigning my own design in 2010.
Challenge // Allow myself to approach the site with fresh eyes.
Solution // Ensuring we met the needs of the various end-users, I updated the structure of the site and re-assigned content accordingly. The home page manages to balance the need to give each area equal weight and maintains levity of tone and balance in design.
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