Chris Micek » Portfolio http://www.micekdesign.com Minneapolis Web Designer & Developer Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:35:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 WordPress Theme: Upscale Photographers Portfolio and Blog http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-theme-upscale-photographers-portfolio-and-blog http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-theme-upscale-photographers-portfolio-and-blog#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:59:00 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=401

  • Project Details

  • Upscale Photo Portfolio & Blog is a clean and minimalist WordPress theme that also functions as a complete content management system. The design of the site consistently features the user’s uploaded photos, letting them take center stage.
  • Check out the Demo
    • WordPress Theme Features
    • Multi-Column & multi-page layout
    • Dynamic page templates that adjust according to categories, images, etc.
    • Multiple widget-ready sidebars
    • Compatible with ie 6/7, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
    • Two Theme designs Light/Dark
    • Coded using multiple Jquery Effects
    • Auto Image resizing & thumbnail creation




    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-theme-upscale-photographers-portfolio-and-blog/feed 0     SMS Company Website http://www.micekdesign.com/sms-company-website http://www.micekdesign.com/sms-company-website#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:49:12 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=368

  • Project Details

  • SMS is a marketing company based in Chicago specializing in trade fund management. SMS wanted to bring their web presence out of the mid 1990′s and showcase the quality of their in-house marketing knowledge. The primary goal of the new SMS website is to establish the company’s expertise and relevance in the trade fund and marketing field.
  • Check out the Original Website
  • As an employee, I personally designed and developed the SMS company website using wordpress as a CMS.
  • Additionally, I trained co-workers on the use of wordpress as well as basic SEO and blog management strategies.
  • Check out the new site.
    • WordPress Theme Features
    • Multi-Column & multi-page layout
    • Dynamic page templates that adjust according to categories, images, etc.
    • Multiple widget-ready sidebars
    • Compatible with ie 6/7, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome
    • Optimized design for iPhone and other Mobile Phones

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/sms-company-website/feed 0     Legal Web Template Design http://www.micekdesign.com/legal-web-template-design http://www.micekdesign.com/legal-web-template-design#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:14:42 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=335

  • Project Details

  • I designed and coded this Legal web template design to explore various website template marketplaces. I noticed that most of the designs being sold had a web 2.0 corporate look, or a fancy schmancy design feel.
  • In an attempt to fill a void, I decided to design a site that felt serious and professional, while keeping a focus on SEO and web conversions.
  • This template is available for sale on Themeforest.net under Law/Legal Business Template

  • Template Features

  • Based on the 960 Grid System
  • IE 6/7, Firefox, and Safari compatible.
  • Focuses on site conversion, with a major call to action above the fold on every page
  • Coded with SEO considerations in mind.




    • ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/legal-web-template-design/feed 0     WordPress Blog Design http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-blog-design http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-blog-design#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:09:33 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=284

  • Project Details 

  • Several months ago I got the opportunity to design a blog for a local Chicago woman who was interested in creating a blog that focused on the transition from a small town girl to a big city woman.
  • The look of the site is supposed to be whimsical and feminine while still having a professional design. The client was interested in an overlapping look in order to add dept and visual interest to the blog design.
  • Additionally, I designed two logo’s for the blog, one using a dog as a primary element and another basic option with the letters “I” and “B.”

    • Design Version 1

    Design Version 1

    Design Version 1

    Design Version 1

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/wordpress-blog-design/feed 0     Talent Agency Web Design Proposals http://www.micekdesign.com/talent-agency-web-design-proposals http://www.micekdesign.com/talent-agency-web-design-proposals#comments Tue, 16 Dec 2008 01:22:58 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=146 Talent Agency Web Design]]> Stewart Talent Option 1

    While working for DNA, I was tasked with creating design options for a local talent agency. The agency wanted to explore many different options that were simple and easy to use, while still being very unique for their field. We explored options from ultra-simple, to dark and grunge.

    Design Option

    v2-2-reduced

    Design Option

    Stewart Talent Option 2

    Design Option

    v2-1-reduced1

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/talent-agency-web-design-proposals/feed 0     Plastic Surgery Web Design http://www.micekdesign.com/plastic-surgery-web-design http://www.micekdesign.com/plastic-surgery-web-design#comments Sat, 29 Nov 2008 00:04:41 +0000 admin http://localhost:8888/wordpress/?p=17

  • Project Details 

  • Plastic Surgery Portal is a network site owned and operated by my former company SignatureForum. As a freelancer, I was hired to redesign the website and create web templates for their web developer.
  • Live Site
    www.plasticsurgeryportal.com
    • Goals of the site
    • Increase the quality of leads generated from the Plastic Surgeon’s contact form
    • Bring the site’s look and feel into 2008-2009
    • Highlight new site content section

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/plastic-surgery-web-design/feed 0     Sales Interface Design http://www.micekdesign.com/sales-interface http://www.micekdesign.com/sales-interface#comments Tue, 13 May 2008 01:39:39 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=49 Liaison Interface Design]]>

  • Project Details 

  • When a guest calls any of the Signature Forum websites, that guest is connected to a liaison who will hold the guest’s hand through the rest of the appointment process. The tool helping the liaison mange guests is the sales interface. The sales interface has to present many different points of information about the current guest as well as the liaison status.
  • When designing the interface I was forced to keep in mind that it was just that, a sales interface. The liaison would be using this tool every hour of their working day. As such, I approached the design of with the eyes of a veteran user, as opposed to a brand new user.
  • Click here for the full design. To the right are selected screenshots.

    • Screenshot 1 of the interface

    Sales Interface

    Sales Interface

    Sales Interface

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/sales-interface/feed 0     Sensory Awareness Site Design http://www.micekdesign.com/sensory-awareness-site-design http://www.micekdesign.com/sensory-awareness-site-design#comments Thu, 08 May 2008 18:53:41 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/?p=48 Sensory Awareness Site Design]]>

  • Project Details 

  • Sensory Awareness is a practice in which we can rediscover our natural balance, self-confidence and oneness with ourselves and others. The sensory awareness foundation is dedicated to preserving and spreading sensory awareness.
  • I was hired by another designer to create a secondary design option for the foundation to review. The goal of my design was to create a professional site with an earthy and textured feeling.
  • I wanted to use some grunge elements in the design, so i used some beat-up textures as a background for the header, side bar, and as a roll-over element.

  • Technologies Used

    • Adobe Illustrator
    • Adobe Photoshop

    Sensory Awareness Design

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/sensory-awareness-site-design/feed 0     Dupage Dragons 2008 Pocket Schedule http://www.micekdesign.com/dupage-dragons-2008-pocket-schedule http://www.micekdesign.com/dupage-dragons-2008-pocket-schedule#comments Mon, 03 Mar 2008 18:18:07 +0000 cmicek http://www.micekdesign.com/dupage-dragons-2008-pocket-schedule Dupage Dragons Schedule]]>

  • Project Details

  • The Dragons are a baseball team in the Central Illinois Collegiate League. An amateur and collegiate baseball league.
  • I was responsible for the design of the Pocket Schedule for the 2008 season. The final measurements of the folded schedule are 2.5″ x 3.5.” I did not design the dragon’s logo.



    • ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/dupage-dragons-2008-pocket-schedule/feed 3     Signature Forum Website Redesign http://www.micekdesign.com/signature-forum-website-redesign http://www.micekdesign.com/signature-forum-website-redesign#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:16:16 +0000 admin http://micekdesign.com/signature-forum-website-redesign Signature Forum Web Design]]>

  • Project Details 

  • The Redesign of www.SignatureForum.com was a major project that spanned several months of my employment at Signature Forum. Previously, the money making potential of www.SignatureForum.com was lead generation. Visitors would fill out a contact form and the company would refer them to doctors, contractors, and health clubs.
  • The goal of the redesign was to market a new subscription based model of business. Ideally, users would pay a monthly or annual fee, and receive access to survey and rating information about many different service providers.
  • I was completely responsible for the design of the site as well as the HTML/CSS coding.

  • Live Site

  • www.signatureforum.com

  • Technologies Used 

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe AcrobatPro
  • HTML/CSS
  • Coldfusion

    • Signature Forum Web Redesign

    Signature Forum Web Redesign

    Signature Forum Web Redesign

    Signature Forum Web Redesign

    Signature Forum Web Redesign

    ]]>     http://www.micekdesign.com/signature-forum-website-redesign/feed 0