New portfolio site for a visual artist launching a new body of work. Needed something easy to update and maintain, with a news area and multiple ways to display images. Will look good on both web browsers and tablets.

Solution:

A elegant and simple to use site that focuses on Sally’s most recent work. Utilizing a scalable grid if images it takes advantage of today’s larger wide screen monitors and still reduces down proportionately for a tablet or netbook. Built on a forward looking HTML5 platform for the most flexible and optimized code, the base of the site will stay relevant and allow for design changes with out the expense of recoding.

sallyweare.com

Develop brand new website and feedback tool for a non-profit dance company based in New York and San Francisco. The site needed to express the unique feeling of the company’s choreography, and be easily maintainable by the choreographer who likes to dance, not code.

Solution:

A super simple elegant design that utilizes the fantastic photo assets of the company to make the site like a stage. Looking at the photo archives it was clear that all the performance shots would have black backgrounds, so the lightweight code was developed to allow for beautiful big background images with quick download times. To capture some of the dynamic movement of the work, select flash scripting uses xml feeds for robust deployment and easy of updates.

Updates no problem

The first version of this site was hand coded xhtml/css, and CushyCMS was used for a super simple update from anywhere solution, that’s also free. As the company has developed the second version is built on WordPress to extend control and features, including a member’s only blog for backstage news. The site is currently in development for version three.
kateweare.com

Active  New York Contemporary Dance producer and booking agency needed a showcase for presenters that would have impact and funnel interest towards the companies he represents.

Solution:

Full fame homepage slideshow to quickly highlight each company. Individual pages with a quick overview, slide show and links.  This site was delivered on budget through effective design strategy.

zia-artists.com

Redesign of old site and develop a web presence consistent with a New York based contemporary dance company. Additionally site needed to go live in 12 days for European press coverage.

Solution:

With no time for new content development, an initial review of the clients PR assets revealed a series of excellent photographs that were unused on the current site.  These images became the basis for a design strategy. Utilizing a sympathetic color pallet and lean structural layout the photo backgrounds are allowed to drive the energy of the site and kept the viewer linked to the expressiveness of the work.  ‘Shadow headers’ were created to match the photography and provide a consistent look with fast loads. This XHTML site is designed from the CSS, allowing future changes without another complete overhaul. This site was delivered on time and on budget through solid communication and effective design strategy. The current site is unsupported by APS

Rebuild and redesign a legacy site and move to an open source content management platform with customized admin interface for easy updates.

Solution:

A completely new design by APS that is built on a WordPress platform. This client went from being dependent on freelancers for updates, to complete control of every aspect of content with a contemporary design that shows both the work and the full range of this dance company’s activities in a simple and elegant way. This project included in person consultations with the artistic director, and on site training for the staff.

Develop a brand new portfolio site reflecting the minimalist aesthetic of this contemporary landscape painter. Brian needed a lean design that let his work take center stage and could evolve with his paintings.

Solution:

An energetic opening Flash movie conveys the dynamicism of the work and its’ shape, while series of simple muted background tones reflects the color pallet of the current paintings. Through CSS the colors can be easily changed with very little expense as Brian develops new series. Graphically the design is utilitarian letting the eye move easily to the content of the work. This site is now in its’ second version.

This Tribeca based boutique fashion line needed a redesign of an existing site to reflect the new branding and have a more dynamic approach to the new swimwear line.

Solution:

She She New York’s vibrant and sophisticated designs are driven by its bold fabric choices. An overall design and menu system was developed to reflect this in both shape and pattern. Curved lines mimic the She She heart logo and the main menu is laid on top of the current season’s lead fabric pattern. This fabric detail is repeated in the rollovers in the swimwear line. Downloadable PDF line sheets were also developed to facilitate wholesale buyers as the site is primarily used to build business to business relationships. The current site is unsupported by APS.

The Seattle based B-32 Productions is a small artisan provider of
custom concrete and architectural metalwork focused on unique projects. Serving clients from architects and restaurateurs to homeowners, B-32 has thrived largely on word of mouth. APS was tapped to create a complete branding and marketing package including logo, print materials, web presence, and power point portfolio to bring B-32’s image
in line with its growing business.

Solution:

In depth brainstorming interviews were used to reveal what sets B-32 apart from the competitors, and identify the qualities that current clients value in B-32. From this a guideline brief was written as a map for reinforcing existing relationships and targeting new client groups. This strategic evaluation formed the basis of the logo design process, with the end goal clearly in mind. A quote from the brief:

“Looking for design shapes and sources that would yield impressions of individuality, craftsmanship, creativity, and longevity I began thinking about old tools, how the logos on early aluminum drills were riveted on, what the sign above the mythic craftsman’s shop looked like, or a blacksmith’s brand.  The memory of a metal plate fastened to a tool’s surface, and the shapes of such signs were used as the basis of a design strategy; to develop a mark that looks as though it already has existed for some time but out of place enough to communicate creative awareness and individuality to those who think about design.”

From this approach three main shapes were developed with perhaps 50 versions that were honed into a simple, lean and muscular mark. From this a multi-phase process was developed to create the materials in a series of stages for both creative and budget reasons. This project resulted in: branding materials, color stationary, power point sales presentation, and a brochure web site.