Black Sun Designs - My Work / Portfolio

My Work / Portfolio

Web Sites

	Edgewood Partners Insurance Center (E.P.I.C. - Formerly Calco Insurance Brokers & Agents, Inc.) E.P.I.C. acquired Calco in 2007 and had requested a redesign of their internal site. This was completed and the final outcome resulted in being asked to redesign their external site as well. Calco (now E.P.I.C.) and I go back over 10 years in our relationship; first as an employee as Systems Manager and now as a contractor. This company has always held a special place in my heart and was thrilled to be able to work with them once again. The acquisition was a great move for everyone and since then, E.P.I.C. has been voted as one of the best places to work in the San Francisco Bay Area for 2008. E.P.I.C.’s request was to redesign the site based on some of the existing elements. But incorporation of new functions to have the site not be so “brochure” type was requested. The redesign of the site is just the first step as these are static html pages. Going forward, my hope is to migrate the site to a database CMS system for better management and enhancement of even more functionality.
	The Tree Guys (dba: Bay Area Tree Company, Inc.) The owner of the company was referred to me over a year ago but he decided to go with someone else. Recently, I learned from a mutual acquaintance that he was not happy with the other designer’s work and was in search of someone to re-do the site. After providing several concepts, they selected a design and it was implemented into my base CMS system. Currently, updates to the site are performed by them using an online editor that is part of the cms.
	Edgewood Partners Insurance Center Intranet (Internal Company Site) E.P.I.C. asked for their intranet to be redesigned and the CMS upgraded to the more robust .NET & SQL version. They had been using my ASP & Access based cms before but their needs expanded to use the cms that includes such features as; Flexible User Management & Security Add & manage Files/Documents for downloads. Create & manage calendar-based listings. Create & manage general purpose listings. Collaborate with a team. All essential Site Navigation elements Scheduled publishing Polls Forum Newsletter Form Builder Powerful Editing Capabilities
	Your Critter Connection This is a full CMS system with back end administration functions for managing content, catalog, registered users, and mass email. The site owner has the ability to manage all aspects of the site online without any programming language. Administration section also includes video help tutorials and a very non-intimidating interface.
	RylandPhoto This client purchased a web template and asked me to modify it as she wanted. The addition of a DHTML image galleries made it a lot better than the original. User's guide provided to the client on how to update the site.
	Com-Tec Security, LLC Database driven content, full web based administration of content is done via a simple Online Content Editor.
	Calco Insurance Brokers & Agents, Inc. I got the opportunity to work with Calco once again, this time helping them with their external site redesign. Provided Dreamweaver training for the two administrators that would be building the site. However, since the time-line was short, and learning curve long...I offered to help them by getting the design done, creating the templates, Fireworks images, and creating the Flash animation for their 70th Anniversary. What's not shown here is the internal side of this. Information submitted via the contact form is captured into a SQL database & email notification sent to the admins. The admins in turn access an internal url where the data submitted can be managed, assigned, and downloaded to their Office applications. With the site done, updating has been turned over to the administrators using Dreamweaver.
	Peabody Realty Inc. This site was set up for the manager of 12 buildings. Vacancies were low and needed to provide unit rental information online. Set up the site as described and integrated with Contribute to edit the content. From the feedback I received, vacancies dropped form 70% to 30% in the first month of it going live.
The Edge Companies – This one was a fun project. It was one company but with multiple divisions that also needed sites. The principle of this project from the client end wanted a consistent “theme” for all the sites, but she also wanted the ability to edit the content once I was done. For each site, I included my simple Content Management System. This is a completely database driven site. Content for each page is a database row that contains the code. Editing is done via the Browser from any location using my WORD-like editing interface. No software to install. Below is a brief description of each.
	The Edge Companies Features Fully Database Driven Content, Flash, dynamic drop-down navigation, CSS, and utilizing our own Content Management System.
	Edge Insurance Agency Features Fully Database Driven Content, Flash, dynamic drop-down navigation, CSS, and utilizing our own Content Management System.
	HR Edge Features Fully Database Driven Content, Flash, dynamic drop-down navigation, CSS, and utilizing our own Content Management System.
	Pay Edge Features Fully Database Driven Content, Flash, dynamic drop-down navigation, CSS, and utilizing our own Content Management System.
	Time Edge Features Fully Database Driven Content, Flash, dynamic drop-down navigation, CSS, and utilizing our own Content Management System.
	California Payroll (formerly DBA Promerio) Project I took simply because I’ve worked with the main principles of the company before. I knew what the expected. The site design was actually provided by the company. I came in to take the graphical vision and turned it into a web site. Functions include drop-down navigation menus, tree-style dynamic left navigation elements. The site was built compatible for Macromedia’s Contribute product so that the company can edit content the site from their location without hindering on the site look.
	Alitha Young This is was a project was a referral from someone. Alitha Young is an artist whose work is really appealing to me. I gave her some examples and she selected the one she liked best. It turned out she liked elements from two so I ended up combining what she liked into the final draft. It’s a simple PHP site using scroller functions that allow a site visitor scroll through her work. The scroller utilizes styled DHTML layers with one-click ease.
	Calco Intranet Calco wanted to redesign their existing Intranet site but also make it easy to edit/add content & pages. After presenting them with various site samples, they selected the look below. But it also incorporated the Easy Content Management System.
	Kennedy Charleston Another referral client. Requested a site for their small business launch. Included database driven product lines and subsequent recommendation items. Implemented our Content Management to edit/update content. Another feature we implemented was the “zoom” java applet that allows site visitors to zoom into the image for a closer look without losing quality.
	Deer Creek Digital My first client since moving to Chico. The owners of DCD had build a very nice fully digital recording studio and asked me to create a web site for them. After a few concepts, we ended up with the final design that incorporates a music components theme. Trained the person who would take over the site on all code done and process for updating the using DreamWeaver as they described. This job was done on the barter system…no money changed hands. In the end, both I and the client were very happy with our arrangement. Aside from that, turned out that the owner is a great guy and we’ve now established a good relationship as friends.
	USC Fight On! This project was for the same person who asked me to do Kennedy Charleston. USC Fight On! Is a former alumni and Trojan fan’s personal fan site. The site includes a custom built Bulletin Board System with sections for family, fans, etc. can communicate through a forum model. The user registration is required and approval needs to be given and rights assigned to which boards they are allowed into. This is all done via page code and content updated using our Content Management System.
	Calco Forums This one was interesting and fun. Fully functional forum with moderator set up and build in forum admin functions. The original purpose of this form was to have an area where client, customers and prospects could come in and interact with the Calco Specialized Staff. Some sections would be restricted to only current clients, etc.

I have plenty more samples of my work. If you would like to see more, please contact me.