I have been lucky in my employed work and have had the freedom to explore some freelance work. I have used my skills as a web developer to help local businesses, charities and clubs.
CCAC was in its infancy when I joined the club and subsequently, the committee. They were using a templated website but this was still in its promotional first year and towards the end of the year I said I’d build and host the site, to keep costs down for the club.
I used the template and built it out further, adding more pages and information on what we do. I write articles for site and add photos from members, with their permission. They like to show off their work!
I worked with Vix during my time at James Hay and we got on well. When she qualified as a Human Givens Psychotherapist she asked if I would help her out with a website. I said of course and we worked together to design her a calm, relaxed site where she could describe what she does and her contact details. It’s a simple one page site but as there was a lot of information she was required to say, we thought this was best.
With easy links to the various sections a visitor can find their way down the page.
The ladies at BooBs found they didn’t have time to update their website. They all work and also run the little shop in Shaftesbury. They asked on our local radio station if anyone would be able to help out. I replied and sent over my credentials.
Happily they said yes and so far I have written an article about their shop, which is now up and running well. I have taken some photos to add to the site and will be keeping it update to date with all their work. Currently using Wordpress for their website and this works well as they advertise their products.
Quite a few years ago my cousin asked for someone to help out with his side hustle and have a website built. I designed and built him a site. He is a fabulous furniture repairer and I’m proud to show his work on the site.
Accessibility has been a big incentive to me when designing websites. From designing for mobile first as a majority of people now access the web from their mobile phones to making sure screen readers can easily allow those with sight impairments to know what is being said.
When at James Hay we understood many of our visitors were older generation and would be inevitably losing their vision, dexterity and hearing, among others. Here I learnt to add options for tabbing through a menu option for those without a mouse or even for a way to easily enlarge the screen to be able to read easier.
User experience has to be the biggest factor when designing and building a website, I want people to have the easiest and friction free experience when visiting my site, from the least clicks as possible to giving them the information as smoothly as I can.