christopher leary llc

28 december 2006 | Client: Insurance Information Network of California
Site Redesign: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, CMS build-out, Flash video, Graphic Design

The Insurance Information Network of California's website was built years ago, was a static site, and became difficult to manage and update. I took the existing website, gave it a fresh face (and kept the minimalistic layout and feel), and put the emphasis on content for the consumer.
The website uses a CMS for easy updates to the website's content, and even features flash videos for the consumer to view. (Converting the original videos from WMV to DIVX to MOV to FLV isn't as bad as it initially seems).

27 october 2006 | Client: Insuring Florida
Insurance Costs Getting Higher: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design

Costs are rising for insurance - especially in states that have been hit by hurricanes, and other natural disasters; florida is a perfect example. This website was created to give the public, and the press, some information (and explanation) as to why their insurance rates are increasing. It contains a few videos, a few photos, but the emphasis is on the content (and on a minimalistic design).

6 september 2006 | Client: Townhouse Restaurant Group
New Client: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Flash, Graphic Design

Its my pleasure to have begun working with Townhouse Restaurant Group and the select group of restaurants that they consult and manage. They all have a flair of minimalism mixed with modern design - just my style, and I know that I'll be getting my hands dirty with a lot more Flash.

11 august 2006 | Client: Splenda^TM
Splenda's "Journey" Portfolio: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design, CD Imaging

I don't know if you've noticed, but Splenda has been marketing like crazy lately. And I don't mean just ads, but really creative stuff - specialized marketing that gets the consumer involved - webisodes and commercials that are nearly identical to reality shows. Has it been a success? Absolutely. Word-of-mouth has been turning this product into a hot item in an otherwise saturated market.

I put together a package that showcased all of this material - a portfolio basically. It contains flash pieces, hours of movie clips, images, and webpage screenshots. Once completed, I then packaged it so that it could be duplicated easily on CD, and automated so that upon insertion into a computer, the page loads automatically.

Unfortunately its all on contained media and not the web. But, that doesn't mean I can't tell you about it, right?

10 august 2006 | Client: Digital Criterion
Another Fresh Face: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design

Digital Criterion wanted a new web redesign: small things like an animated banner (yet subtle), some content updates, and layout that took advantage of browser space. The project scope was by no means complicated, and we were able to launch shortly.

Digital Criterion is a company with satellite offices all over the country; they have a strong focus on Apple-related consulting. If you're in need of said consulting, check them out.

10 july 2006 | Featured in Resident Magazine of New York City

Resident Magazine featured an article on young entrepreneurs in New York, and I was grateful to be interviewed. You can read the full article here.

29 may 2006 | Client: Uyghur American Assocation & Uyghur Human Rights Project
Fresh Faces and Quick Turnarounds: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design

The Uyghur American Assocation and the Uyghur Human Rights Project faced a dillema - they had an existing website that they were maintaining with a content editor. This allowed them to make content updates; unfortunately, that's about all it allowed them to do. When it came to flexibility, it just wouldn't budge. In our initial talks, we decided it would be best to start from scratch - new content editor, new designs (graphic, text, you name it), and even a new server! Oh, and did I mention that both websites were designed/built in 4 weeks and under budget?
These two websites are "fresh and new", and now truly present themselves on the web as the credible and professional organizations they really are. Check them out and learn more about the Uyghur people.

24 april 2006 | Client: Don't Be A Dirt Bag Soaps
Dreamweaver - Say No: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design, SSL

Don't Be A Dirt Bag needed a new website - and it's site certainly showed its age in design. So with a complete rebuild: new stylesheet, new integrated store (one that the owner can actually modify products until their heart is content), new design, new everything, it has gone public. Why did it need to be created from scratch? The original site was built using a WYSIWYG editor. (Don't get me wrong though, I don't mind creating a site from scratch - its actually easier in most cases).

Perhaps Dreamweaver does have a purpose. I find it hard to convince myself this is true, mostly because it only creates hideous code, and therefore hideous site designs. It certainly has gotten better (and it's certainly way better than FrontPage ever hoped to be), but until it actually makes 'valid' code and stops shielding what HTML really is to the people that use it, I will never recommend anyone actually use it to build a website. I'm not the only one who thinks so (luckily); read this.

In any event, go buy some soap!

17 march 2006 | Client: The New Republic
Floating Forms: Incorporating: HTML/CSS, Coding, Graphic Design

Pop-up ads just don't work (the marketing reason is obvious, but I'm talking about functionality in this case); especially now that browsers have built-in blockers that are enabled by default (ie Firefox). Besides, who even likes pop-up windows in the first place? The new "version" of a pop-up ad now is a floating form, and The New Republic needed a new implementation of getting visitors' attention when coming to the website. In a little bit of extra complexity, the ad had to have the functionality of only appearing once per visit, once per day, and only to non-subscribers - luckily the logic was built into the current website system to determine whether viewers are members or not, and a cookie takes care of the 'per day & per visit' requirement. Check it out... you can't miss it on your first visit to the website.