Website renovation and development

As mentioned on the front page, I'm not currently shilling for work. These folks are keeping me busy and the rest of the team offset some of my weaknesses, like graphic design. If you need the full package, please talk to them.

However I do have a bit of an obsession for building clean, usable websites, and re-coding older websites to current standards. So if you have a small job, an unusual job, or can convince me it's in a good cause, I might be interested.

What renovating your website could do for you

• refresh your place in the search engines with new and up-to-date or interactive content
• take advantage of the capabilites of modern browsers to let your site load and respond faster
• add a Content Management Sytem so you can make your own updates
• incorporate an ordering or eCommerce system

Important features of a website

• A goal or objective, for example "Get people to buy our products" or "Deliver information to these people"
• Clear navigation (make it easy for your visitors to find what they are looking for, or they will leave)
• Content which supports the objective and doesn't distract or overwhelm
• Can be accessed by different technologies - this used to mean different web browsers, now it means an entire range of mobile devices

My approach

• Usability is important. Standards are important, they are the best way to ensure that your site can be found by as many people as possible.
• Progressive enhancement lets you make sure the essential information on your site is available, then add the animations and widgets for visitors whose browsers can show them.
• The languages/technologies I work with most are the standard array of PHP, HTML, CSS, Javascript and MySQL. I haven't touched Flash is a long time and intend it to stay that way.
• Graphic design is not a strong point. I can either bring to life a great design by someone else or design a simple, functional site.
• Always learning. You don't know what you don't know - until something breaks and you have to figure it out.

I consider myself lucky to be working in a field for which I have a passion. However the internet is today developing at such a terrific rate that no one can possibly keep up with it all and I find myself spending a lot more time happily immersed in 'research' than could sanely be accounted for by professional development or project time.