DNC Design » CMS

MRA Web Site Re-design

Daniel — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:52:37 +0000

Working with a team of 4 other people, I set out to re-design the MRA corporate Web site. Our goal was to come up with a Web site that not only better displayed information, but had a simple navigational structure, single log-in to access all areas of the site, as well as a unifying look and feel across the board.

Once the initial layout and design of the site was completed and approved by the CEO and COO of MRA, working in collaboration with the marketing specialist, we sat down with each department head, in order to determine what content on their sections of the Web site needed updating. The marketing assistant worked with each department head in re-writing the copy before turning it over to me to place in the new site.

The new MRA Web site launched in August 2009 to rave reviews from those who saw it.

www.mra-net.org

I used CSS and multiple style sheets, without using tables in the design of this site.

MRA Home Page

MRA Member Login

Government Affairs

Legislative Update Archive

Legislative Update Lightbox

Board of Directors Lightbox

Chicago Chapter

Advertisers Resource Chart

Past Conferences

Upcoming Conferences

Alert! Magazine Web site Design

Daniel — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:50:32 +0000

I had the opportunity to design, build, and launch the online version of the Alert! Magazine. During an office staff meeting, it came across that we did not have an online version of Alert!. I felt there was a major need here, as having an online magazine provides the opportunity to generate more traffic on the Web site, sell advertisement space online as well as promote the members only Web site as an additional benefit in an effort to get more people to join our organization.

The project started with my creating mock ups in Photoshop, and getting the design approved by the Editor of Alert! as well as my boss. I worked with the Editor to decide where we should sell advertisement space, how we would market the Web site once launched, as well as ways to promote both the purchasing of advertisement space and the Web site itself. As Alert! Magazine is distributed to members each month, we felt the online version should be only available to members of MRA, which would require a log-in page, and the ability to only be available to members of MRA. However, in order to generate interest and hits, we decided we would open the whole site up to the public for 6 or 7 months immediately after launch. The Alert! Magazine Web site launched with the January 2009 issue, and was available to the public until August 2009.

Features like being able to access previous issues going back to January 2008 were built in, as well Advertising space on specific pages that we felt would be the most viewed.

After the site launched, I worked with the IT department to create a CMS system so that we could lock the site down to MRA members only.

www.mra-net.org/alert

Alert! Magazine Online

MRA Web Site Re-design: Admin

Daniel — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:45:34 +0000

Along with the front end of the Web site, I worked with our IT department to develop an admin section to the Web site as well. Certain sections of the site could then be maintained by various people in the company, and not just the web manager. We built a custom CMS section for certain aspects of the Web site, including the staff page, news section, advertising, as well as the career section.

Admin: Article Upload

Admin: New Staff Upload

Admin: Staff Section

Alert! Magazine Admin Site

Daniel — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 05:35:16 +0000

After the successful launch of Alert! Magazine Online, we realized we need to design a CMS system in order to make updating the pages each month easier, as well as adding the ability to have it locked down for members only. Working with the IT department, I helped design and build the Admin site of Alert! Magazine Online.

Alert! Admin: Home

Alert! Admin: Review Edition

Alert! Admin: New Edition

Alert! Admin: Advertising

Thokozani Web Site

Daniel — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:35:41 +0000

Thokozani, a movie written and directed by first time director Gregory Collins. He approached me about designing a Web site to promote his upcoming independent movie. Working in collaboration with Gregory, we came up with a Web site, customizing a WordPress theme, giving him the ability to maintain certain sections of the Web site himself.

Thokozani