Vance Bell - Web Design, Web Development and Online Marketing » Projects

Main Line Restaurant Week Pre-launch Site

Vance Bell — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:53:17 +0000

The all new Main Line Restaurant Week launches this fall—September 27th through October 3rd. Participating restaurants will offer special, prix-fixe menus showcasing their chefs’ greatest dishes. Menus will feature discounted, three-course dinners (e.g. appetizer, entrée and dessert) priced at $15, $20, $30 or $40 per person depending on venue. The week also includes a special calendar of food-themed events.

The teaser website will be in place through late July while we complete the “real mccoy,” so be sure to check back. And, if you live or work in the western suburbs, save those dates. You can follow Main Line Restaurant Week on Facebook or Twitter to get all the latest.

Services Provided:

Web design
Web development
Strategic consulting

StyleMatters Website Launch

Vance Bell — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:23:55 +0000

StyleMatters is a Philadelphia-based entity delivering a full suite of professional writing, editing, marketing, website development, graphic design, video and strategic communications services. Lead by Suzanne and Robert Murray, StyleMatters has completed an impressive number of developmental editing projects for clients at home and abroad. Additionally, the organization provides a wide variety of writing and communications services both on- and offline for corporations, government agencies and individuals.

A pleasure to work with, I can recommended them wholeheartedly. So, if you are seeking to bring that book concept to fruition, need to revitalize your company’s online presence, or just having difficulty organizing that annual report—reach out to StyleMatters.

Services Provided:

Web design
Web development (CSS & XHTML)
Information architecture
Search engine optimization
WordPress installation and configuration
PHP development
Strategic consulting

Kate Samworth Website Launch

Vance Bell — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:22:43 +0000

Oddly enough, several years before Kate Samworth contacted me to develop her new portfolio site, I’d purchased a print of her’s entitled “Pride and Joy” at a gallery in the Old City area of Philadelphia.

Kate had been rather productive since then—having finished a large group of new paintings, and now busy preparing for two shows the following month. “Can you finish it up by then,” she asked. Simply, “Of course,” I replied.

I don’t mind short deadlines—fortunately, I do “methodical” and “organized” as well as anyone when the situation requires.

We’re all happy with the outcome.

Services Provided:

Web design
Web development (CSS & XHTML)

Ethreations eCommerce Store Launch

Vance Bell — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:56:04 +0000

Ethreations.com is a new online storefront dedicated to becoming your online resource for refined, artisanal paper media products. Their first product is a line of hand-made CD/DVD media holders—perfect for professional wedding and family photographers, or anyone wanting to simply jazz up a gift for a friend or loved one.

Personally, I am rather fond of the ‘rusty copper’ version with two sleeves over on the side, but there are enough variations for any taste.

Ethreations will be launching new products throughout the year, so be sure to check back or find them at their blog, on Facebook, or Twitter.

Services Provided:

Web design
Web development (CSS & XHTML)
Shopify theme development

Bridget Foy’s Restaurant Website Relaunch

Vance Bell — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:58:44 +0000

The Bridget Foy’s restaurant has been a staple of South St. since well before I arrived in Philadelphia in the early 90s. I’ve always appreciated their tasty menu—from the calimari appetizers and burgers to the mahi mahi, grilled tuna and eggplant napoleon.

Recently, Bridget Foy’s completely remodelled their two upper floors to create a new private party area for up to 100 people. Flat panel TVs, music equipment and a private bar are just some of the new features of this great space.

Be sure to drop by for Restaurant Week, January 17-30, 2010. Get a 4-course dinner ($35), lunch ($20) or something from special weekend brunch menu.

Services Provided:

Philly Dog Training Website Launch

Vance Bell — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:42:03 +0000

Training animals takes a special combination of kindness and patience—Marisa Scully of Philly Dog Training is endowed with generous amounts of both. Scully is a certified dog trainer and behavior specialist providing puppy training, basic obedience training, behavior modification, as well as solutions for aggression, anxiety and more.

Marisa works with all breeds and ages of dogs. Whether you have just brought home a new puppy or young dog or are looking for guidance on selecting a new family member, Marisa can help make the transition successful. Even if you have tried training your dog unsuccessfully in the past, often it just takes someone with her understanding and expertise to learn what makes your dog tick.

Philly Dog Training serves dogs and their owners in the greater Philadelphia area.

Services Provided:

Gillian Grassie Website Relaunch

Vance Bell — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:10:05 +0000

Gillian Grassie is a harpist/ singer-songwriter with a unique talent for jazz-inflected, indie pop. Classically trained in both harp and voice, Grassie is no Irish ballad singer. As Grammy-winner Marc Cohn once wrote: “It’s rare to hear a young singer with such control and understated soulfulness, and even more rare to hear a harp provide such a deep percussive groove.” Much like a fine wine might be said to have a hint of oak and currant, her music recalls greats like Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos, while foregrounding Grassie’s own innovative style and melodic capabilities. On her two independently released albums, the 2005 EP To an Unwitting Muse and 2007’s Serpentine, Grassie proves herself both an intelligent lyricist and talented harpist—turning the often understated instrument into a beautiful lead, which admirably takes the place so commonly occupied by guitar or piano.

This coming year Gillian will be traveling around the globe meeting musicians, learning how new media is affecting their creative process and distribution, and even playing a few gigs (we can hope). But before crossing the “big pond” for her first stop in France, she needed a new website that would help her communicate with fans, friends and family back home, and document the upcoming journey with all its discoveries, big or small. We call it Lifestreaming these days. It’s a way to weave together the threads of one’s social media life—uniting Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Flickr, MP3s, blogging, email and more in a single place your audience can find it. Elegantly simple, extremely effective.

So, when you can, take a look, not so much at my work even, but how it allows Gillian’s musical life and talent to come through online.

Services Provided:

Strategic consulting
Project management
Web design
Web development (CSS, XHTML & PHP)
Information architecture
WordPress installation and customization
WordPress theme customization
Training

Ron Plocek Website Launch

Vance Bell — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 03:01:32 +0000

The American outdoor writer and memoirist, Patrick McManus, once wrote there are two best times to fish: when it’s raining and when it ain’t. From my experience as a child growing up on the lakes and streams of the Pacific Northwest, I would have to agree fully. Anytime is a good time to grab the tackle and leave for the quiet, peaceful company of a winding brook.

Well, almost.

While the trout might like a black gnat hand-tied fly presented promptly at 7:05AM during a slight downpour as I hang over the water, one hand white-knuckling a small Aspen tree—that was never my preference. Red & White spoons cast into a shady pocket of fast water in the hot Noon sun, or Mr. Worm and his Bobber at dusk on a clear mountain lake, did the trick just fine as I recall.

Ron Plocek, a former SoftOrigins colleague of mine, and extremely competent bass fisherman, probably has a completely different idea regarding acceptable technique, and that’s just fine, since he sure lands the lunkers.

Services Provided:

Project Management
Web Design
Web Development (CSS, XHTML)
Logo Design

Stephanie Churchill Website Launch

Vance Bell — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:55:17 +0000

Stephanie Churchill is a talented yoga instructor and massage therapist based in Philadelphia, PA. It has been a pleasure to work with her on several projects including her Totally Zen health and yoga blog and e-commerce store.

Stephanie wanted her personal site to reflect the simplicity of her yoga practice and spiritual outlook. We settled on a spare, almost modernist, design approach, incorporating a wonderful series of photographs showing Stephanie practicing various yoga poses.

If you would appreciate a personal approach to your yoga or wellness practice, contact Stephanie through her website today!

Services Provided:

Web Design
Web Development (CSS, XHTML & PHP)
Project Management
Information Architecture

Center City SIPS Banner Ad Campaign 2009

Vance Bell — Fri, 22 May 2009 14:17:40 +0000

Given the weather today I can almost believe it’s summer—and once again Center City District is planning their SIPS Happy Hour events. From June 3rd through August 26th, 2009 participating bars and restaurants throughout Center City, Philadelphia will be offering summer drink and food specials.

Every summer the Center City District promotes these events through regional publications and websites, such as Philly.com and Philly2Nite.com. This banner ad campaign was designed in the visual style of the events’ print advertisements to form the final piece of unified media campaign.

So, support your local establishments and take advantage of this great way to enjoy your summer. If you see me walking back to my table with a curacao margarita shaker, feel free to say “Hello!”

Services Provided:

Banner Ad Design
Image Optimization

Download the full campaign sample sheet (PDF, 423 KB) and take a look up close.