So What's the Big Deal?

I've spent the past several years creating websites, banner ads and working in the general online advertising world. I bring sites from concepts through design and on through development. Yes, I'm a multi-tasker, but not only can I do all those things, I also do one task at a time if that's what the project requires. I've done sites that are all Flash, all XHTML/CSS and several combinations of the two. All are hand-coded. I've also designed and built sites using Content Management Systems. (I try not to limit how I'm able to work.)

I won't just design a nice looking site with nothing to back it up either. There's no point in that. Without the planning and setting of goals that comes first, a site just isn't going to be successful. All right, so that's my tiny bit soap-boxing for now. If you really want to hear me go on, send me an email.

In addition to this online preoccupation, I also occasionally work on offline or so-called "traditional media" projects. Those tend to range from print ads to logos to whatever else is needed. You can see all this variety on my site, www.theworldallaround.com.

You may even have seen my work featured in any one of these:

Good Times

2003-Present

BVK − Interactive Designer and Developer

All those web-related tasks I mentioned up top? This is the place I've been working on them. I've worked on sites in teams and I've work on them pretty much alone. I've also done logos, print ads and concepted some TV while here.

Clients:

DeVry University •Milwaukee Electric Tool Company • Citgo • Cruisers Yachts • Dignity Memorial (SCI) • Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (Fort Myers/Sanibel area of Florida) • Shorewest Realtors

2003-Present

Serve − Interactive Designer and Developer

Serve is a not-for-profit advertising agency that brings together people in the industry to donate their time and talents to helping under-served non-profits. I have had the pleasure and privilege of creating websites and working on campaigns for several of their clients. If you've never heard of them, please check them out and consider donating your time and talents to a great cause. www.servemarketing.org

Clients:

International Peace Council • United Way of Greater Milwaukee • Know Before You Mow • Close The Gap • Wisconsin Donor Network

Spring 2006

Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design − Faculty

I've taught a few times at this college so far, and plan to do more in the future.

Classes Taught:

Web Design: Flash Basics • Photoshop for the Web

Before the Good Times Started to Roll

Until 2003

Various Print Shops

Before I became the man I am today, I was a screen printer. I made all manner of shirts, umbrellas and underwear. You name it, I printed on it. I did this for quite a few years, but I moved on. You can feel free to move on to the next section now.

Requisite Skills

I hand code all of my sites, no WYSIWYGing for me. I am proficient in both XHTML/CSS and Actionscript, with JavaScript and some PHP thrown in there as well. I have experience building sites within Content Management Systems. Most have been done in Wordpress, but I have used others, both legacy and open source. I know all those required graphics applications as well (Photoshop, Illustrator, et al.) I'm also pretty good with a pencil and paper when it comes to IA and interface planning.

Education

How I initially learned to ply my trade

BFA − Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design

Personal

As hard as I find it to stay away from work (much to my loved ones' chagrin) I also enjoy a few outside activities:

I love to cook, especially odd things. I've been teaching myself how to fix motorcycles by buying an old one and rebuilding it; this is an ongoing project. I also like to read quite a bit.

More than any of these things, though, I spend time with my wife, son and daughter.