Recent Projects

Parcell Press

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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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British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

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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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Ultra Dolphins

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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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Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce

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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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Muscle Crap

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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.

Books On Wheels

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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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Taylor & Juliette

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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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Clap Yr. Hands

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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.

free103point9

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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.

free103point9 NYSCA Application

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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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CulturePass

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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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GtrPhilaBiz

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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.

zine, illustration, t-shirt design

Made record insert, t-shirt design, and narrative zine for Richmond, VA friends, Brainworms.

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Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

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front-end web development

Developed basic site for the GPHCC in the fall of 2007. I was provided Photoshop comps, but also took the initiative to implement some of my own improvements to the original design at the request of the organization. The site is built with classic ASP and Jquery.

At some point soon, I'd like to migrate this to Wordpress, clean up the markup and CSS, and implement some new functionality.

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Anthroapology

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zine, illustration

This quarter-size zine is a collection of illustrations I made while living and teaching English in Bangkok, Thailand.

Battles

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zines, illustration

Battles: Sea and Land is a two-part, illustration-based narrative. I made this in the summer of 2006.

zine, illustration

Contributed illustrations and collages to Alex Valentine's book commemorating the South Philadelphia Athenaeum, the now-defunct Philadelphia art space.

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Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce HTML Email

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html email design, coding

Designed, developed, and tested numerous HTML-based email newsletter campaigns for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce and its affiliate organizations.

Redmond General Contracting

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front-end web development

worked with Philadelphia-based graphic designer Clint Woodside and his studio, Tomorrow, to develop a new website for Redmond General Contracting. Clint designed the site and provided me Photoshop comps. I was responsible for all front-end development. The standards-compliant site is built with CSS, PHP, and Javascript.

Polaroid Celluloid

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illustration, print design

Cover designs for Polaroid Celluloid and Ephemeral Mailbox Museum.

31 Patterns

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illustration

For Art Clash's annual Fun-A-Day art show, my friends Kara Schlindwein, Nate Johnson, and I created a book of 31 Patterns, collaboratively illustrating one pattern each day. The patterns are designed to tile seemlessly.

MESS

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logo design, interface design, client-side development

Worked with a small team of developers on MESS, a Django-based web application for West Philadelphia food co-op, Mariposa. I was responsible for the branding and logo design, most of the interface conception and design, and the majority of the CSS development.

This project is still in development.

Uwishunu

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illustration

I was contacted by Philadelphia ad agency 160over90 to create this illustration for a Uwishunu.com promotional piece. The illustration accompanied an article about Philadelphia's FDR Skatepark.

Info

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About

I live in Philadelphia. I work as a web designer for a small, Center City in-house Art Department with my friends Kara Schlindwein and Nate Johnson.

I am available for freelance projects in graphic design, web development, and illustration. I'm especially excited to work with artists and nonprofits, and on Wordpress, Drupal, and Django projects.

Skills and Experience

Contact

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Alternatively, you can email me at mikedball@gmail.com.