Treebeards Restaurants

Recently updated from the original site created over ten years ago by Tim Hansford (now owner of cynaps*kreativ), the Treebeards Web site is a resource for not only Houstonians that work in and around the downtown area, but for international visitors as well. Featured are the different menus for each of the four locations and their Take Out service, along with maps and directions for getting around the city and to their locations. Along with news, frequently updated recipes, and a history of the restaurants and owners, a robust catering order system is used daily by local businesses and accessed by Treebeards staff to schedule and fulfill orders.

Pioneer Contract Services, Inc.

Developed in conjunction with a large brochure package (see Print Design) the Pioneer Web site is one of the most comprehensive and full-featured in the industry. Visitors can review all of their services and products in detail, and access online services to manage records, track inventory, fill out a customer survey, and submit an online employment application. It features an efficient and logical navigation system that allows access to just about any part of the site, from any page.

Fieldbus Foundation

This is a very large site with several features. The original site had severe organization and navigation problems with some sections "buried" deep in the site that could only be found by following confusing and inconsistent link paths. All existing content was listed and mapped (so it could be located), and after extensive review, a new site structure and navigation system was proposed. Then work on the new site began, and because of the site's size and added features, its development would continue over the next year. The site was created on a modified Content Management System (CMS) so staff members can access and update the site on a daily basis. A comprehensive news system, cross-referenced catalogs and international information and "sub-sites" were also incorporated into the site's systems. The final site is cleaner, has a more logical structure, and the CMS was customized to feature a navigation system that effectively conveys exactly where you're located in the site. Illustrated user manuals were also developed for the more complicated maintenance procedures for the CMS. This site was developed in a partnership with another firm.

Best Fit Executive Search

Built on a smaller budget and with a specific purpose, The Best Fit Executive Search Web site is a clean and effective design with a unique animated navigation menu that's based on the logo and company name. Stock images of young executives were modified to carry the puzzle piece theme further and the puzzle pieces from the logo were enlarged and used as a background image. The company owner accesses and updates the Positions page via a password-protected interface.

John Lee: Ninth Man

This is a Web site that already had a good design in place from another agency. However, because the agency was no longer available, Tim Hansford (of then Enhance design & communications) was contacted to update the site. A number of improvements were made throughout the site. The navigation was improved with rollovers and a "mark" to indicate the page currently viewed. The original "torn paper" concept was very good, but it wasn't visible once a page was scrolled away from the top or bottom. Also, on larger monitors, the top and bottom background art would start to repeat, and the page would tend to stretch with the browser window, and create very wide text columns. This was all addressed in a new "floating page" design where the site was rebuilt in a set width on centered pages, and additional torn edge artwork was created for each page and tiled down the sides. Also, a few hundred new art, and photography images were added, and the viewing system was updated to a more recent script. To top it off, among other updates, a "Favicon" was created to display "JL9" in browsers' address bars and tabs.

The Herrington Law Firm

Another smaller Web site that effectively provides information about the law firm to prospective and current clients.

The Spencer Company

Currently one of the oldest sites in this portfolio, The Spencer Company, Inc. site was developed over nine years ago by Tim Hansford (now owner of cynaps*kreativ). It has recently been updated with a 50th Anniversary graphic and an online Customer Survey form. A brochure is currently being developed with a newer design, and there is a plan to update this site with the newer look and updated features.