I decided on this design philosophy before I ever thought of becoming a designer. I knew that if I set some rules for myself and my projects, I would be able to create better websites, better designs, and a better web. These are the things I can promise will be in place for every project I take part in- on the web, in print, or anywhere else.

‘Less is more’. A good website doesn’t need to be filled with useless code, or overrun with images. A site that is simple is always going to strike the visitor as more powerful. They are able to navigate easily and obtain the information they need, all without having to wait for pages to load or straining to read text.

Always adhere to webstandards. Every person on the web is going to use it differently. Different browsers, different screen sizes, different fonts. There are also webusers who are disabled, possibly using readers, or using a larger font. The time it takes to cross-check a browser or add buttons for other font sizes is minimal compared to the increase of visitors a site will receive simply because it works for them.

Don’t design in a vacuum. A lot of designers get a degree, and then think that’s all they’ll ever have to know. Unfortunately, all the elements of design are constantly changing. What may be the best drop-down menu this week will inevitably be improved upon or even made completely obsolete. New bugs are being found in browsers, new software is being made. Even color schemes and graphics’ styles change as often as clothing trends. To design every project the same way as the last, as if these things weren’t happening, keeps the website from being the best, for the business it represents as well as its visitors.

Each design should stand on its own. Every client AHI works with will receive an end product that is directly related to them, not the designer. It’s okay for designers to have style; without that, every site would be the same. But it’s not okay for a website to stand as a showcase of a designer’s personal tastes. If the client requires a certain design element, a certain script, color scheme, etc., the designer should be more than willing to work with that. And if the client requires something that seems beyond the immediate scope of the designer, the designer shouldn’t be afraid to experiment and learn. Sure, every project goes into a portfolio to show the designer’s talents and abilities, but it goes live on the web first to show the client’s ability to serve their customers.

Fair Pricing. I specialize in designing for non-profits, artists, and small businesses, and I work with my clients to give them the best price for their budget. I recognize that budgets are tight and funding gets cut, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to increase your business by creating a web presence. For this reason, all pricing is done on a case-by-case basis. I am always open for negotiating, and I am also always going to get you the best deals on features like hosting, domain names, etc. On occasion, I will even do work for free. If you’d like to discuss pricing, just email me with any questions.