Project Type: Web Design/Infrastructure Setup

Industry: Charity

Project Description:
The Board of Visitors, a key fundrasing organization for Children’s National Medical Center, hired me to help them establish an online presence. The group already had several websites for specific events, each designed, developed, and maintained by different contractors, but no website or online identity of its own.

To develop a distinctive and consistent online identity for the Board, I did the following:

• Implemented a website that communicates the full scope of the Board’s activities, and helps attract contributors, volunteers, and prospective Board members. The site design, which is modern but subdued, served as the starting point for creating a consistent look and feel for all of the Board’s websites.
• Brought all of the Board’s websites under one roof–not only changing the designs to all be consistent and recognizable, but implementing all of the sites using a common infrastructure. All of the Board’s websites are now driven by a content management system, which enable Board members with minimal technial expertise to make updates to the sites.
• Set up a hosted e-mail system for the Board, including e-mail addresses for all Board members and mailing lists/aliases for specific roles and committees. This not only allows the all-volunteer board to present a more professional face to the outside world, but also enhances communications within the Board.

http://saltygirlcooks.com

Project Type: Web Design

Industry: Food/Personal

Project Summary:
As a present to my lovely wife, I designed a website for her to express her love of cooking and to showcase her recipes. In addition to a traditional blog, the site features a searchable recipe index and a separate mini-blog for links and quick updates–all driven by the WordPress content management system.

Project Type: Web Design/E-Commerce

Industry: Events

Project Summary:
The Obama Ball is an invitation-only gala taking place Inauguration weekend 2009. To help invitees learn about the event and make reservations, I developed a private (password-protected) website that provides all key information about the event and enables invitees to purchase tickets online. Google Checkout provides an extremely low-cost way for the event organizers to accept credit card payments, while assuring purchasers that their transaction is secure.

Implemented using a content management system (CMS), event organizers with no technical background can easily and quickly update the site with news or additional information. The design, meanwhile, is custom-developed for this client and intentionally plays off the President-elect’s campaign and transition materials.

In these economically challenging times, information technology can be an especially powerful ally. However, in order to deliver true value, any technology you implement must:

• Support your mission in concrete, quantifiable ways
• Deliver tangible return on investment
• Solve more problems than it creates

With more than 12 years experience working with clients large and not-so-large, Tom Cheng, along with his team, can provide the advice, knowledge, and technical skills you need to make the most out of your technology investments, and invest wisely in new technology that supports your goals and delivers tangible value to your organization. 

Please read on to find out what we can do for you.

Project Type:Corporate Identity/Web Design

Industry: Entertainment/Games

Project Summary:
This upstart developer of virtual reality video games wanted a logo and website that reflected the cutting-edge nature of their products. Drawing inspiration from their first product–an immersive kung-fu game–I developed a logo that conveys a sense of motion and excitement, and wove it into the overall design of their website, letterhead, and business cards.

However, Interamotion also wanted the website to communicate stability and reliable management to potential investors. To serve this goal, as well as to target the more mature and sophisticated market they were seeking, I opted for a clean, modern, minimalist design instead of the type of graphics-heavy design one usually finds on gaming sites.

http://www.ncfap.org [note: site now maintained by client]

PROJECT TYPE: Web Design

INDUSTRY: Non-Profit/Policy

PROJECT SUMMARY: This non-profit research organization in Washington, DC, needed a new Web site design that not only reflects a professional image, but also makes it easy for the organization to disseminate information, and for interested parties to find information that NCFAP has published.

The existing site contained a wealth of information, but was very disorganized and difficult to navigate, so my focus on this project was to make the information more accessible. After working with NCFAP staff to study and catalog the contents of the site, I developed a site architecture that broke the content up into sections (by research subject area), and provided different entry points for information (e.g. publications can be reached by drilling down through specific subject areas or by browsing/ searching the “publications” section).

Because there was so much text-based material on the site, a clean, highly-readable design was crucial. Besides developing the final design, I showed NCFAP staff members, who would be maintaining the site, how to best present information on the new site (including layout and appropriate use of typefaces).

At the end of the project, we were asked to make a last minute change— NCFAP just got a new logo (designed by another firm), and wanted the color scheme of the site to match the logo. Because the site was developed using highly maintainable (and standards-compliant) CSS, we were able to very quickly and easily develop a new color scheme and integrate it into the site.

http://jobs.counterpart.org [note: site now maintained by client]

Project Type: Software Development (Web)

Industry: Non-Profit/International Development

Project Summary:
Counterpart International, a global non-profit that assists with economic, social, and political development in developing countries, needed a database of consultants that they can tap when necessary. I developed a Web-based system that allows consultants to register themselves with Counterpart, setting up a profile detailing their skills, expertise, and experience. The system also doubles as a resume registry for job applicants–allowing people to view and apply for positions at Counterpart. On the administration side, the system includes a query application that allows Counterpart staff to easily search, filter, and sort profiles.

My primary focus of this project was on usability–I designed and developed an easy-to-use wizard that walks the applicant/consultant through the process of setting up and editing a profile. Since the application process requires several steps, the system automatically saves the profile information along the way, so that applicants can quit and resume the application process later.

The second major focus of the project was reliability–I developed a robust, database-driven application using ASP against Microsoft SQL Server. The system made extensive use of shared code and stored procedures for maintainability and expandability.

http://wheatgr.com [note: site now maintained by client]     

Project Type: Web Design

Industry: Consulting/Government Relations/Lobbying

Project Summary:
Wheat Government Relations, a lobbying and government relations consulting firm, was looking to revamp their Web site and add new content. Their existing Web site design reflected their image very well, so, rather than completely redesigning the site, we decided to build on what already works for them. The goal, then, was to make the site more useful–by providing more value (information) on each page–and easier to understand and navigate. I developed an improved site map, which served as a guide to accomplishing this goal.

Project Type: Corporate Identity/Web Design

Industry: Consulting/Software

Project Summary:
Confluence Tech, a startup provider of software consulting services, needed a logo and website, as well as business cards, stationery, and brochures for the new company. Since they were targeting a non-profits and small organizations for their primary client base, they wanted a design that reflected agile thinking and fresh, bold ideas, while at the same time conveying quality and reliability.

The challenge for the website was that their services–which included technology strategy and off-shore software development, in addition to traditional software services–were complex and not easy to explain. With this in mind, I developed a site architecture that broke their services down into simple, easy-to-understand categories, while offering more detailed explanations for those who are interested. Case studies of past projects also helped explain their services, as well as demonstrate how their services can be tied together.