Mike Ball

logo design, business cards, web design

Developed logo, identity, and ecommerce website for Parcell Press, an independent zine, art, and book distributor.

The site is built on Zen Cart, an open source ecommerce platform programmed in PHP with a MySQL database. Not my cleanest code, but the site offers a simple admin interface, as well as various tools for managing newsletters, inventory, shipping, and orders.

This was my first experience in developing an ecommerce site. If done again, I would chose a more scalable and standards-compliant platform such as Drupal or Magento.

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art direction, web design, web development

I recently worked to rebrand BABC Philadelphia's online presence, overhaul their web content, and redesign the organization's website. Via a customized installation of Wordpress, I also provided BABC a content management system, an automated JSON-powered image gallery, an online Event Calendar, and a blogging platform.

The Wordpress-powered site is built with XHTML, PHP, CSS, and Jquery.

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web design

This was extracurricular project for Richmond, VA friends, Ultra Dolphins. The tableless site is is built with CSS, Javascript, and PHP, and could probably use a code/content update sometime soon. If done again, I would build the site with Drupal or Wordpress and offer a more sophisticated content managment system. I'd also rewrite some of that antiquated JavaScript.

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web design, front end development

I'm currently a Web Designer for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, where I work with XHTML, CSS, and Javascript to plan and design web content, information architecture, graphics, and user interfaces.

While Jeremy Beaudry is responsible for the site's initial design, I'm tasked with planning and implementing interface changes as the site's content, functionality, and features evolve beyond Jeremy's initial framework. A few of my own contributions have included a global icon set, redesigned sidebars, image slideshows, an enhanced Member Directory, and numerous program "mini-sites" which function within the main site's framework. Working closely with the Chamber's Art Director, I also oversee the development of and adherence to the website's style guide and graphic standards.

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illustration

I was asked to contribute four illustrations to the Muscle Crap Anthology, which was published in 2004 by Salt Tooth Press.

Max Hubenthal is responsible for the cover art.

web design, web development

Designed and developed this website for Books On Wheels, a Richmond, VA based nonprofit that offers youth development programs via bicycle repair education and free book distribution. The site is built on a custom Wordpress theme and features an event calendar, photo feed, blog, and content management system. This was my first experiment with Wordpress.

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web design, illustration, web development

Designed and developed this basic wedding website for my brother, Taylor, and future-sister-in-law, Juliette. The site features a simple Wordpress-based content management system and user commenting functionality. I did all of the illustrations by hand and also created a typeface for use throughout Taylor and Juliette's wedding materials.

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illustration, collage, zine

Clap Yr. Hands is a zine I occasionally publish. Note: predates the band by the name Clap Yr. Hands Say Yeah and is of no affiliation.

web development

Gabe Farrell and I developed this site for the New York-based transmission arts advocacy organization free103point9. I served as front-end developer while Gabe took care of the server-side programming. While we were provided design comps for most of the site, I am responsible for designing a few of the site's final features, in particular an event calendar.

The site is built with Django, XHTML, CSS, and Javascript. In addition to brochuring free103point9, the site also serves as a transmission arts digital archive, features an event calendar, and a user-friendly content management system.

interface design, web development

After completing free103's initial site redesign, Gabe Farrell and I were asked to create a custom web application through which artists could submit New York State Council for the Arts grant applications. Our web app is built with Django and its entire interface exists within the framework of the primary free103 website.

I was responsible for interface conception, design, and front-end development. I was also actively involved in content development and architecture. The standards-compliant web application utilizes a Javascript-based way-finding system but degrades gracefully for users without Javascript

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web design, client-side development

I was recently tasked with redesigning the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce's CulturePass website. I was responsible for interface design and front-end development, while Zack Wagner took care of the server-side programming.

The site is developed in ASP.NET and utilizes standards-compliant XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

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branding, graphics

Designed a web banner and, subsequently, branding for GtrPhilaBiz, the GPCC's blog. I also collaborated with Nate Johnson to design GtrPhilaBiz business cards.