Effective communication is beautiful.

My goal as a designer is to communicate, beautifully when possible, but always effectively.

Each project is a puzzle – a problem to solve – with its own specific restrictions and goals.

If, in the end, a message is unclear or the audience has to work to get it the design is a failure. I prefer to avoid failures.

More than other types of design, I find development of a website requires a partnership with the client. The web is an intrinsically public place; it is an intriguing - though sometimes grueling - process to observe clients figure out what they want to share online. I offer direction, opinions (and solace when needed) but it takes a real commitment from all parties.

Teasing

My job is to tease out a story, to ask the right questions and give a solution dimension. As with a jigsaw puzzle it’s best to start with all the pieces: knowledge of the intended audience, a clear sense of who’s doing what, the budget and timeline, existing branding and marketing materials, preferred or required colors and styles, and size, length and scope of the content.

Though projects do get started without all these components, they invariably cause delays, replicated work, retracing steps, wasted time and waning enthusiasm.

Construction business

My favorite clients and I possess mutual respect. They are collaborators: they present their needs and particular expertise about their slice of the world. My goal is to present that “slice” in a friendly, accessible, easily comprehended way.

Building a website is just that: building relationships, connections, links. For me, building anything is satisfying. Doing so to help people communicate is very fulfilling.