IA & UX

When I first began designing and building websites, we were given entire web projects to complete from start to finish. As well as doing the design, HTML coding, project management and client liaison, this also meant that scoping, information architecture and user experience design was part of the brief. In those early days we generally used pencil and paper to sketch out our sitemap and wireframes, and common sense to figure out how to structure the site.

Much has changed in IA & UX since then, and the role has become far more specialised than it used to be. For a few years I didn't do much at all - it was carried out either by the designer or by a specialist information architect, but recently I've been doing much more, mainly for my freelance clients. I've also had a consultative role during the initial scoping process at companies such as Shift where the decisions made by the information architect impact on the development requirements and hence the timeline and budget.

My main IA/UX tool used to be Freehand (well, it's somewhat more technical than pencil and paper!), together with common sense and a comprehensive understanding of how people use websites, based on my many years of experience. I now use Balsamiq which is an excellent (and speedy) wireframing tool that also allows me to create 'paper prototypes' of my sitemap and wireframes.

When we're pitching for a freelance job we include the sitemap and wireframes with our fixed-price quote, as it provides our potential client with a visual representation of our thought-process and how users will experience the site. It also allows us to calculate an accurate price for the job - the number of templates and the range of functionality being directly related to the overall cost of the design, build and integration. We then refer to these wireframes throughout the design, build and integration phases.

These are the sites where I have been responsible for the information architecture, user experience and/or navigation. They are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top.

Case studies in this category

MacDiarmid Institute (2024)

Website: macdiarmid.ac.nz
Client: The MacDiarmid Institute
Dates: October 2023 - present
Government status: Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE)
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Large sites

Reno Man Construction

Website: renomanconstruction.co.nz
Client: Chris Routhan
Dates: May 2023, with ongoing support afterwards
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Chris Routhan is a friend of mine - we're in the same band - and he's a self-employed builder by trade. He had looked at a few other Wellington builders' websites and knew that he wanted a very simple site - probably just a WordPress one-pager - to showcase what he does and the services he provides, and to give potential clients an easy way to get in touch with him.

I changed various aspects of our selected WordPress theme design and then built, content-loaded, proof-read and tested the website, selecting and optimising the photographic imagery from Chris's own collection, and organised webhosting. I also wrote most of the content myself. I now provide Chris with ongoing support and updates as required. Find out more about the Reno Man Construction project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, WordPress, Small sites

MPI - PBI

Website: piersearch.mpi.govt.nz/plants-biosecurity-index
Client: Ministry for Primary Industries
Dates: July - October 2022 launch date. Post-launch upgrades October 2022 - January 2024
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at MPI

I designed and built a series of web-based applications and tools within the biosecurity sphere for the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the umbrella of the PIER (Product Import and Export Requirements) project.

At the last minute we were asked to redesign and rebuild the Plants Biosecurity Index (PBI) and integrate it into SilverStripe, to be launched at the same time as the updated ONZPR and new PIER Search tools. The PBI is a searchable database of over 30,000 plant species that provides information on whether each species can be imported into New Zealand as seeds or nursery stock.

I was responsible for the UX consultation and design, responsive web design, front-end development, browser and device testing, e-government compliance and accessibility, proofreading, post-integration testing and QA. I also wrote the microtext, introductory text, and help text across all pages and templates, and produced a "naming conventions" document, in which I reviewed and standardised various text elements common to all pages across all four new tools in the PIER family. Find out more about the MPI - PBI project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Large sites

MPI - ONZPR in SilverStripe

Website: onzpr.mpi.govt.nz
Client: Ministry for Primary Industries
Dates: April - October 2022 launch date. Post-launch upgrades October 2022 - January 2024
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at MPI

I designed and built a series of web-based applications and tools within the biosecurity sphere for the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the umbrella of the PIER (Product Import and Export Requirements) project.

In June 2020 we had launched our first application - the Official New Zealand Pest Register or ONZPR. In 2022 we updated the ONZPR and integrated it into the SilverStripe CMS to join PIER Search, which was being designed and built at the time. The ONZPR is a searchable database of almost 25,000 pests and pathogens relevant to New Zealand.

I was responsible for the UX design, responsive web design, front-end development, cross-browser and mobile device testing, e-government compliance and accessibility, and post-integration testing and QA. I was also responsible for writing the microtext, introductory text, and help text across all pages and templates. Find out more about the MPI - ONZPR in SilverStripe project

MPI - PIER Search

Website: piersearch.mpi.govt.nz
Client: Ministry for Primary Industries
Dates: January 2020 - October 2022 launch date. Post-launch upgrades October 2022 - January 2024
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at MPI

I designed and built a series of web-based applications and tools within the biosecurity sphere for the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the umbrella of the PIER (Product Import and Export Requirements) project.

The core product in Phase 1 of the PIER project is PIER Search. This online search tool enables users to find NZ import and export requirements for a range of commodities and countries.

I was responsible for the UX design, responsive web design, front-end development, cross-browser and mobile device testing, e-government compliance and accessibility, some content-loading and CMS training, and post-integration testing and QA. I was also responsible for writing the microtext, introductory text, and help text across all pages and templates. Find out more about the MPI - PIER Search project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Large sites

MPI - ONZPR

Website: onzpr.mpi.govt.nz (site updated in 2022)
Client: Ministry for Primary Industries
Dates: September 2019 - June 2020
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at MPI

I designed and built a series of web-based applications and tools within the biosecurity sphere for the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the umbrella of the PIER (Product Import and Export Requirements) project.

Our first application was the Official New Zealand Pest Register or ONZPR. The ONZPR is a searchable database of almost 25,000 pests and pathogens relevant to New Zealand, and includes general information about each pest, as well as specific details for researchers, importers, exporters and the general public.

I was responsible for the UX design, responsive web design, front-end development, cross-browser and mobile device testing, e-government compliance and accessibility, and post-integration testing and QA. I also wrote the microtext, introductory text, and help text across all pages and templates. Find out more about the MPI - ONZPR project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, e-govt/WCAG compliance, ASP or ASP.NET, Government websites, Large sites

MPI - DBMS

Website: internal MPI access only
Client: Ministry for Primary Industries
Dates: June 2019 - October 2022 (intermittently)
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at MPI

I designed and built a series of web-based applications and tools within the biosecurity sphere for the Ministry for Primary Industries, under the umbrella of the PIER (Product Import and Export Requirements) project.

My first task for PIER was to design and build a series of database management (DBMS) screens. These would allow our database team to input and edit the thousands of commodities, pests, import and export requirements that make up PIER Search and related applications.

I was responsible for the UX design, the visual web design, the front-end development and the post-integration testing and QA. Find out more about the MPI - DBMS project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, ASP or ASP.NET, Government websites, Large sites

MacDiarmid Institute

Website: macdiarmid.ac.nz
Client: The MacDiarmid Institute
Dates: January - March 2017 and August 2018 - July 2019 with ongoing support after launch
Government status: Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE)
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology is one of New Zealand's oldest Centres of Research Excellence (CoREs). It brings together almost 100 research investigators along with graduate and PhD students from seven institutions across Aotearoa. Their research focus is materials science and new technology, especially the unexplored territory where chemistry, physics, biology and engineering meet.

Their existing website was old, messy, out-of-date and hard to maintain. The navigation architecture wasn't well organised and it had become difficult for visitors to find the information they were looking for. It was time for a new website with a new logical architecture and a much stronger focus on the institute's researchers, with the majority of the pages being re-written prior to launch. We also wanted to migrate and incorporate news articles and magazine items from the old site, as much of this content was valuable as an ongoing archive of the Institution's research projects and progress.

I was responsible for the initial proposal and quote, client liaison, project management, information architecture and UX design, responsive design development and front-end development, browser and device testing, content-loading, post-integration testing, QA, proof-reading, web editor training and ongoing support. I loaded all 800 pages of new content with the help of my developer, and reformatted over 500 news articles migrated from the old site. Find out more about the MacDiarmid Institute project

Categories: Showcase sites, Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Large sites

Bloomsbury Associates

Website: bloomsbury.co.nz
Client: Bloomsbury Associates
Dates: February - July 2018, with ongoing webmaster support after delivery
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Bloomsbury Associates is an independent financial advisory practice established to provide investment services to clients in New Zealand. In 2010 I designed and built their first website, and have been taking care of it ever since. An office relocation in 2018 combined with a redesign of their logo and branding was the perfect opportunity to create a new, responsive website for them.

All the content was new, written especially for the website by Matai Partners. I liaised with them and together we worked on creating the perfect marriage of website design and content for the new site, taking inspiration from the new logo, typeface and branding colours from Scratch Design.

I was responsible for the initial quote, client liaison, project management, scoping, information architecture, responsive design and front-end development, building the completed website, content-loading, editing, testing, proof-reading, QA and ongoing support. There's no CMS - we don't need one - instead, I code all the content by hand.

I am the webmaster for the site, providing updates as required and have also redesigned and developed new HTML emails using Campaign Monitor, which are sent out quarterly to the company's clients. Find out more about the Bloomsbury Associates project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, HTML email, Dreamweaver templates, No CMS, Small sites

Transpower GOL

Website: internal Transpower access only
Client: Transpower
Dates: June 2016 - March 2017
Government status: State-Owned Enterprise
My professional status: contractor at Transpower

Transpower’s Grid Operators who manage the National Grid were using an old application that had been co-opted from another team and wasn’t entirely fit for purpose in its new environment. They wanted a new custom-made application – based on the original but reinvented to match exactly what they needed. They felt it would be useful to have a UX designer on the team, to help them figure out how to turn their requirements into reality. Several processes had to be integrated with other Transpower applications, sharing and updating information/data between apps, which added another layer of complexity to the project.

I was responsible for information architecture, UX consultation and design, wireframes and schematics (keeping these updated on an ongoing basis), responsive application design, and front-end development of the application screens. I collaborated and consulted closely with the developer, working on the integrated application within Visual Studio once she had built the app, then did post-integration testing and QA. I also helped the BA to maintain and update the requirements.

The project was carried out within an Agile work environment. The process was highly consultative, with expert opinions being sought daily from our two SMEs (Grid Operators from Auckland and Christchurch) and also from the rest of the team, particularly our BA, our chief tester, our developer, and our system integration and security specialist. Find out more about the Transpower GOL project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, ASP or ASP.NET, Government websites, Small sites

Major Consulting

Website: majorconsulting.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Shelley Major
Dates: April - December 2016, with ongoing support until December 2018
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Major Consulting Group (MCG) is a Wellington-based health and safety consultancy working with clients across New Zealand and in Australia in a variety of sectors, making a difference to health, safety and organisational performance. They provide a range of assurance and safety culture audits as well as practical assistance, tailoring enduring health and safety business processes for their clients.

They asked me to quote for a responsive WordPress website, based on an existing theme in order to save time and keep the costs down. Their director and I selected the theme together, based on their requirements, and I built, content-loaded and tested the website, selected all the photographic imagery from iStock, changed various aspects of the design, and organised webhosting. I also provided MCG staff with WordPress training and ongoing support. Find out more about the Major Consulting project

OFLC (2016)

Website: classificationoffice.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
Dates: September 2015 - April 2016, with ongoing support until December 2021
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

I built a new version of the Information for Students site in 2015 for the Office of Film & Literature Classification, which left their main website looking a little tired and outdated. The next project was therefore to design and build a new responsive version of the main site.

I was responsible for client liaison, project proposal and quote, project management, scoping, information architecture, wireframes and schematics, responsive design and front-end development, HTML5, CSS3, LESS, jQuery, e-govt accessibility compliance, QA, client training and ongoing support, content coding, formatting and loading, some content writing and editing (Dreamweaver templates). Find out more about the OFLC (2016) project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium sites

Grosvenor KiwiSaver

Website: in-house online forms, not available to the public
Client: Grosvenor KiwiSaver
Dates: October - November 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Grosvenor Investment Management Limited is one of the Government's official KiwiSaver providers, with a dedicated KiwiSaver website to cater for their 94,000 members. They wanted to prototype a complete online joining/transfer process, which would initially be used by their KiwiSaver advisers, and which could be rolled out to all users on the website at a later date.

They asked me if I could help them to wireframe and design the various pages and screens that would be required (responsive design), and then to build these ready for integration by their in-house developers. I ended up working alongside the developer as we restyled his .asp forms together. Find out more about the Grosvenor KiwiSaver project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, ASP or ASP.NET, E-commerce, Small sites

BookerMartin Comms

Website: no longer online
Client: Frances Martin and Mike Booker
Dates: August - November 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

I met Frances Martin through the webmaster work I did for the Zero Harm website. Frances and her business partner Mike Booker needed a website for their communications company, BookerMartin Communications. They do communications work for both business and government, and wanted a very simple, minimal, responsive website that they could update themselves.

They asked me to quote for a single-page website, based on an existing WordPress theme in order to save time and keep the costs down. Mike and I selected the theme together, based on their requirements, and I built and tested the website, improved various aspects of the design and organised webhosting. Find out more about the BookerMartin Comms project

Education Council

Website: no longer online
Client: Education Council
Dates: May-July 2015, November 2015
Government status: Independent statutory body
My professional status: Web consultant with Insight Consultants Ltd

In 2015 the New Zealand Teachers Council was re-structured, re-named and re-branded and became the Education Council of Aotearoa New Zealand. Insight Consultants has been working with the NZ Teachers Council for many years, and designed the new branding and identity for the Education Council. They also provided a new design for the existing website, and were asked to oversee the website re-skinning process that was carried out by another web design/dev company.

I was asked by Chris Payne, Insight's Director, to work alongside his team as their resident web consultant. Initially they asked me to sort through the 800+ PDF and image files on the website, updating some of these with the new logo/branding. I also provided advice on meta-tagging in relation to internal search engine optimisation, reviewed the progress of the web design company that was re-skinning the website, created a master sitemap and advised them on best practice for the FAQs section. Find out more about the Education Council project

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, Drupal, Government websites, Large sites

Zero Harm

Website: zeroharm.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Business Leaders’ Health & Safety Forum
Dates: February 2015 - November 2020
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum is a coalition of business and government leaders committed to improving the performance of workplace health and safety in New Zealand. Their vision is all business leaders passionately committed to achieving Zero Harm Workplaces. They needed a new webmaster to take care of their website, and approached me after a personal recommendation from one of my other clients.

I am responsible for regularly updating their responsive website, creating and removing pages, content-loading, making graphics, and editing/proofreading content. I am also responsible for doing a full content audit of the website and, to review the website IA with a view to updating and improving it. I will also be doing a similar review of the homepage to see if that can be improved, and re-designing and re-building it if necessary. I'm also responsible for social media consultation, helping the organisation to decide what social media to use and how to use it. Find out more about the Zero Harm project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, SilverStripe, Medium sites

OFLC - info for students

Website: no longer online
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
Dates: October 2014 - March 2015 and June-July 2015, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The OFLC had contracted a young designer to redesign their information for students website which I had originally designed and built for them back in 2010. Following completion of the design, the OFLC team decided that they needed to have a responsive website rather than a static one. I was invited to make the design responsive and then build the new Dreamweaver templates.

I was responsible for client liaison, project proposal and quote, project management, scoping, information architecture, wireframes and schematics, design development, responsive design and development, HTML5, CSS3, LESS, jQuery, e-govt accessibility compliance, QA, client training and ongoing support, content coding, formatting and loading, some content writing and editing (Dreamweaver templates). Find out more about the OFLC - info for students project

OFLC homepage (2014)

Website: classificationoffice.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
Dates: August - September 2014
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Office of Film and Literature Classification wanted to improve their website homepage - both in terms of its design and also the content that was displayed there. They wanted a number of new elements on the homepage, including a carousel highlighting their videos and a link to their Facebook posts, as well as rearranging the existing content on the page.

I was responsible for putting together a quote for the work, wireframing the homepage, redesigning and rebuilding it, accessibility and browser testing. Find out more about the OFLC homepage (2014) project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium sites

Govt.nz

Website: govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Department of Internal Affairs
Dates: December 2013 - June 2014
Government status: Government Department
My professional status: contractor at DIA

Govt.nz is a ground-breaking project run by the Department of Internal Affairs, that seeks to improve the way that government communicates with citizens online. Govt.nz aims to enable visitors to find the government information they are seeking, quickly and easily. It is based on the UK all-of-government website, gov.uk, and both sites are user-focused, with user testing as their foundation.

I was taken on to replace the original designer/front-end developer halfway through the Beta phase. I was responsible for UX research, UX proposal-writing and UX design, responsive web design, responsive front-end development within an instance of the Government's Common Web Platform (CWP), browser and device testing, government web standards accessibility compliance and testing to the very highest level, post-integration testing and QA, attending regular team meetings and doing regular "show and tell" updates for the major stakeholders within DIA.

The project was run using Agile methods, with daily standups and two-week sprints, the team being managed by experienced scrum masters. This Agile methodology was completely new to DIA. The website was on-line and available to the public throughout the Beta phase, and we welcomed feedback and comments from visitors, all of which we investigated further and acted upon as necessary. Find out more about the Govt.nz project

Categories: Showcase sites, Client liaison, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Medium sites

Hearts n Roses

Website: no longer online
Client: Deborah Harris
Dates: November 2013 - April 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Deborah Harris made and sold handmade heart pendants and felt the time was right to branch out and put her artwork online. The website needed to be a fully-functioning e-commerce site where she could display and sell the individual heart pendants. She also wanted a weddings section where she could showcase her custom-made bespoke hearts that were made to order to match the flowers and colours chosen by the wedding and bridal party.

I was responsible for client liaison, project management, hosting and Domain name management, scoping, information architecture, site schematics, selection and re-styling of the WordPress e-commerce theme, HTML5, CSS3, LESS, some PHP wrangling, building the skeleton site, testing, CMS training, QA and ongoing support, some content production management, writing and editing, creating product and portfolio graphics. Find out more about the Hearts n Roses project

WebWeaver Productions

Website: webweaver.co.nz
Client: me
Dates: August 2013 - April 2015 onwards until September 2024
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Commissioned, designed, architecture-d, developed, built, written, edited and project-managed by me. The site is designed to be fully accessible, is written in valid HTML5 and CSS3, and has been fully tested and displays consistently across a wide range of operating systems, browsers and devices.

The latest iteration of the site is responsive, designed for ease of reading in whatever device it's being viewed, and fully tested across a range of devices and platforms. It runs on the SilverStripe Content Management System, built and integrated by my WebWeaver colleague, Tom St George. Find out more about the WebWeaver Productions project

Categories: Showcase sites, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Large sites

OTNZ

Website: nzaot.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Occupational Therapy New Zealand
Dates: July 2013 - March 2015, with ongoing support after delivery
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

An occupational therapist is a registered health provider who uses the theory of occupation to improve well-being and quality of life. Occupational Therapy New Zealand Whakaora Ngangahau Aotearoa is the national association representing occupational therapy professionals in New Zealand.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, design, HTML5 and CSS, testing, accessibility and e-govt compliance, SilverStripe CMS training, QA and ongoing support. Find out more about the OTNZ project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Large sites

EWRB

Website: ewrb.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Electrical Workers Registration Board and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Dates: July - December 2013
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: Web consultant with Insight Consultants Ltd

The Electrical Workers Registration Board ensures the competence of electrical and electronic workers. Its work is overseen by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Their old website was very old and out of date, and Insight Consultants Ltd was invited to design a new site, which was to be built using an instance of the Government's new Common Web Platform (CWP) in SilverStripe as a starting-point.

I was responsible for helping with the initial pitch/quote, wireframing including responsive UX design, and advising the designers how best to design the website within the framework of the CWP. I then developed the design across a range of breakpoints, and built the templates in HTML5 and CSS3 (designing the responsivity in-browser as I built). I was responsible for browser and device testing and was also asked to do a thorough proof-read and QA of the site prior to launch. Find out more about the EWRB project

Licensed Building Practitioners

Website: lbp.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Building Practitioners Board and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment
Dates: April - May 2013
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: Web consultant with Insight Consultants Ltd

Insight Consultants Ltd was invited to design a new website for Licensed Building Practitioners, supported by MBIE. The website was to be part of the much larger business.govt.nz website, built in Plone, and the design was restricted by the requirements and capabilities of this larger site.

I was responsible for helping with the initial pitch and then working through user testing, sitemapping and wireframing with them. I also advised the Insight designers on how best to tackle the modular and restrictive nature of the Plone infrastructure while still bringing a level of BPB branding and styling to the design. Find out more about the Licensed Building Practitioners project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, IA & UX, Website designer, Plone, Government websites, Medium sites

Zumo Coffee

Website: zumo.co.nz (responsive web design wireframes)
Client: Zumo Coffee Roasters
Dates: February 2013
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Zumo is a coffee roasting company and coffee house based in Nelson. I was approached to put together a quote for an online web application which would allow Nelsonians to order their cup of Zumo coffee via their smartphone, tablet or desktop computer, ready for pickup/takeaway, in-house enjoyment or home delivery.

As part of the quote, I put together a full set of wireframes to demonstrate the responsive layout, the web app's functionality, and the ordering process itself; across the 11 templates that I had identified as being necessary for the app to function as required. The project was put on hold a short while after I delivered my wireframes, but I'm including it in my portfolio because it was a great piece of work! Find out more about the Zumo Coffee project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Responsive web design/dev, E-commerce, Small sites

Pacific Island Affairs

Website: mpia.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
Dates: July - December 2012, with ongoing support and updates after delivery
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs is Government's premier adviser on policies and interventions to promote the social, economic and cultural development of Pacific peoples in New Zealand. A recent survey had indicated that visitors found the website confusing and difficult to navigate, and the Ministry also felt that they were unable to feature and highlight the most important areas of the site on their existing homepage; so wanted to remedy both these issues with a website upgrade.

I was responsible for producing five initial quote options, client liaison, project management, information architecture, schematics, partial site re-design, XHTML, pure CSS, jQuery, testing, site proofing and re-styling within the existing SilverStripe CMS. Find out more about the Pacific Island Affairs project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, CSS3, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Large sites

Te Rito Wellington

Website: teritowellington.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Te Rito Wellington Family Violence Network
Dates: May - August 2012, with ongoing support until March 2017
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Te Rito Wellington Family Violence Network is a diverse group of 25 government and non-government organisations working in family violence prevention and service provision. The website uses an existing WordPress theme, re-designed to match the Network's branding.

I was responsible for designing their logo, writing the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, selection and re-styling of the WordPress theme, CSS, jQuery, some PHP wrangling, webhosting management, building the skeleton site, testing, CMS training, QA and ongoing support - as well as some content production management, writing and editing. Find out more about the Te Rito Wellington project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, CSS3, jQuery/JavaScript, WordPress, Small sites

NZ Netherlands Foundation

Website: netherlandsfoundation.org.nz (no longer online)
Client: New Zealand Netherlands Foundation
Dates: March - November 2012, with ongoing support and updates until December 2013
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Foundation has a wide-ranging brief to foster pride in the Dutch contribution to New Zealand. Its goals are to promote links between the Netherlands and New Zealand, to encourage the Dutch in New Zealand to keep their heritage alive through cultural and educational exchanges, and to celebrate the contribution the Dutch have made and continue to make to New Zealand's economic and social fabric.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, design, XHTML and CSS, testing, accessibility compliance, CMS training, QA (including some writing and editing of content) and ongoing support. Find out more about the NZ Netherlands Foundation project

NZ Artificial Limb Service

Website: nzals.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: New Zealand Artificial Limb Service
Dates: February - June 2012, with ongoing support until 2016
Government status: Crown Entity
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The NZALS is a Crown Entity that helps meet the rehabilitation needs of New Zealand amputees and is the national provider of artificial limbs in New Zealand. They had developed the concept of a 'health hub' to act as a first place to come for New Zealand amputees and needed a new website in order to achieve this.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, design, XHTML and CSS, testing, accessibility and e-govt compliance (including the production of an e-govt test report), CMS training, QA and ongoing support - as well as content production management and some writing and editing. Find out more about the NZ Artificial Limb Service project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, CSS3, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Medium sites

Essential Mums

Website: no longer online
Client: Fairfax Media
Dates: January - March 2012
My professional status: contractor at Fairfax Digital

Fairfax Media is the largest integrated metropolitan, rural and regional, magazine and digital media company in Australasia, with publications and websites in every State and the ACT in Australia, and throughout New Zealand.

Essential Mums is an online addition to the Fairfax Media portfolio, and aims to provide expert information, helpful tools, and a community of other mums to help mothers on their parenting journey. I was responsible for information architecture and design development throughout the website. Find out more about the Essential Mums project

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Website designer, CSS-based layout, Other CMS, Large sites

Wellington Batucada

Website: batucada.org.nz
Client: Wellington Batucada
Dates: July - December 2011 (site build) and ongoing work as the site's webmaster and writer
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

I'm a very proud member of Wellington Batucada, Wellington's community-based street samba band. The band's Director, Tim Cooke - who's also a web designer - provided me with a completely new design for the website, and it was my job to translate that into a standalone WordPress website - and to populate all the pages, editing existing stuff and writing new stuff as necessary.

I was responsible for webhost management, design development, HTML/CSS (including some CSS3), jQuery, photo and video archiving, testing, QA, writing and editing. I am the website's webmaster, writing most of the blog posts and gig reviews and sorting out our huge and ever-growing collection of photos and videos. In Phase Two I added a members' only section to the website. Find out more about the Wellington Batucada project

Snapper

Website: snapper.co.nz
Client: Snapper
Dates: December 2010 - March 2011
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Snapper is New Zealand's leading contactless payment system and can be used for a wide range of transactions including shopping, taxis and public transport. Registered Snapper users have online access to their Snapper transaction history and current balance.

The Snapper team wanted to upgrade the functionality of the transaction history page, and asked me to design and build a new version with enhanced functionality and ease of use. I was responsible for client liaison, project management, reviewing and refining the information architecture, design, XHTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, QA and ongoing support. Find out more about the Snapper project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, Other CMS, E-commerce, Small sites

Ann Jasper

Website: no longer online
Client: Ann Jasper
Dates: November 2010, with ongoing support after delivery
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Ann Jasper was a friend of mine, and an artist who produced beautiful paintings for sale. Her husband Shelley is a graphic/website designer with whom I collaborate on WebWeaver Projects from time to time. Shelley had designed a simple and stylish website for Annie, and it was my job to build the site, content-load it, and find an appealing way to display Annie's paintings in interactive galleries within the site.

I was responsible for client liaison, project management, scoping, extending the information architecture, design development, HTML and CSS, jQuery, building the completed website, content-loading, testing, proof-reading, QA and ongoing support. Find out more about the Ann Jasper project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, No CMS, Small sites

Bloomsbury Associates

Website: bloomsbury.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Bloomsbury Associates
Dates: October - December 2010, with ongoing support until 2018
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Bloomsbury Associates is an independent financial advisory practice established to provide investment services to clients in New Zealand. They wanted a website that would provide general information about their services and their philosophy, together with case studies and testimonials from existing clients.

I was responsible for the initial quote, client liaison, project management, scoping, information architecture, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, building the completed website, content-loading, testing, proof-reading, QA and ongoing support. I am the webmaster for the site, providing updates as required and have also designed and developed HTML emails using Campaign Monitor, which are sent out quarterly to the company's clients. Find out more about the Bloomsbury Associates project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, HTML email, No CMS, Small sites

Museums Wellington

Website: museumswellington.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Museums Wellington
Dates: July - December 2010, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: funded by Wellington City Council
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Museums Wellington are responsible for three Wellington museums - the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, the Cable Car Museum and the Colonial Cottage Museum. Each museum had its own website, none of which matched each other or the new Museums Wellington branding. Their aim was to bring all three museums plus Plimmers Ark under the same umbrella website, and to use their new branding as the basis for the overall site design.

I was responsible for the initial quote, client liaison, project management, scoping, information architecture, design development, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility and e-govt compliance, testing, putting together the skeleton site in SilverStripe, CMS training, QA, HTML emails and ongoing support. Find out more about the Museums Wellington project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, HTML email, SilverStripe, Government websites, Small sites

SPARC HPSD

Website: internal SPARC access only
Client: SPARC (now re-named Sport New Zealand)
Dates: June - October 2010
Government status: Crown Entity
My professional status: contractor at Datacraft

One of SPARC's roles is to support athletes and teams that can win at international level, and the coaches and organisations that are behind them - using their High Performance Sport Database (HPSDB) to administer this.

Datacraft had been asked to redesign and rebuild the HPSD, and I was responsible for doing the information architecture, design and XHTML/CSS for a set of five templates, and then styling, restructuring and bug-fixing a large number of multi-functional screens within the app. Find out more about the SPARC HPSD project

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, ASP or ASP.NET, Government websites, Medium sites

Salters Cartage

Website: salters.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Salters Cartage
Dates: June - August 2010
My professional status: contractor at Plan A

I was asked by Plan A in Auckland to develop their homepage design into a set of design templates for the new Salters Cartage website, to build these templates and then to put together the finished website, using all-new content which Plan A had written.

I was responsible for the original project proposal and quote, client liaison, project management, scoping, information architecture, design development, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, building the completed website, content-loading, testing, proof-reading, QA and ongoing support. Find out more about the Salters Cartage project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, No CMS, Small sites

Bamford Medical

Website: no longer online
Client: WM Bamford & Co Ltd
Dates: May - July 2009 and March - May 2010 with ongoing support until 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Following the successful launch of the Bamford website, we were asked to create a companion website, Bamford Medical, which would allow the company to sell a selection of their medical products online. The templates and CMS backend of the new site were based on the original Bamford site, with a completely different look and feel so that they were easily distinguishable from one another.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, CMS and photoshop training, QA/proof-reading and ongoing support. Find out more about the Bamford Medical project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, ExpressionEngine, E-commerce, Medium sites

Holmes Consulting Group

Website: holmesgroup.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Holmes Consulting Group
Dates: September 2009 - April 2010, with ongoing support until December 2013
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The international structural engineering firm Holmes Consulting Group asked for a completely new photography-centered design, new HTML/CSS templates, and a new CMS, which would be populated with all-new content.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, testing, putting together the skeleton site in SilverStripe, training, QA and proof-reading, and ongoing support. Find out more about the Holmes Consulting Group project

Categories: Showcase sites, Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, SilverStripe, Medium sites

Save Radio New Zealand

Website: no longer online
Client: Save Radio New Zealand
Dates: February 2010 - September 2017
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Save Radio New Zealand website is a companion to the original Facebook group, which reached 20,000 members in a little over a month. It's built using an existing (subtly restyled) WordPress theme. I was responsible for the initial client liaison and project proposal when I first came up with the idea, then project management, scoping, information architecture, selection and restyling of the WordPress theme, webhost management, content-writing, research, content-loading and ongoing support as the website's webmaster. Find out more about the Save Radio New Zealand project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, WordPress, Small sites

OFLC - info for students (2010)

Website: censor.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
Dates: August 2009 - January 2010, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The OFLC wanted a new website aimed at students doing projects on censorship in New Zealand. The website needed to be accessible, e-govt compliant, and the design had to appeal to young people.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-govt accessibility compliance, testing, building the skeleton site using Dreamweaver templates, training, QA and proof-reading, and ongoing support. Find out more about the OFLC - info for students (2010) project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium sites

EPA

Website: epa.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry for the Environment
Dates: July - September 2009, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Following our successful redesign of the Ministry for the Environment website, we were asked to design and build a website for the new Environmental Protection Authority. The HTML would be based on the MfE Dreamweaver templates within a completely different design, and we were also asked to build and content-code the initial 77-page website. The HTML/CSS needed to be best-practice e-government compliant and the site was to be tested for accessibility once it was built.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-government and accessibility compliance, site build and content-coding, testing, site delivery and ongoing support. Find out more about the EPA project

Categories: Showcase sites, Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium sites

Optimation

Website: optimation.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Optimation
Dates: May - November 2009, with ongoing support after delivery
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Optimation's existing website was looking old and tired, and no longer represented the company as well as it could. In contrast to the old website, which was largely passive and not well integrated with Optimation's other marketing activities, the new site needed to work much more actively as well as being an interactive space between the company and its clients - and it had to be designed to enable busy clients to get what they need in the minimum time possible.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, testing, QA and proof-reading, CMS training and ongoing support. Find out more about the Optimation project

Categories: Showcase sites, Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, SilverStripe, Medium sites

Master Plumbers

Website: masterplumbers.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Inc
Dates: April - October 2009, with regular ongoing support until March 2016
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Master Plumbers had an old website that needed redesigning and integrating within a more user-friendly CMS. We identified three main sections of the site - Public, Trade and Members - which led to a four-colourway design solution.

I was responsible for the initial quote, information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, web design, HTML and CSS, jQuery, accessibility compliance, testing, content-loading, CMS training and ongoing support. Find out more about the Master Plumbers project

Ministry for the Environment

Website: mfe.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry for the Environment
Dates: April - June 2009, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The 13,000-page Ministry for the Environment website was looking old and tired, and the Ministry wanted a medium-term website redesign solution that would allow them to keep their old legacy content, while bringing the look & feel up to date. The Ministry web team needed to be able to transfer their entire website into our new design and set of best-practice e-government compliant Dreamweaver templates as painlessly as possible, and the CSS also had to include matching styles for all their old content code.

I was responsible for the initial quote, some information architecture, site schematics, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery and JavaScript, e-government and accessibility compliance, testing, site delivery and ongoing support. Find out more about the Ministry for the Environment project

Categories: Showcase sites, Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Large sites

MedSys

Website: internal MCNZ access only
Client: Medical Council of New Zealand
Dates: January - July 2009
Government status: appointed by the Ministry of Health
My professional status: contractor at Optimation

MedSys is MCNZ's core system for handling doctor registration and on-going certification, which Optimation spent three years designing, developing and implementing. I was responsible for a number of tasks, including a rebuild of the application's chrome, a review and streamlining of the template design to save space and fit in more content, and an overview and rebuild of the HTML/CSS in many of the templates in order to improve cross-browser compatibility and increase consistency throughout the application. The site is built in asp.net, so virtually all of my work was within the .net environment, working on already-integrated templates using VisualStudio. Find out more about the MedSys project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, ASP or ASP.NET, Government websites, Large sites

WM Bamford & Co Ltd

Website: bamford.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: WM Bamford & Co Ltd
Dates: November - December 2008 with ongoing additions until 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

WM Bamford & Co Ltd is one of New Zealand's leading independent medical supply companies, and needed a new website which would reflect and complement their new print brochure - and which would allow potential customers access to their substantial product listings as well as providing information about Bamford's supply agencies and partners.

I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics, as well as creating dynamic functionality via jQuery and facilitating CMS integration. Find out more about the WM Bamford & Co Ltd project

Salvation Army

Website: salvationarmy.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Salvation Army
Dates: May - September 2008
My professional status: employee at Shift

The Salvation Army (New Zealand, Fiji & Tonga Territory) wanted a new content-manageable website which would promote the organisation, provide information for people who either needed its help or wanted to join, and also provided homepages for all the Army corps around the country.

During the handover phase from my HTML/CSS to his CMS integration, the programmer and I re-assessed the site and identified additional templates that were required, which I then wireframed, designed and built following the existing site design. Find out more about the Salvation Army project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, ExpressionEngine, Large sites

NZWood (resources)

Website: nzwood.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: NZWood
Dates: April - June and August - September 2008
My professional status: employee at Shift

The NZWood resources site is is the largest in a series of websites for the organisation, and its main focus. It provides wood-related resources, tools, research and case studies for a range of industries that use wood, and could be encouraged to use more.

During the handover phase from my HTML/CSS to his CMS integration, the programmer and I re-assessed the site and identified additional templates that were required, which I then wireframed, designed and built following the existing site design. Find out more about the NZWood (resources) project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, ExpressionEngine, Large sites

New Zealand String Quartet

Website: nzsq.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: New Zealand String Quartet
Dates: Phase 1: November 2007 - January 2008. Phase 2: July - September 2008. Phase 3: February 2011 - August 2014.
My professional status: employee at Shift (phases 1 & 2), and then independent web designer/developer (phase 3)

The New Zealand String Quartet website was designed by one of Shift's designers who subsequently left to go on his OE. In phase 2 of the project I added a range of new sections and widgets, and was responsible for designing the new pages, templates and widgets myself, as well as integration and WordPress PHP modification. 2½ years later in phase 3 I facilitated another site restructure and then took over ongoing site maintenance and support from Shift. Find out more about the New Zealand String Quartet project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, WordPress, Medium sites

Māori Media Network

Website: maorimedia.co.nz
Client: Māori Media Network
Dates: April - August 2007
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Māori Media Network wanted a new website which would promote their skills and services online. I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics, as well as planning for JavaScript and CMS integration. Find out more about the Māori Media Network project

Drilling for Diamonds

Website: no longer online
Client: The Mills Group
Dates: February 2007 - March 2012
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Mills Group wanted a website which would both promote their Drilling for Diamonds online coaching products and act as a secure portal through which D4D coaches could train staff. The secure login included an admin section through which The Mills Group staff could add new clients and coaches, give them access to the online coaching materials, and create collections of personalised coaching materials for specific groups within the coaching scheme.

I designed and built the site and also worked on project management, information architecture and site schematics. I continued as the site's webmaster once the site went live. Find out more about the Drilling for Diamonds project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, Other CMS, Small sites

The Gathering Archives

Website: thegathering.co.nz
Client: me
Dates: October 2006 - present
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

In October 2006 I began creating, designing, building and writing The Gathering Archives website and accompanying WordPress blog, with the aim of becoming the authoritative source of information on the history and background of iconic New Zealand dance party, The Gathering. The site is divided into different sections for each of the six Gatherings, and includes facts & figures, media coverage, Gathering artwork, photos, video and film footage, Gatherer stories and maps of the venue for each party. The design for each section is based on the official Gathering artwork from that year. Find out more about the The Gathering Archives project

Categories: Showcase sites, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, WordPress, No CMS, Large sites

WebWeaver's World

Website: webweaversworld.blogspot.co.nz
Client: me
Dates: May 2006 - present
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

A blog about my passions. May include some or all of the following: geek stuff (web design & development, CSS, accessibility, usability), environmental activism, my adopted home of New Zealand, international & green politics, gardening, cats, literature, rugby, and much more. Find out more about the WebWeaver's World project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, Blogger, Large sites

LINZ

Website: linz.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Land Information New Zealand
Dates: November 2005 - March 2006, May 2006, June 2007
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

LINZ wanted to redevelop and add new content to the Mariner's section of the LINZ website, which was housed outside the main site, and was not part of the CMS.

After I completed this project, I was retained as an e-government expert to advise on the most effective way of converting PDFs to web pages - and how to create Word documents in the future which could more easily be converted to accessible web pages. I subsequently designed and developed 11 subsites which housed LINZ's most-requested key documents - including the LINZ Statement of Intent and the Annual Report. Find out more about the LINZ project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, Other CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

Three Rs of Diversity

Website: no longer online
Client: Ministry of Education
Dates: May - August 2004
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

This site was built in XHTML/XML within Te Kete Ipurangi's CSS-only template. I made extensive client alterations to the code by hand and validated the site for XHTML 1.0 Transitional. Find out more about the Three Rs of Diversity project

Categories: IA & UX, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, eZ Publish, Government websites, Medium sites

Te Reo Māori in Mainstream

Website: Flash website for offline presentations
Client: Alice Patrick
Dates: May - August 2004, and June 2005
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

Teacher and Māori advisor/facilitator Alice Patrick wanted a website that she could project onto a big screen and use as an integral part of her talks and presentations around the country. I designed and built this fully interactive Flash website using ActionScripting and incorporating sound and video clips. Find out more about the Te Reo Māori in Mainstream project

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Website designer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Flash, No CMS, Small sites

Scots College Virtual Tour

Website: no longer online
Client: Scots College
Dates: May - June 2004
My professional status: contractor at Oryx Technologies

Scots College wanted a set of Virtual Tours to show to prospective pupils and parents. This would be part of the existing website and follow the established look and feel of the site. I designed and built three Virtual Tours and the section homepage. Find out more about the Scots College Virtual Tour project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Old-school table layout, Small sites

Fonterra Annual Report

Website: no longer online
Client: Fonterra
Dates: July 2002
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

The 2001-2002 Annual Report website had to be built within an extremely tight deadline as a sub-site of Fonterra's main site. I managed the project and built the site in under a week. Find out more about the Fonterra Annual Report project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites

M-co Design Standards

Website: intranet
Client: M-co
Dates: December 2001 - February 2002
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

The M-co family of websites includes a number of very different-looking sites, all based on the same structural template. I built this site, which was intended for intranet use, allowing M-co to keep track of all their design standards. It covered the look & feel of every M-co site and enabled webmasters to update any M-co site whilst maintaining design and brand consistency. Find out more about the M-co Design Standards project

Categories: IA & UX, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

Fonterra

Website: fonterra.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Fonterra
Dates: January 2001 - July 2002
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

The Fonterra website incorporated a public website (with large archive section), an intranet and a secure extranet (for externally-based contractors) and was updated every week, sometimes every day. I built, developed, managed and maintained the website which went through two complete redesigns before Fonterra took the project in-house. Find out more about the Fonterra project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Large sites

Origin Design

Website: no longer online
Client: Origin Design
Dates: January 2001 - November 2003
My professional status: contractor and then employee at Origin Design

Origin's website served as a showcase for both their web and print design, and we completely redesigned and rebuilt it once a year to keep it fresh and to try out new ideas. I developed the existing Origin site, and brought an added level of technical expertise and creative input to each new redesign.

I also developed and built an interactive Flash animation for the Environ section of the website, where I followed the designer's storyboard sketches and created some elements (including the spinning house) in 3D animation software before bringing it into Flash. Find out more about the Origin Design project

Categories: Client liaison, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Flash, No CMS, Medium sites

WebWeaver Productions (2000-2015)

Website: webweaver.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: me
Dates: September 2000 - April 2015
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Commissioned, designed, architecture-d, developed, built, written, edited and project-managed by me. In July 2005 I rebuilt the original tables-based site in pure CSS. It was designed to be fully accessible, displayed a liquid layout with min-width, was written in valid HTML 4.01 Transitional and CSS, and was fully accessibility-tested and displayed consistently across 13 browsers in Mac and PC. I built it using templates and Dreamweaver library items so that I could easily update it and make alterations. Find out more about the WebWeaver Productions (2000-2015) project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, No CMS, Large sites

Monkey Records

Website: monkeyrecords.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Monkey Records
Dates: July - October 2000
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Monkey Records website was an e-commerce venture, with the record label relying on it to provide a large proportion of their CD sales. I designed and built the site, which includes information on all Monkey's recording artists, and a simple shopping cart where visitors could listen to and buy CDs. Find out more about the Monkey Records project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, E-commerce, Small sites

Nathaniel Centre

Website: nathaniel.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Caritas NZ
Dates: July - August 2000
My professional status: contractor at Base Two

The Nathaniel Centre wanted a design for a Bioethics website which was calm, informative and reassuring. I extended an existing design prototype (based on print design for the Centre), and built the site. Find out more about the Nathaniel Centre project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites

Wai 100%

Website: wai100.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Minaaka
Dates: May 2000 - September 2001
My professional status: contractor at Base Two and then independent web designer/developer

Māori electronica duo Minaaka wanted a fresh and groovy website where they could showcase their music and their artistic vision. I designed and built this promotional site for them. Some of the site was in te reo, the rest was in English; and it included mpg video and mp3 audio files. Find out more about the Wai 100% project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, E-commerce, Medium sites

TeachNZ

Website: teachnz.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Education and Ogilvy & Mather
Dates: May - August 2000
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at Base Two

The existing TeachNZ website needed to be completely rebuilt and restructured - with all-new content and with a double navigation structure utilising frames and popup navigation windows. I worked on the architecture and then built the site itself. Find out more about the TeachNZ project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Government websites, Large sites

Playmarket

Website: playmarket.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Playmarket
Dates: April - August 2000
My professional status: contractor at Base Two

I carried out maintenance as requested by the client, and did some re-design and streamlining of the existing website, which had grown somewhat difficult to manage. Find out more about the Playmarket project

Categories: IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

Lungfish

Website: lungfish.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Health Sponsorship Council - Smokefree
Dates: February - August 2000
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: contractor at Base Two

Lungfish is the youth brand of Smokefree New Zealand. We rebranded the Lungfish website, targeting its market directly with a very funky, experimental and fresh image and navigation/architecture design, which I built and project-managed with the Base Two team. Find out more about the Lungfish project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Government websites, Medium sites

Chatham Islands II

Website: no longer online
Client: Chatham Island Millennium Committee
Dates: March - July 1999
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

This website provided information about the Chatham Islands' millennium celebrations. The colours reflect the dawn of a new century, exemplified by the sunrise animation on the homepage, which I built using Bryce 3D animation software. I developed the design from a prototype homepage and built the site. Find out more about the Chatham Islands II project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites

Chatham Islands I

Website: no longer online
Client: Chatham Island Millennium Committee
Dates: March - July 1999
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The site's main aim was to ensure that visitors had pre-booked their accommodation before they visited the Chathams. I developed the design from a prototype and built this award-winning website in a style which represented the clean green environmental nature of the Chathams, as well as reflecting the island's rich Moriori heritage. Find out more about the Chatham Islands I project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites

Te Puna

Website: no longer online
Client: National Library of New Zealand
Dates: March - July 1999
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The National Library wanted a user-friendly gateway into the Library's Te Puna search databases, which I co-designed and built, and which was used by librarians across the country. My job also included facilitating the information flow between all the parties involved in the project and ensuring that their different needs were met, as well as advising them on technical issues. Find out more about the Te Puna project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Government websites, Small sites

Te Rauparaha

Website: tki.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: National Library of New Zealand, Ngati Toa, and Ministry of Education
Dates: March - July 1999
Government status: Government Agency and Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The National Library wanted to develop their te reo online education resources, and chose the story of Te Rauparaha to begin. I designed the architecture and oversaw the development of this site, which used the taonga of the Turnbull Collection to illustrate the story. Find out more about the Te Rauparaha project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Writing for the web, Old-school table layout, eZ Publish, Government websites, Medium sites

WOMAD

Website: womad.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: The Edge (for WOMAD)
Dates: January 1998 - February 1999
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

1999 was the second year that a full-scale WOMAD festival was held in New Zealand. They needed an attractive and accessible site that would tell the world about WOMAD Aotearoa. I designed and built this award-winning website, which could be easily added to and updated in the runup to the 1999 event. Find out more about the WOMAD project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

Health Action

Website: healthaction.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Health Action
Dates: February - November 1998
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

Nelson-based health advocacy group Health Action, who had absolutely no experience of the web, wanted a website which they could use as one of their outreach tools for youth. I designed and built this youth-oriented site, which included a database listing a wide range of health resources in the local region. Find out more about the Health Action project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Medium sites

Kiwi Recovery Programme

Website: kiwirecovery.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Department of Conservation, Bank of New Zealand (sponsors), and Forest & Bird
Dates: January 1998 - October 1999
Government status: Government Department
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media and then independent web designer/developer

This was a join initiative between DoC, the Bank of New Zealand (who sponsor the programme) and Forest & Bird. I built and maintained this multi-award-winning framed website, with considerable design freedom in deeper levels of the site. Later I suggested areas within the site that could be developed, all of which I then researched, wrote, designed and built. Find out more about the Kiwi Recovery Programme project

Whitireia Polytechnic

Website: whitireia.ac.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Whitireia Polytechnic
Dates: December 1997 - March 1998
Government status: Crown-Owned Tertiary Education Institution
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

Whitireia wanted to showcase the courses offered by the Polytechnic. I built this award-winning site once the design was complete. My work included development of the site into deeper information-rich levels, and development of the design within these levels. Find out more about the Whitireia Polytechnic project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

ESOL

Website: no longer online
Client: Ministry of Education
Dates: October - November 1997
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

ESOL was a sub-site which I designed and built within the Ministry of Education's own website. The client wanted a simple and easy to navigate site, following MoE colour and logo guidelines. Find out more about the ESOL project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Government websites, Small sites

The Gathering

Website: no longer online
Client: The Gathering
Dates: September 1997 - September 2000
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Gathering was New Zealand's largest and most well-respected annual dance party. I created, designed, wrote, built and maintained the 900-page multi-award-winning website, giving Gatherers as much information as possible about every aspect of The Gathering, as well as archiving previous parties. Find out more about the The Gathering project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, E-commerce, Large sites

Healthy Lifestyles

Website: no longer online
Client: Wellington College of Education and the Cancer Society
Dates: August 1997 - September 1999
Government status: Crown-Owned Tertiary Education Institution
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

This Cancer Society-sponsored award-winning website promoted healthy lifestyles for kids. I worked closely with the content creator to design, illustrate, develop and build a series of online school projects within the site. Find out more about the Healthy Lifestyles project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Government websites, Large sites

NZCER

Website: nzcer.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: New Zealand Council for Educational Research
Dates: August 1997 - August 1998
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

I maintained and regularly updated this information-rich website, following an existing design. Find out more about the NZCER project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

EEO Trust

Website: eeotrust.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: EEO Trust
Dates: August 1997 - August 1998
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The EEO Trust were new to the web and wanted an easily-navigated information-rich website, which I designed and built. The site communicated what the EEO Trust was about, and how it could be of benefit to employers. Find out more about the EEO Trust project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

Hillary Commission

Website: no longer online
Client: The Hillary Commission
Dates: April 1997 and March - October 1999
Government status: was part of the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

I designed and built the Kids Go 4 It and Push Play sections, and maintained and developed the main multi-award-winning site. In 1999 the Hillary Commission wanted a compete overhaul of the site, which I carried out - including design and architecture, budgeting and timelining. Find out more about the Hillary Commission project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Government websites, Large sites

EWI

Website: ewi.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Education Wellington International
Dates: November 1996
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

EWI was aimed at overseas students and covered a range of information about education providers in Wellington. I designed and built the site in a day, with the help of another CWA designer. Find out more about the EWI project

Categories: Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites

InterLink

Website: no longer online
Client: The British Council
Dates: September 1996 - July 1997
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

I developed, designed, built and constantly updated this multi-award-winning website for a ground-breaking project linking 12 pairs of schools in New Zealand and the UK, who worked for 6 months on a range of 70 projects using the internet for trans-global communication - and I also managed the InterLink project itself. Find out more about the InterLink project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Large sites

Asia2000

Website: asia2000.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Asia2000
Dates: August 1996 - May 1998
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

This site began life as a web version of a printed quarterly newsletter, which I maintained and updated following an existing design (1996). In 1998 I redesigned, developed and built the site into a complete award-winning package, incorporating the newsletter within a new and larger website. Find out more about the Asia2000 project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, IA & UX, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Small sites