Web Communications & Non-Profit Advocacy
Header navigation appeared too large and with the wrong font-weight when templates were delivered by Salsa.
After implementing a new look and feel for NPA’s main website, PowerThru came to me to resolve some CSS conflicts between the stylesheet for the new design and NPA’s templates within their Salsa account. [Read more...]
Desired template provided as a Photoshop file.
I received from the project manager at PowerThru Consulting a Photoshop file of the look and feel RootsAction wanted for their HTML email template.
Working from the .psd I sliced out the necessary graphic elements and optimized them for email delivery. I determined best font faces to match the designer’s vision worked with the specified color pallette when coding the HTML template.
Screenshot of template delivered to PowerThru Consulting complete with Salsa macro for inserting a supporter's first name.
I tested it for compatibility across multiple desktop and web-based email clients making adjustments for compatibility as necessary while still maintaining the desired look and feel.
Final delivered email from HTML email template created for NPA
I received from the project manager at PowerThru Consulting a flat .jpg comp of the look and feel NPA wanted for their HTML email template. [Read more...]
In order to launch their non-GMO foods “Tipping Point” campaign, the Institute for Responsible Technology needed a place supporters could go to get involved. Because they wanted to collect specific data across multiple options for involvement, I recommended a custom sign-up form within their existing Salsa account.
This custom sign-up form, which is backed by over 50 custom database fields, leverages both the power of the Salsa membership database and the ability to use custom code within the Salsa platform. [Read more...]
DC Massage Therapies original site homepage: Flat HTML
When his previous webmaster changed careers Steven Brown of DC Massage Therapies needed a website solution that would allow him to easily maintain his own site.
After working with Steve to determine the audience for his site, the general feeling he wanted the site to convey, and his deepening expertise with Thai massage I customized a theme based on the Genesis framework for use with a new WordPress installation. [Read more...]
Clean Water Action homepage circa October 2006
When I came to Clean Water Action in October 2006 it was clear from the organization’s hodge-podge site design and lack of any coherent information architecture that the site had grown entirely organically. My first step was to create an information architecture and standards compliant site design.
It was also clear that a significant amount of work would need to be done with staff to create buy-in for the idea that if Clean Water wished to use its web site as a tool to educate and recruit supporters its primary focus should be on the needs of an external audience rather than on the needs of staff. [Read more...]
Clean Water Action homepage circa November 2009.
As I worked to develop the organization’s online communications strategy and promote the tools we now had available to Clean Water’s organizers, our use of these tools and our sophistication with them rapidly out paced what could be offered by a tapestry of third party applications and a flat HTML site. In March 2008 I embarked on a total site and logo redesign and a migration to a content management system.
After an assessment of then current and planned future needs, and after establishing the organization’s commitment to open source technology, Drupal was chosen as the platform for Clean Water’s new site. [Read more...]
Clean Water Action petition on Democracy In Action Salsa platform
A conversion to a new site design in 2008 required new web and email templates to support the organization’s use of Democracy In Action’s Salsa platform as well as some adjustment of styles specific to content generated by the Salsa system. [Read more...]
The blog of Clean Water's President is powered by WordPress but mimics the organization's site design.
Because the blog written by Clean Water’s President was meant to represent his views and not necessarily the views of the organization, I made the decision not to incorporate his blog into the Drupal system powering the organization’s main site but to instead maintain a previously installed WordPress blog as a separate entity.
Once the design for the site was finalized, I took the HTML and custom built a widgetized WordPress theme that matches the main site’s look and feel. I also researched, installed, and incorporated plugins to feature related posts and make posts that were shared from the site trackable. I also enabled Feedburner and trained Clean Water’s President on its use so that he had direct control over when new posts were sent via email.
I was also responsible for the continuing maintenance of the blog’s primary software and plugins until my departure from Clean Water Action in March 2010.
The site's design gave the impression that no work was being done and suppressed return visits by supporters.
One of the problems the Center’s projects faced stemmed directly from the web site’s design: each project was locked into a basically static homepage that required site visitors to dig for the most current news.
An additional problem stemmed from the prominent use of photos of people in the developing world to illustrate the Center’s work on developing world policy.
As a result of this, the organization received numerous requests to provide funding which was a clear indicator that the site’s look and feel was sending the wrong message to site visitors. [Read more...]
