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I created this website for a variety of reasons..
The first, being that I wanted to provide a way for future clients to view samples of my previous work, and to provide a way for people to easily get ahold of me if they would like to have work done.
Secondly, I don't agree with the prices, and in some cases the quality of work, that a large majority of web designers, and design companies, charge for this service.
Allow me to explain this a bit..
First, let's take a look at large design companies:
- These companies charge fixed rates, which can cost thousands of dollars, for their services. Sure, there are companies out there who give a quality product that might actually be worth that much money, but there are plenty more out there who do not.
- And what does all this mean for the "little guy" who just wants a small personal website to post a family album on, or keep an online blog? Major design companies view clients such as these, as a waste of their time and/or resources, and usually don't even respond to quote requests.
Now, let's talk about some of the freelance web designers out there:
- Quite often, you will run accross "freelance designers" who have read a few books, enjoy playing around in Photoshop, and decide that they want to design websites for a living. Many of these freelancers have not thought about the process in depth enough, and are just trying to make a quick buck. I've seen many portfolios out there from self proclaimed "web designers" that border on embarassing.
- Some designers like to use "cool" fonts which are just impossible to read, or bright colors throughout the website that just don't belong anywhere near eachother.. while others will use washed out colors, and nothing but extremely simple designs that are just boring to look at.
- The good news here is that people who just want personal websites, or that might not really care how "professional" their website looks, can usually get something done for dirt cheap. Or course, there are those people who try to charge the same amount as a large company, and then deliver a final product that looks like a 3 year old put together.. but that's neither here nor there.
Finally, let's talk about me, and the "best of both worlds" service that I try to provide:
- Let me start by saying that my pricing is going to work a little differently than most of the methods used by large design companies, and many freelancers. For the most part, people in this field work at a set rate, and give a project quote up front to the client. This method has many benefits, but also has one very large negative.
- It is often times very hard to determine how long a project will take you up front.. so giving someone a quote can be a dangerous thing. Most designers have a good idea of how fast they work, and how long a specific project will take, but they never want to short change themselves, so if they are unsure, they will add a few hours to be safe. These few hours, the customer ends up paying for.. and I don't agree with this. I work on an hourly rate, which ensures that the customer gets what they pay for.
- Because I work hourly, I am unable to "quote" people up front, however I do give an "estimate" of the time and cost of a specific project once I have gathered enough information from the client. This way, you will have a rough idea of the cost right up front, and can decide if you would like to move forward with your project.
- As far as the quality of work that I do.. I could go on and on about how amazing I am, and how outstanding my designs are, but that's what my Portfolio is for. Be sure to check it out before you leave!
I am an independent media designer located in Syracuse, NY. I am a Computer Science/Computer Information Sciences Major, and have been interested in computers for as long as I can remember. Over the past 10+ years, through various jobs, schooling, and other personal experiences, I have become very familiar with troubleshooting, repairing, and building computers.
Several years ago, I became extremely interested in web/graphic design, and have been creating websites ever since.
Some programming languages that I am familiar with include:
- Microsoft C++
- Visual Basic
- Java
- Basic
Some graphic design programs and/or suites that I use regularly, and/or am familiar with, include:
- Adobe Suite 5.0 - CS3
- Macromedia Studio MX
- Paint Shop Pro
- 3D Studio Max
- Bryce 3D
Some of the web design skills/languages that I use regularly include:
- HTML
- CSS
- Javascript
- Flash
If you would like to contact me to discuss a project, would like me to advertise your website on mine, or just have an incredible urge to say "Hello," feel free to head on over to the Contact section of the website. There, you will find various ways to get ahold of me including a very short online form, two of my personal email addresses, and my phone number.
For those of you that don't require any work done, but would like to be my best friend forever, feel free to stuff some cash into an envelope and mail it directly to me. Or better yet, use the Paypal link that I have conveniently placed on the Home page.. I'll get it faster, and it won't cost you a stamp!
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