Pixel Rabbit

Off Topic

Dan — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 02:57:48 +0000

But this video was just way too cool to not post on here somehow…

Also Tarsiers rule!

SpursATX

Dan — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:30:48 +0000

What can I say… I love my San Antonio Spurs. I’ve been of fan of the team since I was a youngster and had to put my hopes behind Vinny del Negro (never a good thing). Since not enough people were listening to me on various message boards, I thought I would go ahead and build a blog for my friends and I to act as a loudspeaker.

The site uses WordPress (like this one) as a CMS and blog platform. The site also serves as a development base for various plugins and modifications I make to the WordPress source code. This way I can ensure that my clients always get work that has been thoroughly test in the correct environment.

Also… GO SPURS GO!

New Domain, New Design

Dan — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:10:51 +0000

So it’s still a work in progress, but I’ve decided that if I want this freelance thing to really work out I needed to design my site as in a more professional (still playful) manner. I also needed to change my domain name as DanGovea.com is not easy to remember and definitely not catchy.

Step One – Find a Domain Name

This may very well be the most difficult part of the process for no other reason beyond the fact that almost any domain name you can think of is already taken, most likely by squatters (I hate squatters). So the trick then is to think of something unexpected or unusual. Perhaps try a word that is misspelled or with an alternate spelling. Or a less used word, maybe like Google. Also, try using online tools such as DomainTools which will suggest a number of available domains around your entry. So although RedDog.com is not available, RedCanine.com may be.

Step Two – Create a Theme

Although this may not be as difficult as finding a good domain name; this step will definitely play a large role in how your site performs with the public. Do you have a logo? Who are your readers? If, like me, you’re using the site as a portfolio to display your freelance work in the Austin area then you’ll probably slightly weird but still clean and professional. Bright colors definitely help to Keep Austin Weird but may not fit your diary of gothic poetry.

Step Three – Create the Site

I use WordPress as a CMS and blog for many of my client’s sites and love it so much I’ve also decided to use it on my own. It’s very easy to use and has a large support base to add functionality. Be warned, coding the site is not for beginners but once you get the hang of it, you can do pretty much anything you can imagine.

Step Four – Profit

That’s the idea anyways… I’ll let you know how that pans out.

CRS Hotels

Dan — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:59:23 +0000

This was a very simple custom slideshow I put together for a friend of mine at PSWerks. It doesn’t look like much (well it looks nice but not like much work) however the work is in the backend. The slideshow pulls all information from an XML file generated by the server; the client’s request was for something clean and efficient; I believe this fits the bill.

AXLR8 Fitness

Dan — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:38:47 +0000

AXLR8 Fitness is the site for personal trainer Manda Freytag, an accomplished fitness specialist that operates out of the Austin area. I haven’t actually been involved in any of her training sessions but from the looks of the pictures she provided for the site’s slideshow, I’m not really sure I have what it takes.

The Specifics

This site uses a number of plugins and additional coding in order to achieve the functionality desired for the site. Of particular note, the AJAX commenting functionality is quite nifty; this allows comments to show up almost instantly without a page refresh while still being checked for spam. Also the site uses the LightWindow image viewer. Good stuff.

DanielGovea – Fine Arts

Dan — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:04:59 +0000

This is no longer it’s own site; it can be found at http://pixelrabbit.com/art

I created this site for two reasons: to have an online fine arts portfolio and to get a good opportunity to test out the Tweener (now updated) ActionScript library on a site-wide level. I think it was successful on both counts and I’m very pleased with the presentation of the site. Of course, being a designer means you can always see things you would like done differently and this is no exception. Still, I prefer to move forward with new projects so this site will have to take a backseat until I find a little more time.

Inkdrop Digital Design

Dan — Tue, 29 May 2007 15:04:25 +0000

I designed this website as a favor to a couple of my best buds back from my old neighborhood of La Palma. Of course it helped that one of the services they offer to their customers is web and Flash design which would be contracted out to a professional (guess who?) but more importantly, it was great to work with a couple of my favorite people which I unfortunately don’t get to speak to much anymore.

The Specifics

This site is coded to be XHTML compliant and very search engine friendly. In addition, it uses PmWiki, a wiki-based content management system (CMS) intended to give them the freedom to change, add, and remove pages at a moments notice. This is doubly important for startup companies such as this; often pricing and features take a while for new companies to set in stone.

I’ve since discovered a new CMS which functions much better for my clients; however since the site was done as a favor, I’m in no rush to update their still functional and easy to use CMS. Check it out if you have a minute or two, it’s created by a genius of a man name Patrick Michaud which I’ve had the good fortune of meeting on a couple of occasions. Good stuff, just a little tech heavy.