I develop, design, repair and configure websites primarily in the WordPress platform and have been the driving force and primary developer for Plasterdog Web Design since 2010. I have a deep background in project management, have participated in graphic design and illustration projects since childhood, and remain a lifelong proponent of the Bauhaus philosophy of design:
Form follows function – the subject matter and the content of a website will determine layout and design
Simplicity augments effectiveness – the more direct path to information the more effective it will be
Technological innovation drives creativity – as new functionality evolves it can inform how content is presented
Design and execution are intertwined – website content modification and expansion must be anticipated and facilitated, if the design is difficult to maintain it will fail
My skill set includes:
Information Architecture
The success of any website hinges on how logical and intuitive the presentation of information is, and so this is the starting point of any project. My process is to start by identifying key objectives, functional requirements and available content to effectively translate them into effective “calls to action” in an environment where site visitors find information intuitively configured and navigation is efficient and straight-forward.
Visual Design interpreted into code
As a longtime printmaker and sculptor, I have always known that process and technology is an integral part of visual presentation. The tools used to convey web based content involve unique characteristics and limitations which dictate a proper approach. For this reason web design is best moved into the browser and out of static documents as quickly as possible. Thinking in presentation language first is more efficient and effective than a translation from mediums that do not live naturally in a browser… especially in a dynamic database driven environment.
I am also quite accustomed to taking an existing visual design from an outside source and breaking it down into the proper layers, segments and components to work well in the browser environment.
User Experience / Interface Design
The guiding principle of creating workable site is to structure it around the point of view of the site visitor. At some level each website functions as an interface that the visitor must use to access information. The clearer the path to that information is, the more successful the site will be.
Starting with the premise that the purpose of the site is to make it efficient and intuitive to use, all other factors will fall into place.
Search Engine Optimization
Search algorithms are being continually refined and perfected to produce valid results, so the process of optimizing a site for organic search visibility directly mirrors what makes a site a better user experience for its’ human visitors. I practice what is often termed “on-page SEO” which includes:
- Optimizing meta-data to incorporate selective keywords
- Optimizing page copy and other related elements to incorporate selected keywords
- Clean and well formatted page URLs
- Optimized page load speeds
Training & Instruction
I have written countless tutorials on how to use WordPress and other CMS systems and pride myself for having a knack for providing clarity in matters that initially seem confusing and complex.