Role: Information Architect, Usability Specialist
Company: YHA
Web Site: www.yha.org.uk

Description:
The first phase of the YHA website redesign involved working closely with the client to develop business requirements, re-structure a more intuitive site architecture and define functionality specifically around searching for and booking available hostels. The integration of the availability search and the booking engine into the website in the first phase, along with the new easy to read page layouts, strong calls to action and intuitive navigation has resulted in an increase of site visits by 35% and online bookings by 121%.

6 months after the launch of the new website, I facilitated a series of usability tests with real users on the newly launched site. A series of task-based questions designed to determine how the website was fairing in terms of general usability, navigation, page layout, design, content and functionality were asked during each session. The findings and recommendations from the usability evaluation are currently being implemented in phase 2 of the website, ensuring that the needs of users are met by the next iteration of design changes for the website.

Role: Designer, Information Architect
Company: YHA Breaks 4 Kids
Web Site: www.breaks4kids.co.uk

Description:
Breaks 4 Kids is a charitable organisation founded and supported by the YHA that allows youth from low income households to go on residential trips and activities. As well as providing vital information for schools and groups that might need the assistance of Breaks 4 Kids, the website's main goal is to seek sponsorship in the form of donations and memberships. The site structure and the navigation easily funnels these 2 different user groups into the areas that they might be interested in.

The design is clean and professional looking while maintaining a warm and personal tone. This warmth is created through the use of engaging and personal images of children and youth enjoying themselves. The home page features a strong call to action that leads users to explore further into the website and read testimonials of young people and leaders.

Role: Designer
Company: NWDA (Northwest Regional Development Agency)

Description: Pitch Design
NWDA wanted to redesign their current Visit England's Northwest tourist microsite as it was out-dated and lacked any excitement. The current site did not justice in representing the area and all that it has to offer.

As part of the pitch process, a fresh and inviting new website was designed. The use of bright and bold colours, strong and vivid imagery of the Northwest help draw potential visitors into the finding out more about what the area has to offer.

The website also features interactivity, creating interest and engaging the user. The main image on the homepage is a rotating flash element that shows breathtaking views of the diverse places that one can visit within the Northwest. On interior pages, there is another flash element that highlights the "Gems of the Northwest", offering up detailed information about each gem.

Role: Designer, Information Architect, Usability Specialist
Company: NWDA (Northwest Reginal Development Agency)
Web Site: www.nwda.com

Description:
I was involved from the initial scoping exercises through to the implementation of NWDA's new corporate website. I designed and facilitated a series of interviews with NWDA's core user groups, in order to get a better understanding of what their needs were from the website. This exercise explored every aspect of the website including design, content and functionality, as well as understanding what the current perception of NWDA was within the marketplace. The findings and recommendations from these interviews were incorporated into defining the scope and requirements for the new website.

The clean and modern design, together with an intuitive site structure based on inputs from the interviews has streamlined the website, allowing information to be easily found and digested. The website features useful and easy to use functionality such as a publications search and the ability to order publications online. It also features an interactive events calendar with the ability to filter events, numerous RSS feeds and podcasts, videos and international language pages to accommodate foreign investment.

Role: Designer
Company: CMA
Web Site: www.constructionmaterials.com.au

Description:
A sleek and modern website was designed for CMA, a leading design, manufacturing and distributor of high performance building products. The design reflects the innovative and next generation of building products within the CMA range. The multiple curves and fades used throughout the design are inspired by the curves in the logo and represents the idea of progress and always moving forward. This ideas is essential to CMA's core brand value where they strive to innovate and look towards revolutionising the building industry through their products.

Role: Designer, Information Architect
Company: Manchester Metropolitan University
Web Site: www.mmu.ac.uk/venues/

Description:
Designed a contemporary and professional website for the Venues for Events services that Manchester Metropolitan University offers to the general public and businesses. The website features striking imagery of the unique buildings, lecture theatres and accommodation that the university has to offer.

Along with important facilities information for every venue, multiple images of both the inside and outside are featured in order to give users the necessary information that they might need to make a decision about hiring a venue. The navigation and information architecture of the site is simple and uses intuitive language allowing users to quickly find the information that they are looking for.

Role: Designer, Information Architect
Company: Manchester Metropolitan University
Web Site: www.mmu.ac.uk/artanddesign/

Description:
An edgy and vibrant website was designed for the Art & Design Faculty of Manchester Metropolitan University. While adhering to the strict university website guidelines, the design breaks away from the more corporate and traditional look and feel of the rest of the site. The design uses bold and bright colours to accentuate important information and create a sense of hierarchy within the content. The rough edges of the design elements adds to the edginess and uniqueness of the faculty.

The website features interactive flash elements on all course pages that allows potential students to browse through various pieces of art work created by previous students. Another flash feature also encourages them to explore the different studios by allowing users to pan across each space.

Role: Designer
Company: Global Business Forum
Web Site: www.globalbusinessforum.com.au

Description:
Global Business Forum wanted a website for their 2005 annual conferences that were being held in 3 different cities across Australia. The design needed to be corporate and appeal to the business community, but also needed to have a personal and warm atmosphere. The design focuses on the warm colour palette and features images of the speakers in order to create this fine balance. Each city is also colour co-ordinated allowing users to immediately recognise which area of the website they are in.

Role: Designer
Company: NWDA (Northwest Regional Development Agency)

Description: Pitch Design
NWDA wanted to redesign their current cultural microsite as it was not meeting their needs or portraying the right type of image for the region. They wanted a website that was different from the normal NWDA offering, one that portrayed the Northwest as cosmopolitan and a cultural destination.

As part of the pitch process, a sleek and stylish look and feel was designed. The creative featured videos from the home page and used interactivity in the form of AJAX menus and content in order to further engage the user to explore deeper into the site.

Role: Information Architect, Interaction Design
Company: Manchester Art Gallery
Web Site: www.manchestergalleries.org

Description:
Working closely with the client, I developed an intuitive site architecture and navigation that emphasised finding important information quickly. Findings from usability tests on prototypes during the different stages of the project were incorporated into the final design and structure of the website.

A key element of this project was the redesign of the Online Collections area. Working hand-in-hand with a third party vendor KE Software and the client, I developed wireframes and functional specification diagrams that outlined in detail all the functionality within the Online Collections Search. This resulted in the design of a more user-friendly collections search featuring expandable/collapsable advanced search criteria, the ability to display larger amounts of results on a page, easy to understand page layouts, and intuitive navigation.

Role: Web Designer
Company: Jeff Goodman
Web Site: www.jeffgoodmanstudio.com

Description:
A new web site was designed for Canadian glass artist Jeff Goodman, that showcases his glass vessels and architectural glass designs. The design is clean and contemporary and expresses his artistic sensibilities. The strategic goal for the web site is make Jeff's glass art immediately accessible to art collectors and galleries regardless of what city they may be in.

Role: Designer, Information Architect
Company: Bell Canada

Description:
Involved from the initial strategy development to the implementation of Bell Canada's new web site, I worked closely with the client to develop business requirements, define functionality, and re-structure product information. The new design, visually promoted Bell's brand, and user tasks such as purchasing were made easier to accomplish. The clean, modern, and modular design brought product information and content important to user tasks to the top level of the web site.

After the launch of Bell.ca in November 2001, traffic to the Home page of the web site increased by 150,000 visitors per week. The web site has also been recognized in the Neilson Norman Group's report Usability ROI Report (January 2003) and received an award from the Indice Internet SECOR (May 2002) for the best e-commerce web site in Canada.

Role: Web Designer
Company: Brumby Music Inc.

Description:
An effective online marketing web site for Brumby Music Inc. was designed that promotes their artists and their production and composition services. The design represents the company's image of simplicity, fun and professionalism. Together with their offline marketing strategy, the web site has increased Brumby's visibility within the music industry in Canada, the promotion of their artists, and has increased the number of clients using their services.

The web site features streaming mp3s, artists' bios, upcoming gigs, message board and even a hidden section about food and drink (just for fun).

Role: Designer, Interaction Design
Company: RemoteNet

Description:
Designed a web application based on integrated management tools for the MSP (Managed Service Provider) market. Developed functional and user requirements from initial concept and implemented features based on user needs. Designed the user interface to be customizable and easy to use for the various levels of technical and non technical users.

The portal has different user specific views which delivers specific content and functionality for each user.