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LISA MAYS
GRAPHIC, WEB & UI/UX DESIGNER
Creative, Clean, Strategic.
I make useful and usable
graphics, websites & interfaces.
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WEB PROJECT
National Weather Service Dashboard
The Challenge:
Every morning, the Operations Director of the National Weather Service receives two Excel spreadsheets filled with useful data about equipment outages and weather related warnings across the United States. The problem was this data was difficult to decipher and boring to look at. He wondered if this data could be transformed into a sleek dashboard.
My Role:
I looked at the data on these two Excel spreadsheets and quickly determined that I could indeed present this information in a way that was both functional and sleek. I thought about the end-user and what would make the most sense to them. After all, what good is an interface if it's not helping you to complete the task you want to do. After analyzing the data, I saw a way to simplify those tables in that spreadsheet in a way that was engaging and useful. I gave the Director the sleek and functional online presentation he wanted. And I was able to accomplish this
on-time and under budget.
The Results:
Shown here are the login page, the landing page and one of the jQuery pop-up maps used to display weather equipment and outages.
Tools:
I designed and hand-coded the front-end using Fireworks, the Dreamweaver editor, HTML, CSS and jQuery.
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USER INTERFACE
REDESIGN
PROJECT
National Weather Service
NWSLI
The Challenge:
The National Weather Service Location Identifier (NWSLI) website needed a redesign. The original site had an odd navigational structure and plenty of dead pages.
My Role:
I went through the site from top to bottom and developed a new site architecture. I also eliminated unnecessary pages and developed a new taxonomy to help users find information easier.
The Results:
Shown here is the old landing page and the newly designed landing page. The field users were delighted with the upgrades and how much easier it was to find what they needed to get their work done.
Tools:
I hand-coded the front-end of this application using HTML, CSS, jQuery. and the Dreamweaver editor. The graphics were created in Fireworks. The back-end of this application is JAVA-based.
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FROM WIREFRAMES TO LANDING PAGES
EXAMPLES
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My client had three different websites with three totally different looks, and they were dissatisfied with all three. During our initial session, I began by asking strategic questions so that I could understand the outcome they desired. Additionally, I needed to listen with understanding in order to identify not only the audience and the specific "calls to action", but also I needed to identify the project scope, timeline and budget feasibility.
After getting clarity on the requirements, I like to pull together ideas to help me identify the "look and feel" for the site. At this stage, I also want to begin thinking about the Information Architecture so that I can structure the client's information in a way that will make sense to the user.
Just because I've delivered a website doesn't mean my work is done. Does the site meet the user's needs? Is there a Phase B with additional requirements? Is there usability testing that needs to happen? Who is handling the maintenance? Shown is a partial screen capture. Click the link on the main landing page to visit the actual website.
My client had three different websites with three totally different looks, and they were dissatisfied with all three. During our initial session, I began by asking strategic questions so that I could understand the outcome they desired. Additionally, I needed to listen with understanding in order to identify not only the audience and the specific "calls to action", but also I needed to identify the project scope, timeline and budget feasibility.
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MY DESIGN PROCESS
Strock Enterprises, Inc.
The Challenge:
My client desperately needed a complete overhaul of their website. Because they offered more than one service, their website was confusing and not very user-friendly.
My Role:
I realized that I needed to help this client gain clarity about what it was they were offering, why they were offering it, who they were offering it to, and how they intended to be of service to each group within their customer base.
The Results:
After listening to what they wanted to accomplish, I was able to transform their wish list into a beautiful and elegant website that drove traffic to their business which ultimately translated into more bookings and increased revenue. This site has been handed off to the client and is now maintained by the client.
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I'm a description. Click to edit me
WEB PROJECT
Restored Life Ministries
The Challenge:
Restored Life Ministries needed a completely re-designed website that still tracked closely to the "look and feel" of the older website.
My Role:
I went through the older website to see what assets we could keep and what needed a complete overhaul. I spent time with this client trying to understand what worked and what was not working.
The Results:
I decided to give WIX a try and was quite pleased with the results. I was able to give this ministry a new website that is also mobile ready that they are now proud to send their clients to. And I was able to do this in half the time it would have taken me to hand-code it. This site has been handed off to the client, and is now maintained by the client.
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GRAPHIC PROJECT
Harbin, China
Magazine Layout
The Challenge:
A friend recently took a trip to Harbin in northeast China to see the famous ice festival held there. She took lots of photos that needed to be put together in a meaningful way.
My Role:
To preserve her memories, I created a mini travel magazine.
The Result:
This eight-page spread was a big surprise and a huge hit.
Tools:
I created this magazine layout using InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
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GRAPHIC
PROJECT
Domestic Violence PSA
The Challenge:
I was asked to develop a poster concept highlighting domestic violence.
My Role:
I selected an image of a sad little girl holding a teddy bear for comfort. Bringing her to the foreground and placing her off to the side gave me space to positioned an image of a man and woman fighting. I masked them out and changed the opacity to give a shadow effect. Lastly, I added the saying “I don’t want daddy to beat me the way he beats mommy” to emphasize the point that domestic violence affects everyone. My goal was to bring about an intense emotion in the observer.
Tools:
I created this using Photoshop and Illustrator.
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GRAPHIC PROJECT
Formational Prayer Brochure
The Challenge:
The Formational Prayer Ministry needed a brochure to inform people about what they do.
My Role:
I was given a WORD document, two images and a logo along with the statement, "I like blue". I came up with a layout that fit both the content I was given and the visual desires of the client.
The Results:
Shown here are inner and outer page layouts for the brochure
Tools:
I created this using Fireworks, Photoshop and InDesign.
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GRAPHIC PROJECT
Book Cover - Philemon
The Challenge:
During the winter of 2009, I wrote and taught a women’s Bible study on the book of Philemon.
The Result:
Shown here is the front cover I created for this book. I designed a broken heart that had been mended. I selected this imagery to agree with the tag line for the study, “Mending a Broken Relationship.”
Tools:
I created this cover using Photoshop.
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GRAPHIC
PROJECT
Email Blast
Restored Life Seminar
The Challenge:
Several times a month, Restored Life Ministries needs emails to go out to their extensive contact list informing them of upcoming events.
The Result:
This is one of the email blasts I created for them. I was asked to incorporate the cover of their latest book, "Everything That Grows" into the design of the email. I also created a registration page for this event.
Tools:
I created the design using Fireworks and Photoshop and sent the emails out using Mailchimp. I created the registration page using EventSpot.
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BRANDING
PROJECTS
Selected Logo Designs
This is a sampling of logos and brandings I have created for various government agencies, church affiliations, restaurants and an international travel group.
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ABOUT & CONTACT
Lisa Mays
I am an electrical engineer (left-brain thinker) who enjoys the artistic side of life (right-brain thinker). So when I discovered graphic, web, and UI/UX design, I knew I had found my calling.
My engineering background helps me to effectively gather and analyze client requirements, while my artistic side allows me to translate those requirements into attractive and functional design solutions.
Do you have a project that needs professional help? Contact me. Let's talk!