Kathleen Kurkoski

RefitPortland.org This Oregon non-profit organization "provides construction services for physically and financially challenged homeowners who wish to remain living independently in their homes" - to quote directly from their mission statement.

For my second redesign of the site, I created a completely CSS based design that would enhance the site's usability by making it accessible to the very people it was trying to reach. The navigation effects are completely text-based, which allows it to be understood at any text size, and even by screen readers. For the site's main header, I've used a image replacement method to provide a graphical header to most browsers, and still display a semantically usefully header for screen readers and search engines. The site also uses a flexible width, expanding to fill large browser windows. The new color scheme and main logo were designed by an outside graphics designer. I melded that design with the design elements of the old site to create this new one.

The PHP server is used to create pages using a universal header & footer, but with unique titles. I also used PHP to create a mailing form with input character stripping, a confirmation message, and a non-intrusive form-spam prevention routine. I also used .htaccess to specify an auto-forwarding 'Not Found' page.

This client site is now discontinued and archived here.

For this Oregon coast rental property, my client provided the original copy and source photography, and contracted for the flash animation on the home page. I designed and coded the site, created all the graphics, and optimized the photographs for web viewing. I also researched domain registration and hosting, recommending and implementing the most cost effective total solution.

This site includes scripting in both JavaScript and PHP such as easy-maintenance header, footer and navigation components, and GET request / PHP based photo album. Additionally, I used .htaccess to specify an auto-forwarding 'Not Found' page.

The Remodelers Foundation is the old identity for ReFIT. The old Remodelers Foundation site, dating before the re-branding and site redesign for ReFIT displays a knowledge of legacy HTML and JavaScript techniques.

For my first assignment with the the foundation, I redesigned the entire web site and created all new graphics and code. Additionally, I researched, selected, contracted and migrated the site to more reliable and economic registration and hosting solutions for client.

This web site includes both client side and server side scripting. I used JavaScript to create the image roll-over effects, and show and hide the sub-sections of the navigation menu. The PHP server is used to create pages using a universal header & footer, but with unique titles. I also used PHP to create a mailing form with input character stripping, a confirmation message, and a non-intrusive form-spam prevention routine. I also used .htaccess to specify an auto-forwarding 'Not Found' page.

Though now mothballed, a copy of my first client site is available here. Previously at TroutdaleMassage.com, this site is no longer in production, as the business has changed to referral-only.

A Soothing Touch is a licensed massage therapy office in Troutdale, Oregon. I designed and coded the site, and re-wrote most of the copy based on the clients's existing physical brochures. While designing the site, I focused on bringing web site visitors into the physical location by placing the phone number right on the header, as well as tracking visitors by providing special coupon codes for first time visitors.

The site is a good example of table based design, with JavaScript image preloads, roll-overs and status bar changes. Also notice the small favicon that I designed based on the site's main logo.