Sandbox Development and Consulting Inc.

url:http://tavistockwood.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• WordPress CMS/theme modifcation
• Custom PHP programming
• Custom AJAX functionality

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, WordPress, PHP, jQuery

front end:

The client provided mockups (Photoshop PSD files) and I turned those into the WordPress theme you see. The home page uses jQuery Cycle to cycle randomly through images associated with client pages which are chosen (special field) so the client can easily add/remove images that show up on the home page.

back end:

There were a number of custom elements to this site. The most visible is the jQuery cycles that are on the homepage. I used jQuery Cycle plugin along with some custom WordPress loops to dynamically generate the images you see on the home page. I also did some custom plugin programming for this client so they could easily select what posts would appear in the loop for the home page, what image(s) would be used, etc. I also set it up so that if the client had more than one photo – the images would be cycled just like the home page – only on the single client page.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

I have used jQuery Cycle quite a bit now and it was fun to use it with this project so that I learned even more about it.

url:http://www.macleans.ca/

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SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• WordPress CMS/theme
• Custom PHP programming
• Custom AJAX functionality

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, WordPress, WordPress.com VIP Hosting, PHP, jQuery

front end:

I had worked with Macleans before and created their first WordPress theme for their WordPress CMS. This time around I was given a new mockup for the home page, the category pages, and the single page view. I added in a number of jQuery functions to display the content (featured posts, jappler menus, scroller at the bottom, etc) and worked to simplify everything from CSS to the page logic – to creating easy to use admin pages to add in and control the content in certain content areas.

back end:

This redesign was not just a simple reskin – I spent a lot of time creating custom functions so that updating the site in the future would be much easier and the content could easily be changed by changing a few parameters. I also made nearly everything on the site dynamic and easily editable by creating an admin options page for the editors to easy switch around content in some of the main content areas on the home page without touching any of the template files.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

Overall – this was a great project to work on. I had the chance to do a lot of front end simplification by adding in a number of custom functions that controlled the output while also focusing on creating an easy to use admin options page for the editors who needed to make changes quickly and easily without having to know PHP. I am quite happy with the end result.

url:http://landmarksccc.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• WordPress CMS/theme
• Custom PHP programming
• AJAX

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, WordPress, PHP, AJAX

front end:

I was given a PDF file which contained the front page layout and the menu design and built the site from that. I used my custom built Jappler Menus for the JS/XHTML/CSS and built the menu images and look feel of them based on the client’s design.

back end:

I added a lot of custom logic to control the views of the home and categories pages but other than that the site was very similar to the other site I did for them (Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation

lessons learned/random thoughts:

I had worked with this client before and it was great to work with them again.

url:http://www.civilbranding.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• WordPress CMS/theme
• Custom PHP programming

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, WordPress, PHP

front end:

I was given a mockup of the site and created the CSS/XHTML based on that and on another site I did for the same client in the past (BrandInstinct). The site is very clean and simple and allows the users to focus on the the content.

back end:

There was not anything too fancy besides a custom WordPress widget for them to use to show their polls in the sidebar. I created the widget for them so they could easily change their PollDaddy polls without making any changes to the templates.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

I had worked with this client before and we both have similar design tastes – minimal, simple. I really liked the way the site turned out.

url:http://www.shopplr.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• Custom web design
• Custom logo design

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, PHP, WordPress

front end:

The client wanted a design similar to her other site Mapplr. After receiving a color palette and custom icons – I put together a logo, and site design that had a similar feel to Mapplr while still having it’s own look and feel.

back end:

There is not anything too fancy with this site on the backend. I added a few custom functions – but nothing major.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

This was a pretty straightforward project but I built on the existing codebase of the sister site – Mapplr.com. Sometimes it ends up being quicker and easier starting from scratch.

url:http://www.pressitfor.me/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• Custom logo design
• Custom web design

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, Pligg

front end:

The client wanted a custom logo, custom button (for Digg like service), and web design. I worked with the client to choose the palette and then created the logo around the button that would be used on the site and new WordPress plugin. I created the basic layout (header, footer, navigation, basic content area, AJAX comments/related links, who voted area) and the client then created a Pligg theme from it.

back end:

I did not do any work on the backend for this site – but I did have to make sure that the button HTML and CSS worked with the Pligg voting system.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

This was my first experience with Pligg and I always enjoy learning something new.

url: http://realclearpolitics.blogs.time.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• Moveable Type to WordPress Migration
• WordPress theme
• Custom PHP programming

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, Moveable Type, WordPress, WordPress.com (Hosting), PHP

front end:

I used the existing TIME Inc. Moveable Type templates for the site above and from those I created WordPress templates that would display everything so that the readers would not know there was any difference on the backend. I also tightened up the CSS to make sure load time would be reduced.

back end:

It was very important to the editors at TIME that every content area of this site could be easily modified at any time using the WordPress admin. Because of this, I worked with them to make sure they had control of each section by using as many of the WordPress functions, backend admin areas, and sidebar widgets as possible.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

This was my second Moveable Type theme migration for them and it went very smoothly. (WordPress VIP hosting migrated the data).

url: Mutiple TIME Inc. Blogs (See Below)

• http://swampland.blogs.time.com
• http://tunedin.blogs.time.com
• http://china.blogs.time.com
• http://mideast.blogs.time.com
• http://curiouscapitalist.blogs.time.com
• http://workinprogress.blogs.time.com
• http://nerdworld.blogs.time.com
• http://lookingaround.blogs.time.com

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• Moveable Type to WordPress Migration
• WordPress theme
• Custom PHP programming

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, Moveable Type, WordPress, WordPress.com (Hosting), PHP

front end:

I used the existing TIME Inc. Moveable Type templates for the sites above and from those I created WordPress templates that would display everything so that the readers would not know there was any difference on the backend.

back end:

The templates are used across multiple TIME Inc. blogs and have custom functionality that allows them to be flexible enough for customizations across the sites.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

Creating a theme that would be used on several sites took some creative thinking and careful execution. This was an interesting and fun migration. (WordPress VIP hosting migrated the data).

url: http://www.bossip.com/forums

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS programming
• vBulletin template/style customization
• vBulletin search engine optimization

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, vBulletin, PHP, CSS

front end:

I had worked with this client before with their WordPress theme so when customizing their vBulletin forum, I was already familiar with their design and layout. The client wanted it to look almost exactly like their WordPress site, so I reused most of their existing elements and then customized vBulletin to make it fit in with their existing design.

back end:

The client wanted some additional SEO (search engine optimization) so I added in some custom plugins and tweaks.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

vBulletin is a great product to work with. Usually I work with open source bulletin boards like phpBB and bbPress – but vBulletin is also another great piece of software to consider when looking at bulletin boards.

url: http://www.jewssip.com/

SDAC Inc. provided:

• XHTML/CSS/JS programming
• Custom graphic design
• Custom logo design
• Custom web design
• WordPress theme customization

technologies used:

XHTML, CSS, JS, WordPress , PHP

front end:

The client approached me wanting a theme for their new Jewish gossip site and did not have anything specific in mind. There are spots now (as of September 2008) for ads which will be filled in the next few months in the header and sidebar. The logo was designed by a talented graphic designer that has worked with us in the past.

back end:

There is nothing really fancy about the backend as the client likes to keep it simple.

lessons learned/random thoughts:

Note: I am not responsible for any content on this web site.