Web Design

Map of Life is a massive database of species sitings with over 350 million records and counting. It combines datasets from around the world in a searchable map interface. A project run jointly from biodiversity labs at Yale University and University of Colorado, it launched publically in April of 2014. We were hired to help with a new website designed around the new MoL logo, and create a connection between website content and the map application, which is housed on Google’s AppEngine platform.

Andrew was looking for a new website that would provide essential business information to prospective clients as well as highlight the lush imagery of his landscape design. His primary concern was finding a balance between his preference for a clean, modern aesthetic and a warm, inviting backdrop for his photography.

Andrew’s project began with a comprehensive Discovery phase - enabling us to become intimately familiar with both the goals for his business and a better understanding of the needs of his prospective clients. 

Just prior to formally launching h+w, Jason was contacted by the super-star web consulting company Lullabot about lending some HTML and CSS skills on a responsive design project for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. The new project was to be the first responsive segment of the MarthaStewartWeddings.com site. In order to help brides-to-be with their search for the ultimate dress, we were tasked with making a dress finder that would work equally well in their hand and on their desktop (and of course on a tablet while surfing from the couch).

FVF Partners is an inbound-marketing and inside-sales focused executive consulting firm in the Boston area that is quickly growing upwards and onwards. So quick in fact, they needed an updated site design within an abbreviated time period that would build upon their current identity and assist in their presentation of services to prospective clients.

We have a long working relationship with Monotype, having helped them over the past few years with their Open Source involvement for their Fonts.com service, some writing for their blog on using web fonts and other general consulting and feedback on their service and web site. We love type, so it’s really been a lot of fun. Back in January we were asked if we wanted to design the demo page for some new features they were launching to allow users to easily and reliably use some advanced typographic features like ligatures, swashes, alternate character sets and more.

Collective Next does amazing work, but was not conveying the nature and quality of that work with their existing site. Starting with some discovery workshops we spent time talking through who they are, what they do, understanding their audience and needs, and defining concrete goals to measure the success of their new site. As content is always a challenge, a Drupal framework was quickly developed as soon as the initial architecture was defined. This allowed them to work directly with a living wireframe website, adding notes, images and text to an evolving map of pages.