I Was Offered Webmaster for Apex SA/NT!

Here is my latest web site design. [Update: Deleted in 20010] The client is the State Board of Apex SA/NT : I am the webmaster1.

I was asked if I’d like to take on the challenge of bringing their website into the current century. I reckon it took about three minutes to decide how I wanted it to look. Having been given “carté blanche” (Latin for “free reign” I think) to design what I like, I spent about two months drawing a lot of concepts.

Most of them were on the same thing, but related to the pedantic of how certain things were going to look – and if they would actually work. Today I chopped out huge chunks of the CSS because I decided a few ideas were just not worth the bother. (Along the lines of entire div-backgrounds changing on a:hover. Not necessary.)

Last Friday during my 1-hour lunch break I wrote new HTML and CSS for my website.

All in MS Notepad. Without testing it. Didn’t want to save to the work-network. Since we are about to move office, I didn’t want my non-work appearing in my non-secure personal directories. Can you believe that anyone can look into everyone’s personal directories?!

Anyhow, last Friday night I spent the entire night (7.00pm to about 6.00am) creating imagery, testing CSS with the HTML. Everything worked first go – but there were subtle changes required.

You’ll notice something interesting about the text in the first-line “Apex Australia Teenage Fashion Awards”

div#head h5 { 
	margin:1px 0 0 2px; 
	letter-spacing:-3px;
	word-spacing:5px; 
	font-size:33px; 
	color:#369; 
	text-align:center; }

Letter spacing has an interesting effect.

It is particularly effective in giving a newspaper appearance. I’ve discovered that anything past -5px become very unreadable. Anyhow, the design is all done, the information is almost complete, and we’re cooking with gas!

The only unfortunate side of this: It’s unpaid. I took on this opportunity to break out and be seen by local business. I would love to work for a web-design company in Adelaide!

But don’t get me wrong: I enjoy being involved with Apex Australia. The whole point of it is volunteering your time and effort to assist those in need, network with an amazing range of people (from trade-people and politicians), organising events for local communities, plus many annual events for Apexians to attend to improve their ability to be a president, secretary, treasurer and many of the other Directorships in Apex Clubs.

For instance, I am the head-organiser for the Xmas Carols (20-12-06, Mellor Park, Henley Beach Road) this year. Thankfully I have a great team working for me when I am sick or unavailable.

So this site was both fun and interesting to design. It looks almost exactly how I imagined it from the beginning. By not using <table>’s, I have ensure easy download, limited bandwidth, and easy modifications

But now I need your input, critique, comments, compliments, etc. Come on, I can take it. I know I am not perfect. My ego needs bouncing off the walls regularly to remind me that I might be better than JoeSchmo but nowhere near as good as Jeffery, Molly, Eric or Jonathan (I wish my wife would let me grow a beard like that!).

Or anyone can for that matter. Except you bloody spammers.