I used a CSS background image technique that allowed a background image to extend past the right side of the browser window without displaying a horizontal scroll bar. On top of the background image I embedded a flash movie with a transparent background. Using this technique allowed us to reduce the file size of the Flash movie, and seamlessly integrate the flash visual with the CSS background image.

As the lead user interface developer, I built the web site template and published the web site on the Microsoft.com web site. Doing this required knowledge of their custom content management application, which used XML along with XSLT style sheets to transform the XML document into a static XHTML web page.

This website was also localized into several different languages using UTF-8. These languages included Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, and Russian.

My first step was to understand the company’s story and self-image. I conducted interviews through-out the company, starting with the company’s founders, and the head of the marketing department. The unifying complaint was that our customer’s didn’t understand what eXegeSys meant, they didn’t know how to pronounce the word, and they didn’t understand what made the software unique – it’s ability to be customized on all application levels.

Turning to the American Heritage Dictionary for inspiration, I recreated the logo with the company name written out using pronunciation keys as if taken out of a dictionary. Through my interviews and product research, I distilled their marketing tagline to “Adaptable software” which lined up with the decender in the “y” character of eXegeSys. The company’s secondary tag line took this simple and powerful concept one step further – “Software that adapts to your business.”

The screen shot below shows the new logo and taglines.

The screen shot above also shows the custom designed and developed content management system built using ASP.NET, and Microsoft SQLServer. At the time, content management systems were just in their infacy, and many medium sized companies had web designers attached to their marketing departments and/or IT departments. I fit this role with great results by demonstrating my skills in branding, web design, web programming, search engine optimization, and online marketing writing.

The effective transformation of the eXegeSys brand, and web site were important factor in presenting the company in a way that attracted a group of investors, and soon after, eXegeSys was bought out by another larger ERP software company.

The project’s success led to additional business with Openet. As a result, I was given the Emerging Business Award and a $2000 cash bonus from our corporate head quarters in New York.

The web site has since changed, but my work is viewable through Google’s Way Back Machine web site. View Openet.com back in May of 2007.

The web site required the following web user interface elements:

• two levels deep semi-transparent CSS based drop-down navigation
• IE conditional statements and browser specific stylesheets
• embedding Flash elements using the SWFObject
• a print friendly version of each page
• template construction and image cut optimization
• global cascading style sheets
• contact us form with validation
• content publishing
• web site testing in IE, Firefox, Safari, and Opera on Windows, Linux, and Mac platforms

The web site uses Joomla, so that she can update her content and post pictures from her retreats. It also uses a blog plugin so that she has a powerful publishing platform to share her thoughts and dreams with people.

The logo design was loosely based on a sketch she did on a napkin that was provided by divine inspiration. It captures the concept of a pyramid of energy rotating down into the top of the planet, with an angel and a dolphin looking on in loving appreciation.

Client Testimonial

Micah, I want to thank-you so much for all you have done with my website.  I wanted my website to be an extension of me, so that it could work for me when I was not able to be in front of someone.  I wanted people to really feel the essence of my work from this online office and you made that all come together so beautifully.  I knew nothing about building a site and you walked me through every step so easily.  You made the vision of my logo that I held so close to my heart come alive, and I love it so much!  Thank you, Micah, for using your wonderful creativity to help the world get connected.  I am honoured to put your name on my website.

~ Mel Kinch
Healer, writer, and retreat facilitator

The 4 Dimensions of Infinity web site is built using Wordpress, one of the finest open source blogging software options available today. The software allows Rebecca to update content herself, and add blog entries about her latest workshops and classes that she teaches on remote viewing.

The web site uses a free Wordpress template with a background image that captures the concept of the matrix signal that remote projection utilizes to extend out into the four dimensions of infinity.

Client Testimonial

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Micah and to have him create my web site. He was great to work with.  He accommodated my schedule, taking the time to make whatever changes I felt was necessary, even after the site was completed.  Micah was always available to answer any questions I had and was very helpful with suggestions to help promote my business. I have had many compliments on my web site and would recommend him (as I have to many people) to create the perfect site.  He is educated, creative and extremely talented.

~Rebecca
Owner of 4 Dimensions of Infinity

Ladybuglandscaping.net uses a custom template design that shows micro-landscapes of flowers and plants from a ladybug’s perspective – adding wit and visual beauty to the design. Amanda already had her company’s logo designed, and integrating it into the vibrant blue of the web site design gives the viewer a fresh and lively feeling.

The web site is powered by the Joomla! content management system and Amanda received training on how to update the web site on her own. This keeps the cost of ownership of the web site down, as she doesn’t need to hire a web designer to make simple content updates, or upload new portfolio photos into her Ajax powered landscape photo galleries.

Client Testimonial

I love the webstie that Micah at Reflective Web designed for me. He offered 3 different versions and let me choose the one that worked best for what I needed, while at the same time offering his own input which really helped me in the design process. He is very patient and listened my needs. He’s has taken the time to show me how to update and utilize my site most efficiently and I really appreciate that because I knew nothing about maintaining a website. Thanks, Micah!

~ Amanda Mertin
Founder, Ladybug Landscape & Design

By promoting his photography on his own web site, Jeff now has the ability to catalog his photographs in his blog section. He can easily create photo galleries of his work by simply uploading his image files in a gallery directory. Using JeffBeckPhoto.com, Jeff’s customers can quickly contact him and place order inquiries.

Listed below are the features used in JeffBeckPhoto.com.

• Joomla! 1.59 – learn more about this award winning open source content management system
• Custom web site template design
• MooTools javascript library for dynamic html effects
• Header hero image that can be expanded to three different sizes: full 800 x 800 pixels, medium 800 x 500 pixels, or small 800 x 300 pixels. The web site saves the user’s choice so that their preference is maintained the next time they visit.
• Shadowbox gallery viewer – learn more about this cool Ajax powered viewer
• Two Ajax powered slide show galleries that cycle through a series of photos on the home page
• Blogging component with trackbacks, subject tagging, visitor comments, and RSS feeds
• Drop down navigation with slide-out transitional effect
• HTML order form and contact form

Client Testimonial

Finally I have the slick, professional looking website I need for credibility as a professional photographer. My website is the first impression many clients get, so it has to have impact. Thanks to Micah, my website is much better than what I had imagined. He created an interactive experience for visitors in so many ways I would never have considered, and he produced, with elegance and style what I thought was necessary. My favorite part is the fact that I can add content and the site can continue to evolve.

Jeff Beck
Owner of Jeff Beck Photography

The web site can be viewed at Blackburn-Stoll.com. The law firm already had a logo, but it had been done years ago and they did not have a digital copy of the logo. No problem, I was able to rebuild the logo in Illustrator for use within the web site. The design of the web site prominently displays the elegant logo in front of the rich gold-colored wood grain panels located in the reception area. In this way the web site introduces the law firm visually in a way that is in sync with the visual experience clients have when they enter into the law firm’s office space.

While creating IndochineUtah.com I worked closely with Diem, the store’s owner, to build the web site before she left town for vacation. The web site was finished in ten days, and included pictures that I took of the restaurant. The full menu page shows all of the amazing Vietnamese and Chinese dishes that the restaurant offers its customers.

The logo was designed by another designer, and I integrated the brand seamlessly with the web site design in order to capture a classic Vietnamese Bistro feel, that is both inviting and classy.