Medium sites

These are the sites of 50-250 pages that I have played a part in designing and/or developing. They are listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent at the top.

Case studies in this category

New Zealand Kindergartens

Website: nzkindergarten.org.nz
Client: New Zealand Kindergartens
Dates: June 2017 – March 2018
My professional status: web consultant with The Hive Creative

New Zealand Kindergartens is a not-for-profit Incorporated Society and registered charity, governed by a board made up of elected and appointed members. NZK currently represents 14 local Kindergarten Associations. Collectively their members educate and care for more than 7,000 children who participate at 161 kindergartens and six centres, supported by 169 head teachers, 22 senior teachers, and more than 835 class teachers.

In 2017 Hive Creative (formerly Insight Consultants Ltd) designed a beautiful Annual Report for New Zealand Kindergartens. They decided it was time for a new website, and asked that it be designed along the same lines as the Annual Report. Hive asked me to join the project as their web consultant.

I was responsible for the selection and re-styling of the WordPress theme and associated plugins, some PHP wrangling, building the site, site hosting management, browser and device testing, member and board member login system, content-loading, QA, proof-reading and client support, and CMS training. I trained Jo Newth at NZK how to use the WordPress CMS and then worked with her to content-load the whole website before launch, which I also proof-read.

Initially the website was designed and built with a two-tiered member login system, allowing access to the members-only section for members, and also to the board members' section for board members. Find out more about the New Zealand Kindergartens project

Categories: Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, WordPress, Medium sites

Education New Zealand

Website: enz.govt.nz (site design has been updated)
Client: Education New Zealand
Dates: April - June 2016
Government status: Crown Entity
My professional status: contractor at Touchcast

Education New Zealand wanted their existing website to be migrated to the SilverStripe CMS, together with a design refresh at the same time.

Touchcast were invited to design and develop the new responsive website, and I was asked to join the team for a few weeks to carry out the front-end development for the site, working alongside the SilverStripe developer.

I was responsible for building the HTML and CSS for the new designs, using SASS (SCSS) as my pre-processor and Bootstrap as my framework. I was also responsible for preparing the page elements as re-usable twigs which we set up to auto-create the HTML templates, ready for the developer to integrate into SilverStripe. Find out more about the Education New Zealand project

Categories: Front-end developer, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, e-govt/WCAG compliance, SilverStripe, Government websites, Medium sites

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

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

BNZ Community

Website: no longer online
Client: Bank of New Zealand
Dates: September - December 2014
My professional status: contractor at the Bank of New Zealand

The Bank of New Zealand was nearing completion with their Community web project - an interactive community/forum for BNZ customers, hosted within the main BNZ website. They needed someone to finish it off, tidy it up, and get it over the line.

I was originally asked to join the in-house web team for four weeks to carry out the front-end development, and my contract was eventually extended to 12 weeks so that I could continue to tidy and improve the site after it went online. I was responsible for the HTML5 and CSS3 (SASS) coding, as well as browser and device testing. The project was managed using informal Agile methodology and the website was set within the Lithium CMS framework. Find out more about the BNZ Community project

Categories: Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, Lithium, Medium sites

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, content 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, Content designer, 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

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

Co-operative Bank

Website: co-operativebank.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Co-operative Bank
Dates: October - December 2012
My professional status: contractor at the Co-operative Bank

The Co-operative Bank was established in 1928 and is the only bank in New Zealand to share its profits with its customers. As a co-operative its main purpose is to create prosperity for its customers, not to create profit for anyone else. The bank has 34 branches throughout the country and around 128,000 customers from all over New Zealand.

The bank's existing website was in need of an update which would tide them over for a few months until they were in a position to carry out a complete overhaul. I was responsible for the HTML, CSS and jQuery and design development for the new design, focusing on the content-driven parts of the website, and partnering with David Harrison from Triptech who was responsible for the online banking pages. Find out more about the Co-operative Bank project

Categories: Client liaison, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Responsive web design/dev, CSS-based layout, CSS3, HTML5, jQuery/JavaScript, ASP or ASP.NET, Medium 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

Categories: 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

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

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, content design, visual 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, Content designer, 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

Climate Change

Website: climatechange.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry for the Environment
Dates: May - June 2010, with ongoing support after delivery
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: independent web designer/developer

The Ministry for the Environment's Climate Change website, originally designed as a portal site, was becoming difficult to navigate, and was lacking styles for pages with more detailed content at multiple levels. With the introduction of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) in June 2010, the Ministry needed to expand the capabilities of the website, while still retaining the existing header and footer and some of the original HTML structure.

I was responsible for the timeline, ongoing project management and client liaison, HTML and CSS, jQuery, e-government and accessibility compliance, testing, site delivery and ongoing support. Find out more about the Climate Change project

Categories: Scoping/pitching/quoting, Client liaison, Project manager, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium 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

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

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

Discovery Bay School

Website: dbis.edu.hk (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Discovery Bay International School
Dates: March 2008
My professional status: employee at Shift

Hong Kong-based Discovery Bay International School wanted a new website which would become a central part of school life, showcasing class work and keeping parents and students up-to-date on school news and events. They also wanted the site to inform and encourage parents of potential students to choose Discovery Bay. My job was to build a set of 12 templates and prepare them for integration by my Shift colleague Tom St George into the ExpressionEngine CMS. Find out more about the Discovery Bay School project

Categories: Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, ExpressionEngine, Medium sites

Clean Edge

Website: not online
Client: Clean Edge
Dates: December 2007
My professional status: employee at Shift

Clean Edge was planned as a new online business, showcasing the work of New Zealand artists and allowing visitors to buy their paintings online. My job was to build a set of 23 templates which were then incorporated into the ExpressionEngine CMS by Tom St George, my colleague at Shift. The site design was very graphic-rich and incorporated a number of dynamic visual effects which I created using the script.aculo.us JavaScript library, which I taught myself to use. Find out more about the Clean Edge project

Categories: Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, jQuery/JavaScript, ExpressionEngine, E-commerce, Medium 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

OFLC (2007)

Website: censorship.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Office of Film & Literature Classification
Dates: October - November 2007 and August - September 2008
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: employee at Shift

The Office of Film & Literature Classification needed a new website which they could edit and update themselves. They decided that a templated Dreamweaver site would suit their needs well. The OFLC is a government department, so this information-rich site had to be fully accessible and e-government compliant.

My job was to build them a full set of Dreamweaver templates, create a basic site from these and train the OFLC staff how to edit text and add new pages to the site. Later on I provided client support, making larger-scale changes to the live site and working alongside their web editor to show them the best ways to develop their website in the future. Find out more about the OFLC (2007) project

Categories: Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Dreamweaver templates, Government websites, Medium sites

SmartMovez

Website: smartmovez.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: NZ Transport Agency
Dates: July - September 2007
Government status: Crown Entity
My professional status: employee at Shift

The NZ Transport Agency wanted a website that would act as as a one-stop-shop for partners and organisations that work with them. I was responsible for building 13 highly accessible and e-govt compliant templates for the site in HTML and CSS, and to liaise closely with the CMS development team at Squiz to ensure that the incorporation of my templates into the CMS was as easy as possible for them. Find out more about the SmartMovez project

Categories: Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Squiz/MySource Matrix, Government websites, Medium sites

NZWood (corporate)

Website: no longer online
Client: NZWood
Dates: June - July 2007
My professional status: employee at Shift

NZWood wanted a corporate website which would be the first in a series of sites, and deals mainly with information, news, and media releases about NZWood - an industry-wide programme designed to encourage the use of wood in New Zealand. My job was to build 19 templates for the site in HTML and CSS, and to liaise closely with Tom St George, our ExpressionEngine CMS developer to ensure that the incorporation of my templates into the CMS ran smoothly. Find out more about the NZWood (corporate) project

Categories: Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, ExpressionEngine, Medium sites

KiwiSaver

Website: kiwisaver.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Inland Revenue
Dates: March - June 2007
Government status: Government Department
My professional status: employee at Shift

Shift designed and built the KiwiSaver website in 2006, and the second phase, which was when I joined the project, was to enable online transactions. My job, together with my colleague Ross Howard, was to style a full set of interactive KiwiSaver portlets with IRD styling and to tweak and bug-fix portlets which had already been integrated into the system. The job entailed working alongside the development team, working directly on the servers at IRD. In addition I built two new static HTML pages, and designed and built a third page. Find out more about the KiwiSaver project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Other CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

Tourism NZ intranet

Website: intranet
Client: Tourism New Zealand
Dates: February - June 2007
Government status: part of the Ministry of Tourism
My professional status: employee at Shift

Shift had an ongoing relationship with Tourism New Zealand, which resulted in four Webby nominations and two Webby awards in four years. In addition to the TNZ website, Shift also provided the TNZ team with an intranet, run on the Shado CMS. TNZ wanted a new look and feel for their intranet in four different colourways, while retaining the existing HTML and CMS as far as possible. My job was to re-skin a number of the master templates, by changing the CSS, rebuilding the header and footer HTML, and building an entirely new homepage. Find out more about the Tourism NZ intranet project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Shado, Medium sites

Legal Services Agency

Website: no longer online
Client: Legal Services Agency
Dates: January 2007
Government status: Government-funded Agency
My professional status: employee at Shift

The Legal Services Agency was responsible for helping people access justice, by funding legal aid, initial criminal legal services and community law centres, providing direct representation through the in-house service, the Public Defence Service, and producing law-related education and information. I was responsible for building a set of 17 templates (using three colourways for different sections of the site) for the website, which was then handed over to their existing CMS team for integration into a content management system. Find out more about the Legal Services Agency project

Categories: Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Other CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

Buy Kiwi Made

Website: buykiwimade.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Economic Development
Dates: December 2006 - February 2007
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: employee at Shift

The Ministry of Economic Development wanted a set of template pages for the new Buy Kiwi Made website, using existing HTML pages from the MED website. My job was to assess the existing HTML/CSS in order to provide guidelines for our designer, re-skin the HTML pages by changing the CSS to create the Buy Kiwi Made site, and build a number of new templates using the existing HTML as a starting-point. The templates were then handed back to the MED in-house CMS team for re-integration into their content management system. Find out more about the Buy Kiwi Made project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Other CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

Shift

Website: no longer online
Client: Shift
Dates: October - November 2006
My professional status: employee at Shift

Shift's new-look website was a long time coming, mainly because Shifties were always working on somebody else's website! I was part of the team that finally got the chance to complete it and get it online. My job was to project-manage the team and complete the HTML/CSS build of the 10 templates used in the site, using best practice techniques and ensuring that the site met or exceeded e-government accessibility guidelines. I was also responsible for design development of some pages, based on designs already created for other templates. Find out more about the Shift project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, e-govt/WCAG compliance, ExpressionEngine, Medium sites

myVictoria

Website: my.vuw.ac.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Victoria University
Dates: October 2006
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: employee at Shift

Victoria University wanted a redesign for their existing portal, used by students and staff. Shift created two different designs, which could be alternated as the University required. My job was to re-skin the portal by changing the stylesheets for the channels and iFrames which made up the elements within the portal. I could not change any of the HTML, as this was generated automatically by the system. Find out more about the myVictoria project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, Other CMS, Government websites, Medium sites

Open Cloud

Website: opencloud.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Open Cloud
Dates: August 2006
My professional status: employee at Shift

Open Cloud needed an editable website without the expense of a full CMS. The company had commissioned a design for the site, and wanted Shift to build it. I built the site using Dreamweaver templates, so that the client (who had some knowledge of basic HTML and CSS) would be able to edit the site in the future. I partially content-loaded the site and handed it over to the client to finish, providing technical support throughout this process. Find out more about the Open Cloud project

Categories: Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, Dreamweaver templates, Medium sites

VOCO

Website: voco.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: VOCO
Dates: May 2006
My professional status: employee at Base Two

VOCO (formerly i-solutions) was re-branding and needed a new website to go with the new name. They contracted two companies to work on the project - a design company (inexperienced in web design) and Base Two (to do the build and incorporation into the CMS). My role was to build the site in HTML and pure CSS and, after it was incorporated into the CMS, to complete last-minute changes and oversee go-live. I also project-managed the final phase and mentored my colleague who was learning HTML/CSS. Find out more about the VOCO project

Categories: Client liaison, Project manager, Front-end developer, CSS-based layout, Other CMS, Medium 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

Exemplars - Social Studies

Website: tki.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Education
Dates: November 2004
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The Social Studies Exemplars website required PDF versions of each exemplar. I made these by transferring the content of each exemplar into a Freehand file and laying out the content in the most efficient way possible, and then exporting the files as PDFs. An important part of the process was extensive proof-reading to ensure that each XHTML page was exactly replicated in the Freehand file. Find out more about the Exemplars - Social Studies project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, eZ Publish, Government websites, Medium sites

Exemplars - Health & PE

Website: tki.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Education
Dates: October - November 2004
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The Health & PE Exemplars website required PDF versions of each exemplar. I made these by transferring the content of each exemplar into a Freehand file and laying out the content in the most efficient way possible, and then exporting the files as PDFs. An important part of the process was extensive proof-reading to ensure that each XHTML page was exactly replicated in the Freehand file. Find out more about the Exemplars - Health & PE project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, CSS-based layout, eZ Publish, Government websites, Medium sites

Gifted & Talented Students

Website: tki.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Education
Dates: September and November 2004
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

This site needed a major update and overhaul, with the addition of an online version of the Minstry of Education handbook Gifted and talented students: Meeting their needs in New Zealand schools, and related online reading material. I designed the site as part of CWA's Te Kete Ipurangi portal website, which was built in XHTML/XML and CSS. I also did some of the development of the new site. Find out more about the Gifted & Talented Students project

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

Claremont Estate

Website: claremont-estate.com (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Claremont Estate
Dates: July - August 2004
My professional status: contractor at Oryx Technologies

The existing website required a complete overhaul, redesign and redevelopment to reduce and refine the large amount of text on each page. I rebuilt the site and streamlined the CSS styles and includes sitewide. I also made a sub-site based on the client's PowerPoint presentation and added a Flash header to each page. Find out more about the Claremont Estate project

Categories: Front-end developer, Content-loader, CSS-based layout, Flash, Dreamweaver templates, 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

Thonet

Website: thonet.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Thonet
Dates: March - May 2003
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

This redesign of an existing site required a logical, straightforward way to arrange a large number of catalogue-type gallery pages. The site detailed many different items of furniture, and was managed via Origin's Grand Central CMS. I developed and built the homepage Flash animation and the HTML templates. Find out more about the Thonet project

Categories: Front-end developer, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Flash, Grand Central, Medium sites

Rainy Day Boredom Buster

Website: no longer online
Client: Mainland Milk
Dates: March - November 2003
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

Rainy Day was a su-bsite of Meadow Fresh's main site, and gave kids many ideas for fun activities to do on a rainy day - both on-line and offline. I was given responsibility for much of the layout of lower levels of the site, and developed the design of these in consultation with the site's original designer. Using my experience as a primary teacher I also wrote and developed new kids' activities for the site. Find out more about the Rainy Day Boredom Buster project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Writing for the web, Content-loader, Webmaster, No CMS, Medium sites

Breakfast with the Stars

Website: no longer online
Client: Mainland Milk
Dates: February - April 2003
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

This was a sub-site of the main Meadow Fresh website and promoted the annual schools' Breakfast with the Stars competition sponsored by Meadow Fresh. I built and developed/maintained the original website, including a Flash animation on the homepage. Find out more about the Breakfast with the Stars project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, Flash, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Medium sites

Meadow Fresh

Website: meadowfresh.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Mainland Milk
Dates: January - November 2003
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

The Meadow Fresh website included a database-driven PHP products section and an interchangeable set of Flash animations. It featured animated characters and was aimed at families and kids. The homepage was also used to promote sub-sites such as Rainy Day. I built, developed and maintained the website and Flash elements. Find out more about the Meadow Fresh project

Categories: Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Flash, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Medium sites

Eichardt's Private Hotel

Website: eichardts.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Eichardt's
Dates: March - May 2002
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

Eichardt's is an exclusive private hotel, which uses its website to reach its international market - including enabling visitors to book online. I built the website following a design from Origin. We took our time with this site, as we wanted to create something as beautiful and elegant as Eichardt's itself, which would showcase the hotel as one of the best in New Zealand. Find out more about the Eichardt's Private Hotel project

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

ProtectNZ

Website: no longer online
Client: Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
Dates: August - September 2001. Redesign March 2002
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

ProtectNZ wished to provide online Biosecurity information specifically targeted to different user groups. I built a series of templates for the new Biosecurity website, following a design by Origin. The templates were then used to create a fully dynamic website which could easily be updated by the Biosecurity team. Find out more about the ProtectNZ project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Government websites, Medium sites

Icebreaker

Website: icebreaker.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Icebreaker
Dates: July 2001 - October 2003
My professional status: employee at Origin Design

The Icebreaker website reflected Origin's ground-breaking graphic design for their clothing catalogue and showcased Icebreaker's new collections. I built and maintained the website, adding the latest collection each season. I also built the secure dealer area, which allowed retailers around the world to download Icebreaker ads and brand components. Find out more about the Icebreaker project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium sites

Ministry of Transport (2001)

Website: mot.govt.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Ministry of Transport
Dates: January - April 2001
Government status: Government Ministry
My professional status: contractor at Origin Design

The Ministry of Transport needed an accessible website which would house a large amount of information and which could disseminate that information easily. I built the site following an existing Origin design, and advised the team on the technicalities of designing for the web. I also sourced, integrated and programmed an effective search engine for the site. Find out more about the Ministry of Transport (2001) project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Govt web standards tester, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, e-govt/WCAG compliance, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Government websites, Medium 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

VUW Graduate School

Website: vuw.ac.nz/sog (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Victoria University Wellington
Dates: September - October 2000
Government status: Government Agency
My professional status: contractor at Mission Hall

Victoria University had developed their very large website around a Visual Basic web-based publishing solution designed for use by VUW staff. I built a new subsite for the Graduate School, following the design created by Mission Hall. This involved creating highly robust templates for pages which became part of the publishing solution. Find out more about the VUW Graduate School project

Categories: Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, Database-driven (pre-CMS), Government websites, Medium 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

Rudd Watts & Stone

Website: rws.co.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: Rudd, Watts & Stone
Dates: May - August 2000
My professional status: contractor at Base Two

I maintained the website, which had been designed and developed by Base Two, on an ongoing basis. Find out more about the Rudd Watts & Stone project

Categories: Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, Old-school table layout, No CMS, Medium 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

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

APEC Classroom Online

Website: no longer online
Client: APEC
Dates: March - June 1999
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

APEC New Zealand needed to develop this site, which was aimed at teachers who wanted to examine APEC with their students prior to the 1999 APEC conference. I maintained the site, repaired broken links and also added small sections to complete the project. Find out more about the APEC Classroom Online project

Categories: Project manager, Website designer, Front-end developer, Content-loader, Webmaster, jQuery/JavaScript, Old-school table layout, No CMS, 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

NZ Olympic Committee

Website: olympic.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: NZ Olympic Committee
Dates: January - June 1998
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The New Zealand Olympic Committee wanted a new website online in time for the Nagano Winter Olympics. I built and maintained this award-winning site once the design was completed by another member of the CWA team. I also undertook daily updating which was required within a very tight timeline during the Nagano games. Find out more about the NZ Olympic Committee project

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

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

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

British Council

Website: britishcouncil.org.nz (site has since been redesigned)
Client: The British Council
Dates: June 1997 - May 1998
My professional status: contractor at CWA New Media

The British Council required that its websites around the world adhere to the standard British Council website design, according to strictly-specified design guidelines and templates. I built and regularly updated the New Zealand version. Find out more about the British Council project

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