Website link

It was interesting to work with Domus, which is the database system many estate agents use to keep their properties and website synchronised.  They supply a simple API which I was able to plug into WordPress and the results were great.

This is also the start of new things for me – making websites that are responsive and work on mobile devises.

Website link

This particular technique is known as kinetic text, where the word appear on the screen as they are spoken by an actor.

I am given a rough storyboard, and then left to animate the words between frames.

Created for Zurich.

Some of the sound quality is dodgy in this version!

This particular technique is known as kinetic text, where the word appear on the screen as they are spoken by an actor.

I am given a rough storyboard, and then left to animate the words between frames.

Created for Zurich.

Some of the sound quality is dodgy in this version!

It’s not as if I actually read through the sites I’m working on!

Work for Zurich.

Created for True.
Website link (archived version).

An interesting part of my part on this project was creating the Easy Read and High Visibility versions, which essentially serve the save content but styled in ways that are easier to digest for people with poor sight. Very few companies make the effort to cater for these minorities, but actually it’s really quite a quick and easy job.

Created for True.
Website link.

Work for True:
Website: Therapy For You
Website: Zenith Optimedia
email: English Heritage
email: True Digital
email: Naturebotts
email: True

True Digital are a high end digital agency based in Bristol. Of all my clients, these guys are the most exciting to work for – they have a team of excellent designers and their whole company attitude is professional and dedicated. If I ever decided to quit self employment and look for a permanent job, these guys would be the first on my list.

A lot of the work I do for True is as a small part of a big team, so I can’t really feature these projects as my own work, however, I can say that I have worked on these websites:

• English Heritage
• Dolby Mobile with Beardyman (no longer online)
• IAPA Travel Insurance

Client’s website.

Created for Real
Website link.

Created for Real
Website link.

This website was one of the first I built in WordPress!

Created for Real
Website link.

This was a very enjoyable website to work on as I was given a free reign to design a site I liked, and the client trusted my input.

Created for Greenpark Publishing.
Website link.

Of course I tried to persuade them to integrate their website and their stock database, so that we could take orders through the website, but they were simply not interested. It turns out that they like people to ring up, as the telesales staff are excellent and the customers always end up buying more that way. Also their whole company runs on Windows 95 and they don’t want to update. Sometimes the client really does know best.

Created for Greenpark Publishing.
Website link.

I designed, built and now maintain this website. We add a dozen articles every month, which really helps with Google ranking, especially as the content is well written and interesting. We get over 2,000 hits a month!

Created for Greenpark Publishing.
Website link.

Managed by iTransact.
Website link.

All of the Immediate online magazines are built in Drupal, which is nice for a change as I usually work in WordPress. To build this website I was required to work from the Immediate offices in Bristol, which was very interesting and a bit of a treat to be able to walk to work. The Immediate staff very very helpful and friendly, despite the fact that I was only there for a week.

Website link. This website is constantly being updated and changed by the magazine staff, but the template is essentially as I built it.

Real Design & Media are a small but vibrant design agency based in Bristol. They specialise in print, but occasionally need someone to turn their ideas into working websites. That’s where I come in.

I first worked with Real Design & Media in 2010, and have really enjoyed the friendly and easy going atmosphere in their office.

Client’s website.

You can see the actual build here.

Created for iTransact.

You can see the actual build here.

Created for Zurich.

You can see the actual build here.

You can see the actual build here.

You can see the actual build here.

You can see the actual build here.

This is a showreel to ‘pump up’ Zurich’s agents in Dubai. It’s great to work with no restrictions to file size - this was created as a presentation rather than to go online. So we were able to chuck in loads of nice images and complex movement.

Click here to view the showreel – but bear in mind it’s fairly large (4mb).

The client had purchased a number of ‘home page take-overs’ which mean you have all the banners and sometimes the background wallpaper on a site. You can see the working mockups I created for sign off here:
FT adviser
IFAonline
MoneyMarketing

There were a total of nine different sizes, each created in both flash and animated gifs.

zurich4protection.co.uk

I designed the website with a lot of guidance from the client – they had a pretty clear idea of what they wanted. I also built the Drupal templates and regularly do small maintenance jobs, although obviously the client is able to add, promote and update the venue listings.

This website uses Drupal CMS.

Website link: crazycowevents.co.uk

This project was managed by iTransact

This work was for Greenpark Publishing

This job involved late nights, content arriving late and unchecked, and completely unmovable deadlines. It was a lot of fun. I learnt a lot about Bath Ruby, and by the end felt that I had almost become a supporter. I even got to meet quite a few of the team. Well, I didn’t actually meet them, but we all had breakfast in the same café at the same time – does that count?

This work was for Greenpark Publishing

Work for Greenpark:
Print: Rugby programmes
Print: Soil Association
Web: Flavour magazine
Web: Good Morning
Web: Somerset Crimbeat

Greenpark Publishing are a small publishing house based in Bristol. I first worked for them as an in-house designer and artworker in 2009, using InDesign to create match programmes for Bath Rugby.

Eventually I moved onto other things, but have a continuing working relationship with Greenpark, mainly maintaining their flavour magazine website.

Malago Ltd have been looking after Flavour magazine and Green Living Magazines websites with regular monthly updates for the last 5 years or more. Jack has also created other company websites for our wide range of clients who are all happy with the service provided.
We find the service supplied by Malago Ltd very succinct and professional.

Peter Francomb, Director, Greenpark Publishing

Client’s website. (Not built by me!)

West Mercia Supplies are a purchasing consortium supplying office equipment to schools. I was responsible for producing a 600 page catalogue. This included creating and editing the Quark documents, art directing the photography and organizing the printing; from the £100,000 tender exercise to checking the final product as it came off the press. I worked here for about a year.

Cogent is an established independent international insurance and reinsurance broker situated in the heart of the London insurance market and at Lloyd’s. I have no idea what that means.

Website link: cogent-resources.com

This project was managed by iTransact

It’s a double edged sword updating somebody else’s code – on the one hand you have to try to understand what the hell was going on in some coffee crazed programmer’s mind when they were probably late for a deadline and just pushed the work out, on the other hand you almost always learn a trick or two which you weren’t previously aware of.

I have to admit, the company who built this website really knew what they were doing – they labelled and commented everything exceptionally well so that it really was a pleasure to take over where they left off.

Link to website: complete-coherence.com

This project is managed by iTransact

Work for Zurich:
Flash: Cargo Risk Academy
Website: Zurich4Protection
Flash: Z4P banners
Flash: Animated banners
Flash: Dubai showreel
Flash: GI Kinetic Text
HTML email template
Website: Zurich CommzKit
Flash: David’s Pension
Flash: Nigel’s Pension

Zurich have an in-house design agency based in Swindon, called The Zurich Communications Agency. Originally I was hired as a freelance web designer back in 2009. Since then I have managed to gain the reputation of a Jack-of-all-trades, mainly because I’ll do whatever needs doing. I’ve been asked to build websites, create print documents in InDesign, edit film in Final Cut Pro, create animations in Flash, and even design templates in Microsoft Word (most designers claim this is impossible, which is why I’m so popular at Zurich – in fact my work in Word has gained me so much respect and praise that I’m almost tempted to mention it on my CV).

Working for a blue chip global Plc such as Zurich means I have to be aware of their  modus operandi and ever changing brand guidelines. The modus operandi can be an interesting challenge; for example, until 2012 the entire global organization were based on Internet Explorer 6 – now this won’t mean anything to you unless you’re a web geek, but it means using technology that is ten years old and rather eccentric. My attitude to this situation is that if web design were easy, any idiot could do it, so I’m grateful for the hoops to jump through.

I’m only called into Zurich when their staff are really up against it. They like me because I don’t mind doing the jobs they hate, and I’m really really quick.

We have a pool of digital designers on our books for when the work ramps up. Jack is always the first name we call for when we need an extra pair of reliable and quick hands. We can simply brief him and leave him to it. His work is always completed with care and with time to spare. We all like having him around.

Franco Lautieri, Senior Designer Digital Media, Zurich Communications Agency

Due to the nature of the beast, I am not allowed to show many examples of the work I do for Zurich on this website. Such is life.

Work for BGS:
Illustration: Flying School

Bristol Ground School teach pilots the theory they need to know before they get anywhere near an aeroplane. There’s a lot to learn – about 6,000 pages in fact.

My job is to take all the diagrams, which have been sourced from all over the place, and give them a uniform look – essentially redrawing them in the BGS style. When you realize that there are over 5,000 images, you can see what a major task this is. This means a lot of work in Adobe Illustrator, which is great as it’s a pretty amazing programme once you get your head around it.

Bristol Ground School like me to work onsite as it’s often necessary for me to understand what I’m trying to illustrate. Although this means a commute for me, I actually really enjoy it as it’s out in the countryside and they’re a really fun bunch of people to work with.

Conscientious and thorough, Jack works quickly and accurately. He has a sound knowledge of the software, and has proved to be a reliable contractor over an extended relationship. We’d be happy to recommend him, without reservation.

Rod Wren, Director, Bristol Groundschool Ltd

This site was build in Joomla CMS (an inferior predecessor to WordPress), and is huge! There are around 300 pages of content!

legendevents.co.uk

And what’s more, he did. If only there were more clients like that.

This website uses Joomla CMS, which is an inferior predecessor to WordPress, although at the time it was considered pretty cutting edge.

Amazing to have a techie actually speak English and to exceed our expectations!

Adam Batchelor, Director, The Raceway

theraceway.co.uk

I first worked with Constantine Pagonis in 1999, when we both worked for a very large business-to-business insurance company. Eventually we both left the hustle and bustle of London and went our separate ways, but as we had enjoyed working together we kept in touch and have been working together (on and off) ever since.

Constantine founded iTransact in 2001, and has been building a loyal client base ever since. We have a comfortable and direct working relationship despite the fact that we haven’t actually met up face to face for many years (Constantine being based in Cambridge or Greece), all our communication being via phone, email and skype. This suits us both very well.

Client’s website

Jack’s uncommon combination of both coding skill and design flair makes him an invaluable resource for iTransact.
We have worked together on many projects over the years and I have always been happy with both the process and the result.

Constantine Pagonis, Director, iTransact Ltd.

This website was designed by Cherry Goddard for iTransact, and built and maintained by me. Cherry works exclusively in Illustrator, which is unusual for a web designer, and is probably due to the fact that she usually designs for print.

The website is beautifully simple, allowing the products to speak for themselves.

Project managed by iTransact

Ultimatum is an annual magazine which is sent to people who play Ultimate frisbee in the UK.

This contract was through iTransact Ltd. We built and then maintained the Lockout website from 2006 – 2008, when the company was bought by Dingwalls.

This project was managed by iTransact

In the end, the client is always right.

This project was managed by iTransact We have maintained the Jongleurs website since 2001, although the design has since changed and been outsourced.

This contract was through iTransact Ltd. We built and then maintained the Walkabout website from 2005 – 2009.

This project was managed by iTransact

There were about forty accessories in addition to the main product, but I have only included a few, as I didn’t want to cause you too much excitement.

This work was done for Kell Systems.

I didn’t know what to say.

This work was done for APT Transtelex.

This work was done for APT Transtelex.

This work was done for APT Transtelex.

This work was done for APT Transtelex.

This work was done for Windsor Plc.

Here’s a nice picture of a kitchen – I didn’t know where else to put it.

This work was done for APT Transtelex.

Louise Hardy, Pure Fudge

The site is really simple, which makes the paintings really stand out.

www.bendjart.co.uk

And then they got a nice grant from the Arts Council England, and were actually able to pay me! I love this site.

www.brodiepress.co.uk

www.bcphotography.co.uk

I’ve never used them (I have a Mac, so I don’t need to be rescued!), but I hear they are very good.

www.cambridgeit.co.uk

This project was managed by iTransact

This project was managed by iTransact

www.jabgroup.co.uk

This project was managed by iTransact

This project was managed by iTransact

Adam Batchelor, Director, The Raceway

I was approached by a freelance designer Zoe Longridge to build this website. She usually designs for print, but obviously she couldn’t resist this particular job.

This website is for a new mum who wants to sell fudge in her spare time between changing nappies (you couldn’t make this stuff up).

I manage a team of web editors, so I’m a bit pernickety about style and layout! The site
looks brilliant, thanks for all your work on this, I’m really pleased with it.
Louise Hardy, Pure Fudge.

This website uses PayPal to sell take on-line payments.

Website link

Website link: Click here
Please note: this is not a live website – some parts are still in development.

This project was managed by iTransact

Rod Wren
Director
Bristol Groundschool Ltd
www.bristol.gs