July 1st, 2009
Arcadian Webworks
I have just launched a new web design and development company, Arcadian Webworks.
I can now use my network of experts, from world-class visual designers through cutting-edge coders, to meet every client's web needs, no matter how demanding.
Stay tuned for arcadianwebworks.com.
March 16th, 2009
ESC Drupal Sites
Techinsights, the global leader in tech publications and conferences, came to me to design and build their new generation of conference websites. I chose the Drupal platform for ease of maintenance, combined with the power to build very feature-rich sites.
The finished sites feature custom drop-down menus, multiple image rotators, a news feed aggregator, "rich" (HTML-driven) tooltips, audio players, and tons of content. They can be found at esc-sv.techinsightsevents.com, esc-boston.techinsightsevents.com, esc-uk.techinsightsevents.com, esc-france.techinsightsevents.com, and esc-chicago.techinsightsevents.com.
![ESC SV09]()
October 21, 2008
Intellectual Property Symposium
Techinsights asked me to create four websites for their Intellectual Property Symposium conferences. The sites would need to share the same template, but some of the content would be different. And some would be the same. Oh, and the content needed to be updated by non-technical people.
![IPS Silicon Valley]()
I decided this would be the perfect opportunity to build a site on top of a database-driven Content Management System. I chose Drupal.
I set up a system with one "master" site and four "slave" sites. The "master" site is where all the content creation and editing happens. Then each piece is assigned to one or more of the "slave" sites, where they are displayed.
My only regret: the graphic design was heavily constrained, so I couldn't get the polish I wanted. Other than that, it worked out perfectly.
Portfolio
I offer a variety of services, from complete websites to specific areas of site-building.
Click an image on the left or choose from the menu above.
"Dale skillfully developed our design based on industry standards, input from the market, and his exemplary creative abilities."
- Jeff Metcalf, Director of Product Development, Excel, Inc.
"I respect not only his clear and mature design sense, but also his insights into business process, marketing strategy, and product development."
- Gabriel DeWitt, VP of Engineering, HighWired Technologies, Inc.
"Dale is a detail-oriented, creative designer who can simultaneously keep his eye on the business and strategic objectives."
- David Levine, CTO, Asparagus Technologies, Inc.
"He is always so creative and I am constantly in awe of his amazing ideas."
- Ginny Westcott, Creative Director, Westcott Design
"Dale's ability to quickly generate clean, high quality design sketches, templates, and page layouts was the major reason our project progressed so rapidly."
- Stan Fisher, Software Engineer
Dale brings to your project a range of experience uniquely broad and deep. His grasp of the dynamics of Internet technology and business combines with a mastery of the crafts of media creation, resulting in a powerful contribution to your project's success.
Career highlights include:
- Creative Director and Lead Designer for two award-winning rich-media web applications — YackPack and Mixxee
- Producer for LucasArts' acclaimed Star Wars Racer Revenge and Full Throttle II: Hell on Wheels
- Sr. Game Producer at shockwave.com, the world's first premium entertainment destination site
- Creative and Technical Director for comedy CD-ROMs Star Warped, The X-Fools, and Winblows 98 — which, unique for their time (1997), connected with the Internet for an extended experience
- Designer/developer of one of the first music CDs with multimedia content - Monster Magnet's I Talk to Planets, A&M Records, 1995
RESUME (PDF)
Service: Websites
What I can do for you:
In a word: everything.
Whether you need a large, database-driven site with social features, or a simple brochure site to let people find you online, I can set you up. From information design through site architecture, user experience design through layout, copy and asset creation, I've done it, and done it right.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Service: Table-less Layout in CSS
What I can do for you:
I've got the art of table-less layout mastered.
Why should that matter to you? Tables are "set in stone" on the web page. Table-less layouts are done completely in CSS - one quick change to a CSS file, and every page on your site is updated - new colors, new sizes, new placements.
If you've got a design that you love, I can render it accurately - to the pixel - across all leading browsers, without using tables.
Our markup code is XHTML compliant, and all our code validates.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Service: Web Application Front Ends
What I can do for you:
This is right in my wheelhouse.
Do you have a vision for a website that's truly innovative - something that could really go big? I specialize in working with engineers to make that vision a reality. While the engineers build the back end, I do the front end, from UI Design through Graphic Design, copy, DHTML/CSS layout, Flash, JavaScript: whatever it takes.
Need a state-of-the-art look and feel for your web application? You got it.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Service: UI Design and Development
What I can do for you:
Your web application exists for its users. Their needs must be considered from every angle, and translated into an interface that delivers what they want, when they want it, while conveying your brand values.
User-centered design is only the beginning. While engineers build the back end, I create the front end, from copy, to DHTML/CSS layout, to PHP template pages, Flash, JavaScript...whatever it takes.
Service: Flash, Copy, Audio & Video
What I can do for you:
Your website needs to put across a message. You need content.
I write sparkling copy, and produce top-quality media assets, whether you need audio, video, or Flash.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Service: Graphic Design
What I can do for you:
Your project needs to speak to your users, it needs to convey your brand values, and it needs to look professional. I have the graphic design skills to deliver.
Whether you need a logo, web graphics, Flash, or a web application front end, I've got you covered.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Service: JavaScript, PHP, ActionScript
What I can do for you:
I can make your website stand up and do tricks.
Do you need a customized photo gallery? A one-of-a-kind contextual Help module? A custom AJAX front end for a data-driven application? A truly interactive Flash piece?
I go way beyond static design to bring your website to life.
I am conversant in JavaScript and ActionScript, and have worked with AJAX (Prototype and Dojo), PHP (Smarty), and Java (Tapestry). I also have at my disposal engineers that have pretty much seen it all.
Choose a project from the menu above.
Project: dalegeist.com
URL: www.dalegeist.com
The challenge:
- Create a portfolio site for a web designer/developer.
The solution:
- Keep design understated, to highlight portfolio images.
- Create flexible navigation structure to accomodate a variable number of menu items.
- Optimize load times through a custom JavaScript navigation scheme.
- Build in design flexibility with a PHP-based template.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, PHP, PhotoShop
Project: mixxee.com
URL: www.mixxee.com
The challenge:
- Design and implement the front end for a new web application that allows users to mix their voice with a pre-recorded track.
- Design a website to support and market the application.
The solution:
- Co-design a UI that could be easily negotiated by first-time users.
- Implement the UI using a combination of Flash and HTML/CSS within a Dojo/Tapestry framework.
- Design a website to market and support the application.
- Create a logo, assets, and marketing copy for the website.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, Flash, JavaScript, PhotoShop, SVN
Project: HighWired Mixing Consoles
URL: http://www.mytelus.com/gen/fungreetings
www.mixxee.com/app_email.html
The challenge:
Design and implement a Flash UI to facilitate a new web-based audio recording and mixing application.
The solution:
- Working from a functional spec, created an innovative yet accessible UI design.
- Created different designs for minimum and maximum feature sets.
- Customized look and feel to support third-party brands.
Tools & Tech: Flash, ActionScript
Project: Web Application Landing Page #1
The challenge:
Create a landing page that compels users to click through to a new web application.
The solution:
- Distill the top-line features of the application into succinct copy.
- Design a look and feel that appeals to the target demographic.
- Create a pixel-accurate, finished page using table-less layout.
Tools & Tech: Adobe Photoshop, HTML/CSS
Project: Web Application Landing Page #2
The challenge:
Create a landing page that compels users to click through to a new web application.
The solution:
- Distill the top-line features of the application into succinct copy.
- Design a look and feel that appeals to the target demographic.
Tools & Tech: Adobe Photoshop
Project: cur-ville.com
URL: www.cur-ville.com
The challenge:
Design and create a full-featured content site to promote a music venue and festival. Seamlessly integrate a gallery application so that multiple users can easily upload.
The solution:
- Designed a fun look and feel that conveys a strong sense of identity
- Set standards for content ensuring unity of experience throughout
- Created graphic assets, copy, and layout that support the message
- Integrated PHP form-mail, a PHP calendar (currently disabled), and a sophisticated PHP gallery application
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, FireWorks, Flash/AS, JavaScript, PHP
Project: HighWired Help
URL: www.myfunvoice.com/help
The challenge:
Create best-of-breed contextual multimedia help system for new web application.
The solution:
- Created a powerful help system with an index pane and a content pane that can display either video, or scrolling text with audio.
- Programmed JavaScript and ActionScript to open help window from main app and display help content relevant to the task.
- Created custom Flash video player and audio player.
- Created audio, video, and copy help content.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, ActionScript, Flash, AfterEffects, Premiere, Audacity, Word
Project: cur-ville.com Top Banner
The challenge:
Create a top banner that defines the identity of a website at a glance.
The solution:
- Translate the top-line goals of the website into a visual concept.
- Create assets to turn the concept into finished art.
Tools & Tech: Adobe Photoshop, pencil and paper, stock photography
Project: ESC Websites
URL: esc-sv09.techinsightsevents.com
The challenge:
Create a best-of-breed website for a world-class engineering conference - then clone and mod it for two other conferences.
The solution:
- Use Drupal CMS for powerful features and short development time.
- Create a custom theme to give the sites a unique visual style.
- Configure third-party modules for features like drop-down menus, media players, HTML-enabled tooltips, etc.
Tools & Tech: Drupal, HTML/CSS, PHP, Photoshop
Project: Product and Company Logos
The challenge:
Distill the essence of a company or web product in a memorable logo.
The solution:
- Review company mission or product target audience specifications.
- Iterate design concepts using feedback from stakeholder reviews.
- Create and deploy final graphics.
Tools & Tech: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PhotoShop
Project: Flash Audio Players
URL: http://www.twoskoops.com/players.html
The challenge:
Create embeddable Flash audio players for various audiences.
The solution:
- Designed a variety of simple audio players that could be embedded in personal web pages.
- Created the players in Flash.
- Programmed ActionScript to attach an arbitrary sound file to the player when the page loads.
- Deployed the players as the user-embeddable end product of a Flash Communication Server-based audio application.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, ActionScript, Flash
Project: Sam & Max Promotional Video
The challenge:
Create teaser video for upcoming video game release.
The solution:
- Produced and directed video that combined live action and 3D animation.
- Directed video shoot crew, animators, compositors, and sound designers.
- Budgeted and scheduled pre-production, production, and post-production.
Project: Telus/HighWired
URL: www.mytelus.com/gen/fungreetings
The challenge:
Re-brand existing web application and help application to partner's specifications.
The solution:
- Initially engineered web app front end to support multiple brands.
- Worked with outside designer to implement pixel-accurate layout based on delivered screenshots.
- Made content changes to branding partner specifications.
- Deployed re-branded application on partner's website.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, JavaScript
Project: Grapevine (beta)
URL: www.excelgrapevine.com
Username: dale@dalegeist.com Password: daletest
The challenge:
Design the user experience and create the front end for a suite of web applications for small businessess, including a groundbreaking B2B networking application.
The solution:
- Co-designed one-of-a-kind business networking application.
- Co-designed user flows for an interlocking suite of business apps.
- Designed and implemented the UI in an Ajax (Prototype) framework.
- Integrated a contact list application with an Ajax IM application.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, JavaScript, Visio, Excel
Project: MySpace Music Page
URL: www.myspace.com/dalehenrygeist
The challenge:
Create an attractive MySpace music page to replace the horrendous layout provided by MySpace.
The solution:
- Located a brilliant decryption of the Byzantine CSS properties used by MySpace.
- Designed a custom look and feel.
- Created new assets to work with the layout's finicky specifications.
Tools & Tech: HTML/CSS, FireWorks
Project: Plum
The challenge:
Design a new UI for an existing web-based voice messaging application. Make it small enough to embed in a personal profile. Create different versions for various feature sets and appearances.
The solution:
- Created an innovative yet accessible UI design, working from a functional spec.
- Created different designs for minimum and maximum feature sets.
- Created designs that varied color, element size, ad space, and layout options.
Tools & Tech: FireWorks
