My portfolio isn’t just the content of this website, but the website itself.
This website was built in WordPress using the Argent theme, as well as a combination of about a dozen plugins and HTML/CSS modifications. It was initially built using a MAMP server on my hard drive, and once it was ready to go live it was transferred to my host’s server.
A note on the design: As much as I would like to have the time to frequently refresh this portfolio, I’m often only on here sporadically. As such, I wanted a simple design that wasn’t apt to break after a quick update. So what you see here is as few modifications as possible; just enough that it really looks like it’s mine.
Previous Work in Web Design
I first learned HTML/CSS in college, but only just enough to post a portfolio of my coursework and to make my MySpace look pretty sweet. I learned WordPress soon after, helping with family and friends’ websites and developing a side-hustle through word-of-mouth.
In the fifteen years since, my focus has always been web design that is, at its core, secure, accessible, cross-browser functional, and responsive. With each project my work toward these goals becomes more refined, as you can see from the examples below.
Skyrocket Client Services (2021-Present)
Because this is a client-only site, I’m afraid you won’t be able to see much beyond the login page, although that will include the company’s logo, which I animated.
I was not yet with Skyrocket when this website was initially being developed, but I was brought on during the final leg and gave it a once over just before launch. Later, when the company’s style guide was refreshed, I went through page by page and gave the whole website’s aesthetics a good going over. I also developed the mobile/tablet responsive design, which went live this spring.
As the current project lead on this website, I’m responsible for not only maintaining the current interface, but also adding new bells and whistles as departments request them. So, because I don’t like saying things aren’t possible, the team and I have gotten really good at combining plugins with hand-written HTML/CSS, until pie-in-the-sky ideas become reality. (Click here to view the live site.)
Weatherwax – Class of 1960 (2020-Present)
A few years ago I built, and have continued to admin, a website for the 1960 Class of Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen, WA. This site includes a message board, a contact directory interface, and user upload capability, all password protected. This site also supports multiple user logins and content editing hierarchy using the WordPress login infrastructure, but with a much simpler user interface. (Click here to view the live site.)
Tamara and Marcus – June 8th, 2014 (2014-2019)
I did the design and graphics of my wedding website, which later evolved into a website for my husband and I to post relevant information for family and friends outside the social media ecosystem. With components that were password-protected, including a secure direct-upload function, it may not look too fancy by today’s standards, but for 2014 it was fairly innovative.
While it has long since been retired, it was a simple enough website to get the gist from this screen-shot. But for those really interested, I can pull it out of mothballs upon request.