The Process of Becoming: Plan. Create. Build. Revise. Jeff Jackson's Portfolio

About

A bit about me

UX-er.

Designer.

Developer.

Jeff Jackson User Experience Designer and front-end developer.
I have a need to design and build beautiful, user-centered websites that are functional and easy to use.

I’m Jeff Jackson. I create online experiences. I thoroughly enjoy the design / development process of creating online experiences. I’m a "Designer / Developer" short for Graphic Designer, Senior Web Designer, UX Designer, Front-End Developer and WordPress Developer.

Becoming Design | Jeff Jackson Designer Download Resume

Proficiencies

Plan

  • Market Research
  • Concept Exploration
  • Content Strategy
  • Information Architecture
  • Requirement Scope
  • Product Definition

Create

  • Art Direction
  • User-Centric Design
  • Wire-Framing
  • Prototyping
  • Graphic/Web/Mobile Design
  • UI/UX Design

Build

  • Responsive Design
  • HTML5/CSS3
  • Jquery
  • WordPress Theme Dev.
  • Front-End Optimization
  • Site Performance

Revise

  • Usability Testing
  • Analytic Interpretation
  • SEO Strategies
  • Content & Layout Testing

Process

The Becoming

Plan

The planning process is the most essential part of a project. Planning defines the who, what, when, where and how. It determines the right resources, allows stakeholders, anyone involved with the project, to communicate, explore different concepts and define requirements to establish a direction.

Create

With a direction established, it is time to start sketching / wire-framing different layouts and visual concepts. Communication channels between stakeholders stay open. There could be many design iterations depending on feedback. HTML prototyping can be introduced to solve potential functionality and UX issues. A well thought out and vetted design that best represents the concept should be the product of the create phase.

Build

Since the developers, back-end and front-end, are stakeholders and have been working side by side with everyone, the production ready HTML and the css anatomy is already underway. The back-end developers work on server side solutions, the designer/front-end developer continues with website performance, website optimization, website analytics, social media strategies, and if needed, ad integration. Website gets launched but not forgotten.

Revise

The main purpose of the revise phase is to test and improve all aspects of the website. Set up usability tests, study the analytic tracking numbers, have SEO specialist check content to make sure ranking and connecting with the target audience is on course and maybe A/B test different layouts.

I translate business needs into functional, proven online solutions that best communicate and achieve business goals.

The Becoming

The analogy of a design / development process with that of the butterfly's life-cycle might be cliche. But the challenge to successfully produce a good online experience is elaborate. It metamorphosis through many phases & iterations before it can become something beautiful, compelling and most importantly a proven solution.

Repeat Process

With each new project, I take the lessons learned and fine-tune my processes and skills so I can evolve into a better designer / developer.

Plan. Create. Build. Revise.

Work

Selected Projects

Work 1 of 7

1

2014

Carrington Contracting Inc.

Durham | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build. Revise.
  • Employment | Becoming Design
  • CMS | WordPress
Explore Visit Site
  • Becoming Design- Carrington Contracting

    1 / 5

    Carrington Contracting Inc. is a general contracting company with two distinct divisions, single family residential and commercial contracting. Their main goals for the redesign include restructuring how their company divisions get presented, allow the end user a "quicker, easier read" to learn about the company, a move to a more dynamic online presence with social media marketing, blogging, and a SEO campaign. We decided the two divisions would each have a responsive one page website. WordPress would be the CMS. I designed & developed a custom theme which enhances their existing brand and achieves their goals.

  • Becoming Design- Carrington Contracting

    2 / 5

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    We had informative meetings and brainstorm sessions to establish a direction that met their business goals. I provided wire-frames to communicate the concepts. After vetting the website vision with Carrington Contracting, I designed the site via Photoshop mocks and HTML prototypes.

  • Becoming Design- Carrington Contracting

    3 / 5

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    I designed the site from a mobile first approach and helped optimize the site by converting the vector graphics into icon fonts.

  • Becoming Design- Carrington Contracting

    4 / 5

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    I used a blue and green color scheme to distinguish their two company divisions. The website landing page funnels the user to the appropriate information.

  • Becoming Design- Carrington Contracting

    5 / 5

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    I used the circle shape as a symbol to convey a message of thoroughness. Carrington Contracting expects to exceed their customers expectations with every phase of a project.

Work 2 of 7

2

2013

American City Business Journals

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build.
  • Employment | American City Business Journals
  • CMS | WordPress
Explore Offline
  • Becoming Design- American City Business Journals

    1 / 5

    American City Business Journals wanted to redesign their corporate website to be a career opportunity recruitment tool. The landing page features a variety of individuals that excel in their current position. Each has their own bio page with a Q & A section which offers a peek into the ACBJ work culture. Throughout the site it is very easy to view all career opportunities and apply. The site also features the digital and print publications.

  • Becoming Design- American City Business Journals

    2 / 5

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    I met with senior management to devise a content strategy. I determined we should develop a responsive website using WordPress as a CMS. I gathered the content from various sources, started wire-framing concepts, and headed up the featured people photo shoot.

  • Becoming Design- American City Business Journals

    3 / 5

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    The content shaped the design. I wanted each section to be easily navigated but also consistent and predictable. Social media integration was important for the publication pages.

  • Becoming Design- American City Business Journals

    4 / 5

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    A mobile view from acbj.com featuring the Hemmings Motor News publication.

  • Becoming Design- American City Business Journals

    5 / 5

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    I used a flexible grid-system that allowed me to easily adjust the responsive layout to adapt based on content. As a custom WordPress theme, I built the templates and integrated the CMS functionality by configuring the back-end.

Work 3 of 7

3

2010

Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build.
  • Employment | Becoming Design
  • CMS | WordPress
Explore Offline
  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    1 / 6

    The Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club contacted me about creating a new website and a fresh, sleek brand identity. I met with the club officers for an initial requirement scope, concept exploration and brand strategy. They wanted to target a younger audience and increase memberships. The website had to have a news feed, event calendar, photo & video gallery, member directory, e-commerce system to process new memberships and a social media strategy.

  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    2 / 6

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    I continued to meet with four or five of the club officers to discuss the project. I went through many logo iterations, see above, before finally capturing the essence of their vision. Once the brand got defined, the other pieces fell into place. I decided to use WordPress as a CMS. I designed and developed them a custom theme.

  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    3 / 6

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    I carried the brand look and feel to all the other marketing collateral. This brochure was used to generate interest in the club and get people to the website.

  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    4 / 6

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    The club had me create fliers for their events.

  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

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    I conceptualized how their race team suits could look like as well as a t-shirt design.

  • Becoming Design- Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    6 / 6

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    I also created branded business cards, stationary and envelopes.

Work 4 of 7

4

2005-2008

Archived Designs

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build. Revise.
  • Employment | Pro Systems
  • Archived work

    1 / 1

    I had the privilege to work with many small to medium sized businesses when I was Senior Web Designer with Pro Systems. I worked directly with each client and was involved in all processes: Plan. Create. Build. Revise.

Work 5 of 7

5

2007

Nisbet Oil Company

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build. Revise.
  • Employment | Pro Systems
Explore Offline
  • Becoming Design- Nisbet Oil Company

    1 / 4

    Nisbet Oil Company approached us to redesign their website. Their existing brand was unprofessional. I suggested we rework the brand and website. We provided them with a simple, clean website and a bold, rejuvenated brand.

  • Becoming Design- Nisbet Oil Company

    2 / 4

  • Becoming Design- Nisbet Oil Company

    3 / 4

  • Becoming Design- Nisbet Oil Company

    4 / 4

Work 6 of 7

6

2005-2014

Selected Logos

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build. Revise.
  • Employment | Various
  • Becoming Design- Artefino Fine Art

    1 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Cotswold Psychological Associates and MD Payne Photography

    2 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Products of America and Charlotte Ski and Snowboard Club

    3 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Nisbet Oil Company

    4 / 6

  • Becoming Design- TechFlash and Jackson-Deaton Vivid Expressions

    5 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Jubilee

    6 / 6

Work 7 of 7

7

2010-2014

Personal Projects

Charlotte | NC
  • Role | Plan. Create. Build. Revise.
  • Employment | Becoming Design
  • Becoming Design- Jeff Jackson

    1 / 6

    I converted our old family videos from reels and VHS tapes, dating from the 1940's to present, into a DVD format and decided to brand the project.

  • Becoming Design- Jeff Jackson

    2 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Jeff Jackson

    3 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Jeff Jackson

    4 / 6

  • Becoming Design- Jackson-Deaton Vivid Expressions

    5 / 6

    My wife is a talented wreath designer. So we decided to brand her venture and start a small craft business.

  • Becoming Design- Jackson-Deaton Vivid Expressions

    6 / 6

Contact

Get in touch

Phone

704.763.9775

Email