This website design began from the ground up. This was a new business with no logo or branding colors, and no existing website.

The clients and I sat down and discussed what they needed. They knew they wanted a website, but had put no thought into creating a company brand and logo.

As my clients had no experience with their industry of choice and were not web savvy, I chose to start this project offering more direction to my clients than I normally provide. Generally, people have some idea of what they want and are familiar with their competitors, and I request client input to provide me with some direction. Given no design input, I began this project with research of Art Gallery websites. After a good deal of research, I concluded that a simplistic website offering an attractive format as close to a blank canvas as possible would be required. The beauty in design would need to be the artwork represented, rather than the site itself.

I began the design process by aiding my clients in choosing a simple color pallet and logo. Only after these basic elements were chosen, could I begin the actual site design. I utilized these basic elements to create images meant to represent the final design of the website and submitted my plans to the clients. After review of the designs, the clients and I were able to take my basic plans to a completed design that would meet all of my clients' needs.

After a finished still design was agreed on, I began to build out the website for these clients. Through this process, I repeatedly shared the design in progress, so my clients could see a working version as I added animation and interactive elements to the site. Sharing the work in progress saves time and money, as my clients were able to make changes early in the design process.

While the site was completed to the client's satisfaction, I added programming to make the site user-friendly to every Internet browser version that might reasonably access this website. This includes Internet Explorer 6, 7, and 8 for PC, Firefox for PC and Mac, Safari for PC and Mac, Opera, and Internet Explorer for Mac (this last, nobody does, but I did test the site and it actually worked for this completely outdated browser). I also added programming to make upgrading flash user-friendly for people using outdated flash software, and provided alternate images for web viewers choosing to disable JavaScript. My clients did not request this added attention, and I did not charge more for this-it is just good design.

Santa Barbara, California.

This client sought a WordPress site with a unique template. This type of site would allow the client to update their own content, but would provide a different look for a type of site (WordPress) that is known for having a fairly generic look. WordPress sites, by their nature, must follow a fairly specific layout and design. To make a unique header for each page, for pages with a specific design style that goes beyond the basic WordPress format, requires a great deal of programming creativity.

I started out seeking a color template and logo design for this client and built out the website from there. I created a still version of the site, and the client and I were able to come to a completed design.

Walnut Creek, California

This client had a fairly clear idea of what he wanted when we discussed his site design. After I reviewed examples of web sites he found appealing, I discovered that his choices differed greatly, and that there was no specific style he sought, instead, he was looking for a clean and simple look to his page—something to reflect his work in a complimentary manner.

In short, he didn't know exactly what he wanted, but would know it when he saw it.

Fortunately, I tend to do well with this type of project. I work with people and provide examples that help them narrow down personal preference so I can combine it with great design to create a site that appeals to both my client, as well as my client's consumers. We traded site ideas until a working model was in place.

As this site was entirely a flash design, what I could display as a still image was very limited, to keep loading times a realistic wait for his clients. When I added animation to the flash site, however, this client went from being quite satisfied with the basic layout and design of his pages, to being absolutely thrilled with how his content was displayed.

I am quite capable at explaining visual effects and other motion graphics encountered in web page design, but as a graphic artist, I visualize everything. If you say it, I will see it. I understand that not everyone has this same capability, which is why I share the design process with my clients. I can spend two hours explaining an effect, or spent two minutes sharing this effect with as client via their site.

I created an introduction for this flash web site. Some people love intro's, some people hate them. The biggest factor about providing an introduction to a site is allowing people who want to skip it to do so. This way, people who hate intro's will appreciate the opportunity to skip it and will both love the effort put into adding an intro and will appreciate the ability to skip it, and people who adore watching cool effects will check out the material provided. Either way, you appeal to potential clients, which is what I wanted to do for this customer.

San Francisco Area, California.

This site was designed with minimal input from my client. The intent was obviously directed toward people seeking a wedding videographer, and while this client had created wonderful wedding videos on multiple occasions, he had not actually solicited work as a Wedding Videographer. Instead, clients familiar with his excellent videography in reference to other projects had requested he film their weddings.

This client found he enjoyed the process of creating and editing Wedding Videos, and decided to add a separate website to offer this specific service.

The main challenge in designing this website was having a client completely unfamiliar with their own market, as he was pushing into new territory.

Through a good deal of research into the Wedding Videography business, I was able to incorporate a unique stylistic design with a romantic look and feel that reflect the workings of a Wedding Videographer, while maintaining consistency with the ultra-clean style of my client's main site.

I am still awaiting a Wedding Compilation Video for this client—but the site is otherwise complete. Given the incomplete nature of the site, I have not begun website promotion. After I have my client's files, this site will be promoted to the same extent as all of One Planet Design sites are.

San Francisco Area, California.

This was the beginning of 'One Planet Design'. One of the two key designers, Mary Bouldin, created this site as an example of her portfolio of work completed as a student of Brooks Institute in the Graphic Design program shortly before her graduation. This site demonstrates a keen usage of Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, AfterEffects, Flash, and Adobè InDesign software, as well as a skilled use of photography and hand drawing skills. Many 'designers' lack the simple ability to sketch. The examples given here should make it apparent that this capability of expressing design is not lacking from our design team. We can express our ideas in any media, at the most basic levels.

Goleta, California.

This site was designed as a class project. All of the images, the copy, and the layout was created by myself as a school project.

Many designers offer examples of work that are actually samples of school projects. I am OK with that. Too many designers, however, try to pass off their class projects as actual designs created for real clients.

If you are looking at other designers' examples, please check their work carefully. If their examples start with the same URL as their site, and/or if the web pages don't work correctly, you should know that you are probably looking at an example rather than a separate functional web site. Please check all examples for content and functionality. While you might see some great examples of student projects, there is a lot more involved in creating a great site than you'll find in an unpublished student site or a web example.

Santa Ynez, California.

This was the original site design, created in mid–2008.

With this site, I sought to express creativity and imagination in design and programming.

Given the flexibility in design required by a broad range of clients, I felt it was time to represent my skills and creativity with more subtlety—expressing unique ideas and design that fits my clients needs through my client's site examples.

If you take the time to review this site, please start by clicking on the 'handle' protruding from the left-had side of the site. This starts an animation that most users missed.

Goleta, California.