Has it really been that long since I blogged? I was very proud to be selected to design the new Howard University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery website. Beginning with one single resident in 1965, the Orthopedic Resident Educational Traning Program of Howard University Hospital (HUH) has now grown to include 20 residents, 20 staff members and 7 affiliated hospitals. Howard University Orthopedics currently has formal relations with six fully accredited hospitals. You can view the new website at www.huhos.org.

The Coalition for United Community Action-ORTC, Inc., (CUCA) works with community organizations, labor unions, contractors, and government agencies to develop construction training programs for unemployed and underemployed minorities and females. Since 1970 CUCA, in its own unique way, has evolved from using a direct action approach with labor unions and contractors, to becoming an integral structure of the labor force itself.

Over the years, the construction industry has undergone numerous transitions. It is facing overwhelming challenges from new technology and expanding competitively due to basic changes in the economic structure of this country. These changes, along with recent reforms and new initiatives in education, makes CUCA a key player in the development of effective and unique training programs for African Americans, Minorities and Females to link the world of education to the world of construction apprenticeship, and eventual supervision and management.

View their website www.coalitionortc.com

Artist: Garenne Bigby
Title: Flux Wave
Medium: Interactive Lights, Motion, & Sound
Description: Flux Wave creates an interactive experience from motion and proximity. Like the stillness of water, it reacts to movement creating a ripple on it's surface while creating an ambient sound scape.

Interface.
Interactive Arts & Media Exhibition.
May 10 - June 11, 2010.
623 S Wabash Ave, first floor

Columbia College has selected me to attend the Art Directors Club National Student Portfolio Review this May 5th 2010 in NYC. This is an invitation-only event featuring the top students from the best schools in the country for visual communication. Reviewers will meet, critique and recruit the year's top, emerging talent.

The Art Directors Club is the premier organization for integrated media and the first international creative collective of its kind. Founded in New York in 1920, ADC is a self-funding, not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to connect, provoke and elevate creative visual communications professionals around the world. It focuses on the highest standards of excellence and integrity in visual communications for the industry, and encourages students and young professionals entering the field. ADC provides a forum for creatives in Advertising, Design, Interactive Media and Communications to explore the direction of these rapidly converging industries.

Visit their website at http://www.adcglobal.org

I have had several clients and prospective clients ask me about Flash Technology. Flash is responsible for a lot of the animation that you see while surfing the world wide web. It was a widely used platform for web development in the early to mid 2000s. It looks cool, but looks can be deceiving. The big problem with Flash is not its functionality, it is Apple Technologies. Apple refuses to support Flash on the iPhone & the iPad. Though this might not seem like a big deal when planning your new website, it clearly is when you know the statistics. On most websites, mobile visitors account for 30-60% of all traffic on their respective websites. Over 60% of mobile surfers are accessing your website from an iPhone and iPad. It sounds a bit crazy, but the iPhone is king. I actually love flash, but I don't recommend it to my clients. What consultant would recommend a business decision that could cut you out of 60% of your potential customers or viewers? I guess its like a pair of my girlfriends high heals. Some people will always do fashion/appearance over functionality.

Read "Adobe confirms plans to move away from Apple" from the BBC News.

Do you remember me blogging about Nanny Share Chicago? It is a new website I designed for Olive You Nanny Agency to help families share nannies. This is ideal if you only have one or two children and you would like to share a nanny with another family to dramatically cut your child care costs . Whether you are a single parent or both parents working in your household, Nanny Share Chicago can help you network with other families in your zip code. Check out the new website at www.nannysharechicago.com

The Feldenkrais Method is for anyone who wants to reconnect with their natural abilities to move, think and feel. Whether you want to be more comfortable sitting at your computer, playing with your children and grandchildren, or performing a favorite pastime, these gentle lessons can improve your overall well being. Check out my new design at www.columbiafeldenkrais.com

Visions in Action is the recipient of State Department sponsored Youth Leadership grant. Visions in Action is committed to achieving social and economic justice in the developing world through grassroots programs and communities of self-reliant volunteers.  This is accomplished through their classic volunteer program, which supports NGOs in their program countries, and through their supported volunteer program, which staffs their development programs.

I'm gonna always wish Apple well with any of their new products. I have to admit, I was a PC, but now I'm an Apple convert. I didn't know what the big difference was until I finally decided to get a MacBook Pro this time around. There is something to be said about their gear, especially if you use your computer to make a living. I probably will not get the first generation of the iPad. I also waited to get the second generation iPhone and recently purchased the third generation iPhone 3GS. As soon as the iPad includes a video cam - I'm there! How cool would it be to Skype on an iPad?

A night club is the perfect example of a business that would greatly benefit from a website that uses CMS. CMS is the acronym for "Content Management System". It allows someone with little to no web programming experience to update their images, text, calendar, and just about everything on their website. In a business where events and promotions are always changing, you don't want to wait on your web guy to update your website for you. CMS is one feature that you don't want to leave out of your next web project. I'm looking forward to providing Thrive with a website that is both sleek, functional, and fun.