latest website design complete

Just wrapped up a pro bono project for non-profit group HSC. Hester Street Collaborative works with NYC residents to transform the quality of life in their schools and neighborhoods using an approach that combines design, education and advocacy, encouraging community voices to lead the way in improving their environment and rehabilitating neglected public spaces. The project was to rehabilitate and breathe new life into HSC's existing site.


Starting with the information architecture, we examined, re-prioritized, and condensed the content into a new, more cohesive, and streamlined hierarchy.


With the IA in place, I then moved forward with sketching up some wireframes further shaping the content into place.


Once a set of wireframes were decided upon it was time to come up with the actual visual design. Drawing upon aesthetics as well as functionality and usability, I sought solutions while staying within the framework of HSC branding guidelines.






to view the full site click HERE

special streamline

"make it lonesome now, 'cause I'm a hobo myself sometimes"-Bukka White

I've been going through my old files lately and came across all these great train photos I collected while doing research for my book packaging project on hobo biographies. I've long been interested in trains and hobo mythology. Now a virtually extinct subject matter, its referenced heavily in old time blues and bluegrass music. Trains were a popular, (somewhat) easy, cheap mode of transportation that could take musicians and migrant workers from town to town in search of new and better opportunities. For me, the idea of trains spark my imagination and offer a sense of optimism, a chance for something better further down the line. In modern time with advances in technology and high security, train travel is dangerous and extremely difficult to manage.

I've been watching this great internet broadcast show, The Big Web Show, about web design recently. Hosted by Jeffrey Zeldman a well known designer, writer, conference organizer. He brings in some very interesting people to talk about web design, technology, marketing, etc. Very informative and a pleasure to watch, it can be viewed on the web site or via itunes

ATTN jazz fans!

Today NYT broke news of the acquisition of the storied Savory recordings by the National Jazz Musuem in Harlem! The recordings were made in the 30's-40's by the guy who eventually invented the LP. He used his own recording apparatus to record live jazz sets broadcast on the radio from the ballrooms and clubs around the city. Because of the restraints of 78's, recorded songs were limited to 3 min. but because Savory had devised his own personal way to record, he managed to record live impromptu sets 6-7 min long. These have never been heard before (except for the people who were there in the moment in 1930) This is an unbelievable historic breakthrough for jazz music preservation, not to mention jazz fans! This is the time machine taking us (not alive then) back to the moment when the spontanteous magic was happening. Because of copyright issues its yet unclear what form, or how available these recordings will be to the public in the forseeable future. What isn't explained in the article is why Mr. Savory held on to the recordings for so long, never letting anyone listen to them, and also, given that he knew how valuable they were, why he let them get so damaged? Alas, that may remain the mystery of the ages. But now, out of the darkness– into the light, comes the exciting jazz sounds of the 1930's unedited and uncut!

kool collage

love these collages by Ellen Gallagher on view temporarily at MoMA.

"Repetition and revision are central to Gallagher’s treatment of advertisements that she appropriates from popular magazines like “Ebony,” “Our World,” and “Sepia” and uses in works like “eXelento” (2004) and “DeLuxe” (2004-05). Initially, Gallagher was drawn to the wig advertisements because of their grid-like structure. Later she realized that it was the accompanying language that attracted her, and she began to bring these ‘narratives’ into her paintings—making them function through the characters of the advertisements as a kind of chart of lost worlds. Although the work has often been interpreted strictly as an examination of race, Gallagher also suggests a more formal reading with respect to materials, processes, and insistences. From afar, the work appears abstract and minimal. Upon closer inspection, googly eyes, reconfigured wigs, tongues, and lips of minstrel caricatures multiply in detail. Gallagher has been influenced by the sublime aesthetics of Agnes Martin’s paintings as well the subtle shifts and repetitions of Gertrude Stein’s writing."- art21

Treasure Map

A subway station is being remodeled and recently they ripped out the station booth, only to reveal an old, old subway map that was behind it. pretty kool. I'm glad the system map has since been redesigned (although not a big fan of the latest incarnation) because this old one is confusing and hard read. If you click on the pix hopefully you can see enough detail.

website design

I recently redesigned a website for non-profit group Comprehensive Development Inc. CDI is a support network in conjuction with Manhattan Night and Day School that provides tutoring and other services to help students get their high school diploma. CDI needed a modern upgrade and more streamlined navigation to their site. Using their existing logo and brand colors, I designed new layouts and art directed brand new photography for the redesign. Implementing lots of white space and focusing on the strong, student centered photographs created a clean, modern look that is easy to navigate and user friendly. Check out the full site HERE.