Give Thanks to your Favorite Open Source Products
This year, I’ll be adding a new tradition to my year-end giving: open source “thank you” donations! Join me!
Blog
Reconsidering the Slider
The slider isn’t just a small hamburger, it’s a rampantly-popular way of showcasing content on a website, and it’s one that sometimes gets used with little thought toward effectiveness.While I still believe there are a few instances where it’s appropriate, I think we all could afford to slow down, take a deep breath, and think about what we’re doing with sliders on our websites.
Just Launched: Archipelago Consulting [status]
I’d like to give a warm welcome to the newest MRW Web-built website, Archipelago Consulting. Archipelago Consulting is the new website for conservation consultant Kent Redford. If you fancy, take a moment to read about the Archipelago Consulting project in my portfolio or visit the Archipelago Consulting website to see the result for yourself!
Overview and Example of WordPress “Child Theming” [gallery]
WordPress uses a technique called child theming to create a new design based on an existing theme (a set of files that defines a WordPress design). In June, I gave a presentation to the Seattle WordPress meetup about child theme uses and techniques. This post contains the slides of that presentation and an example of one recent project in which I used the child theming technique.
Choosing the Right WordPress Design Strategy for your Website
WordPress websites use “themes” to give them custom designs. Picking the right theme, though, is quite challenging. You can purchase themes, modify themes, or hire someone (like me) to design and build a custom theme. Each strategy has pros and cons which I’ll walk you through in this post.
Make Websites Accessible for Visitors You’ve Never Met [link]
This article is almost a manifesto for the various principles of inclusion, universal design, and accessibility, topics I recently blogged about. It’s very short and geared toward web designers, but anyone who uses the web at work would benefit from reading this. Plus, it’s in a fun statement/response format! Luckily for us, web designers are … Continue reading “Make Websites Accessible for Visitors You’ve Never Met [link]”
Privilege & Web Design: Putting the Web And Accessibility in Perspective
On the internet, websites are used in many ways and by many people that web designers may have never considered. In order to build a website that is accessible everywhere to everyone, it’s important to think about some of the privileges that many web designers share. In this post, I’ll share some common privileges and recommendations for best practices to keep in mind.
GroundWire Report Tells You How Your Nonprofit’s Analytics Stack Up [link]
When looking at user statistics for your website, you might be left wondering, “how does my organization compare to similar sites?” GroundWire’s fabulous 2010 report shows the analytics landscape for environmental nonprofits in the Pacific Northwest, valuable data for everyone.
What Nonprofits Should Pay for Their Websites
Many small nonprofits turn to volunteers in hopes of getting a free website. My experience suggests a better way forward. I’ve found a way that works for me and results in better websites and fairer compensation.
Trust is a Must: Thoughts on Successful Project Collaboration
Thanks to an engaging session at the InfoCamp Seattle conference, I’ve clarified some ideas on successful collaboration and how to achieve it. I want to share it here in hopes of hearing other stories of collaboration. Do you agree with my thoughts? Got a better idea?
Make an Impact with Compelling Data Visualizations [gallery]
Most nonprofit organizations collect data on outcomes and stakeholders in order to write effective grants and fundraising pitches. How that data is presented, though, makes a huge difference in its effect on others.
By “visualizing” data in creative and engaging charts, infographics, maps, and more, you can really add some “wow” to what is otherwise a simple table of statistics.
Two New Projects: UnSectored.net and Slash Open
It’s been a busy month for me. Alongside the launch of this refreshed website, I also launched UnSectored.net and built some badges for SlashOpen.net. UnSectored You can read more about UnSectored on its page in my portfolio, but, simply, it’s a multi-author blog about social change in the Washington, D.C. area created by my good … Continue reading “Two New Projects: UnSectored.net and Slash Open”
Welcome to the MRWWeb.com Blog
I’ve refreshed my site design, rebuilt it in WordPress, added a blog (Welcome!) and more. Get to know me a little bit more and read about what’s coming up on this blog. I felt like I had something to say, and I wanted to share my thoughts with you. Get a look at some of the upcoming topics on this blog. I think you’ll be interested.