Websites are more than a bunch of pretty pictures and text. They are well placed pretty pictures and text, built with clean code. I'm a Front-End Developer. This means I'm good at creating what people look at: Layout, design, images. I can help with collecting information, deciding how to place that information, structuring the website, and creating/placing the images or identity information (logos etc). I can also edit and make suggestions on copy.
I'm willing to join a team or find help should there be a need for back-end (i.e. programming, datatbases etc.).
My mark-up is clean and semantic, my layouts are done with css, and designs are usually very crisp. I begin with the content first. My sites are simple by design - since I believe in making sure the content is what gets the attention, not the snappy new chrome or the latest glossy look. Making sites simple also makes them easy to update and maintain.
I will toss in the odd javascript for certain things, and a snippet of php.(When I say snippet, I mean snippet. I am not a programmer - Though if you like what you see and are willing to let me learn, I will take up the programming side.) I currently endorse the use of Expression Engine as a CMS.
Graphics are whipped into shape with Adobe products, and I will use Corel Painter for a more natural edge. 95% of the time I hand code (X)HTML and CSS. The other 10% depends on various circumstances. If the words grid, line-height, fonts, or other such terms make sense to you, then I may be the person to help you with your project.
Below, my descriptions may get repetitive, since I pretty much did all the work on most of the sites. Some sites may no longer look the same as I left them since they have been handed to other parties.
These sites are placed in no particular order
This website was a chop up. The design had been pre-made by other designers in Photoshop. I then chopped up the graphics and made the site web compatible with XHTML and CSS. I also made some suggestions for additional content areas such as the blog. I also did some copy writing and editing, adjusting of logo, and finding professional stock images for the home page.
Nepean Museum needed a reboot of their website which looked dull, drab and like it was stuck in 1995. There wasn't much time to make changes so the content stayed as is, and they got a re-adjustment.
Apparently the site was given some accolades as a website that other museums should emulate.
The site is no longer linked to since it no longer reflects my work.
Made for iFathom Corp.
This site was pretty much built from scratch. I was pushed into adding some more color and gradients into the site, and in the end it turned out quite nice.
Working on this site, we worked with an excellent photographer. It's always a pleasure to work with high-end photos that aren't stock.
Visit Gateway Christian Ministries site.
Made for Moko Productions.
Moko Productions website was a beast! In a good way. Not only was it large, it also had lots of content, and that content was varied. It included video, graphics, sound clips, and more. The conent was already in place, but the site needed a spruce up.
There have been some slight alterations since I've left this site, but the core structure and imagery remains.
If you need creative services when it comes to Jingles, Musical Scores, Sound Design, Radio Ads, or Music Recording, I highly recommend you visit. Moko Productions
This was a unique project since I actually became the Creative Director. The site opens with a Flash screen (which can by bypassed immediately if you so wish) but it sets the tone for what the site is about. I also ended up naming the CD, designing the CD layout, used artwork from another artist as the basis for the imagery. Also conducted the photoshoot with the model in the flash sequence.
Visit the Soul Flight website and snag a CD. Soothing and relaxing.
Made for Moko Productions
Not much to say about this one. Concept, layout, pre-set photos, photo shoot of the salon for site graphics, scanning, and some copy. That's about it.
Made for Moko Productions.
Luke Skaarup is a Strong Man nick named the “The Iron Viking” he didn't really have an idea of what he wanted other than the pre-set content he had written and the photos of himself. I tweaked his copy, came up with the logo and masthead, did the layout and design. The idea of the site was to inform the public of his ventures, and to attract sponsorship - which it did almost immediately after being placed online.
Visit Luke Skaarup and check out his muscles
Made for iFathom Corp.
Skaarup? He couldn't be related to the fellow above? Yup. Brothers. Once he saw his brother's site, he wanted one too. This was a fun site since I built it on the principles of a building and a grid. I also made the navigation nice and chunky to make it feel like a swath of land, and when you hover over a link it's like your digging into the foundations - or at least that was the intent. Built from scratch, based on content provided.
If you want a quality product made then visit: Skaarup Construction
Made for iFathom Corp.
This site was a whopper. It was a learning experience in how to create a site that scales according to the content. Not only did I create the layout and design, but the graphics I developed were also applied to marketing and promotional materials as well. We also had to take into consideration sponsors and their placement into the design.
This is another site that was handed to others, so I'm unsure of it's maintenance.
No longer linked, since site has been terminated.
Made for iFathom Corp.
The Ottawa Sports Awards website was looking tired and dated. The web site structure was in rough shape. It needed content updates, image updates and a fresh face.
Made for iFathom Corp.
This was one of my first major websites, and I'm still proud of that logo. I had to farm out the initial layout to someone else, the only component of which we kept being the “Chrome” navigation bar, according to the client wishes.
It's been a journey from one of my first designs. No longer linked, since new version no longer reflects that original design. (Though they're still using the logo!)
Martin Murtonen
613.818.5365
All images are © ihorace media or their respective owners, all rights reserved.
