Abstract This is a design-centric micro-site. I built it after a string of large corporate projects. The larger projects require more attention to functionality so I had been entrenched with code for some time. For this site, I had to use the design side of my brain but I also employed code techniques from recent macro projects to give the design more life.

Client request A portfolio site with sex appeal and sophistication

What I did Information architecture, graphic design, copywriting, template code (PHP), Layout (CSS, JavaScript), customized content management system

Directives

1. Use thin lines for fonts and borders
2. Focus on photography
3. Present content in layers

Solutions

The menu font is Print Clearly. It's not a web-safe font. To ensure it renders on all computers I employed a JavaScript font engine that works with CSS. It's SEO compatible and since the menu buttons are text, not graphics, all the benefits of content management apply.

The client had a multitude of excellent photographs. I used them as background images so they could be viewed organically within the layout of the site.  There were more photos than site pages so I added some PHP functionality to the index file that chooses a background image randomly. Every time a page refreshes, the site has a new look. Get the code

In order to hold true to the second Directive, I had to make sure the background images were always visible behind the menu and the main content pane. Utilizing CSS I assigned a translucent purple background to the menu pane and a translucent black background to the main content pane. This way, the text is easy to read and the background images remain visible throughout.

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