NOTES: For this project, I first created a local test server using Apache 2.2, PHP 5.0, Drupal 6.3 and MySQL 5.0 to match the live site configuration. The new site was built and tested locally while the old site remained live. Before launching, the MySQL database was imported to the remote server, which allowed the site relaunch to require less than 10 minutes of site downtime. edoreilly.com is largely database-driven; virtually all of the content and much of the page layout is pulled from the MySQL database. The sidebar, for example, dynamically loads the most recent news stories (which are also displayed on the news page). The basic Drupal installation has been heavily modified with add-on modules to allow for extensive enhancements such as highly customized contact forms and protected administrator areas where I could discuss outstanding tasks and new features with the campaign staff. (Note: The site is now in post-campaign mode; older versions can be viewed by request.)

NOTES: The original site was built using server side includes, and I chose to keep that structure to allow for an easy transition. The default page layout was divided into sections, with each section coded in an individual file. This allows for easy changes to page layout, design or navigation by changing a single file. This structure also decreases the difficulty of adding new site content, which was a concern as Representative Kaufman's staff are not web savvy. Pictures in the page header and quotes in the footer are randomly chosen on each page load to give the otherwise dry site a dynamic feel. Once again, Representative Kaufman's site stands out among the drab, chaotic and out-of-date web sites of his peers in the State House. Most recently I updated the site to include a contribution form to accept credit card donations. The contribution pages are written in PHP, and collect information that is reformatted on the verification page before being passed (along with several hidden customization fields) to the off-site secure credit card processor.

NOTES: A QuickTime movie was provided for use on the front page, and the client requested that it auto-play on page load. In an effort to avoid annoying repeat visitors I suggested writing a cookie to prevent playback if a visitor has previously loaded the page; consequently the video only plays on the first visit. The site design makes use of the City Seal and a well-known map of the city's wards on each page to reinforce the local feel; the ward map was also used as a navigation tool for locating information about individual wards. The ward page also includes links to various Somerville-related Flickr groups, supporting the "part of Somerville" focus of the ward map above. The overall look of the site is clean and crisp, with an understated red/white/blue color scheme reinforcing the political purpose without being obnoxious, allowing the focus to remain on information of interest to local, politically-minded residents of Somerville.

NOTES: Another site with video content, this time I employed a flash video player for the front page. Since the client had an enormous number of photos to display, I designed as simple flash banner to rotate a series of campaign photos. Fonts and colors used on the site matched those used in printed campaign literature to provide a unified image. Tremendous effort was exerted to incorporate a large number of elements on the front page - including campaign news, links to fresh material, an e-mail signup form and more - while keeping it relatively organized and easy to use. The unique "Your Neighborhood" page was one of the most successful areas of the site. Clicking on one's home ward on a map of Somerville generated an overlay window with targeted campaign promises for that particular ward (with the text once again matching the printed fliers mailed to each household). No other candidate for any city office had a comparable web site, a situation noted by many voters and several candidates themselves.

NOTES: This site was built over a weekend, based on printed campaign materials provided by the candidate. Alderman Trane wanted the simplest possible site; essentially the campaign logo, a picture of the candidate and an eye-catching header. Contact and biographical pages rounded out the site - since speed was of the essence, no other material was provided or required. Bright, bold colors give the site a distinctive appearance, while the simple layout puts the focus on the campaign logo and accompanying text.

NOTES: The client provided the cartoon donkey and requested that the site be designed around it; no other guidance was provided. Since the cartoon was extremely tall, and would lose a great deal of effectiveness if cropped, I opted to use it as the page background, filling the right side of the screen. A subtler version of the traditional flag colors serves as a banner; the same colors are mirrored in the header text. The client liked the site graphics so much that he used them on his business cards. The site has recently been redesigned with collapsible menus and sliding panels.

NOTES: With this site, I attempted to capture the style of the pub and its neighborhood (Inman Square) in the design. I chose a dark color scheme to match the atmosphere inside, with a picture frame motif to evoke the sense of peering into another world. The bar's free wi-fi (a major attraction for the area's large college-age population) is highlighted in the header; the menu choices are limited to focus the visitor's attention on the pub's main attractions (highly-regarded entertainment and food options). Space above the menu is reserved for highlighting special occasions (New Year's Eve, St. Patrick's Day and other celebrations). Sub pages also feature the pub's logo to reinforce the strong brand the Druid has built.

NOTES: During its ten years in Union Square, Tír na nÓg boasted some of the most dedicated patrons a pub has ever seen. The website played an integral part in that relationship, featuring not only the standard web site information (music schedule, food and drink menu, pictures) but heavily interactive material as well. Many users participated in the message board, patrons vied to be nominated for the Hall of Fame or to be mentioned in the semi-weekly newsletter (written and published by the webmaster). thenog.com offered music downloads from regular acts well before Napster and iTunes appeared on the scene, as well as an on-line store for those same bands. The web site underwent multiple updates and revisions over the years, reflected in periodic screenshots: 11/98, 4/00, 12/00, 6/01, 10/01.

NOTES: The GBLS site redesign made extensive use of whitespace to focus the eye on site content. Important information was highlighted via red-outlined graphics set apart from the plain text. Navigation was simplified to allow visitors to easily find information, with subtle black and white photographs and the GBLS logo being the only graphics on each page.

NOTES: The basic structure of the GBLS site was mirrored on the FEI site, to highlight the relationship between the two organizations. Once again, whitespace and understated design were the hallmarks of this site.