About M.E. DESIGNS

About the owner

The origin of my interest in website development

M.E. DESIGNS is a small business created by myself, Mary Billington. Though I am based in Alberta, Canada I offer my services locally and globally. In 2005 I graduated from a Diploma course in Shropshire, England where I studied I.T. This course was a general I.T. course but part of it was focused on website design. After a few lessons in website development and management I quickly picked up how a website was created and maintained. Though I was taught mostly using a WYSIWYG editor (e.g. Microsoft FrontPage) I found that coding with simple text software made my websites more precise to what I wanted the overall look to be.

The skills I have learned

After moving to Canada in 2005, I started working on developing my skills a lot more at home using online tutorials, books and simple experimentation with different codes and image software. At the moment I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, designed especially for website designers, to create most of the images for my website designs. This combined with Microsoft Notepad and Paint are my only tools of the trade for creating the final product. I feel that simplicity is a neccessity when it comes to something that could become so complicated if not implemented correctly.

I program websites using my in-depth knowledge of HTML and CSS that I taught myself. I also use some Javascript to add dynamic effects to a website when it is needed e.g. navigation and pop-up windows. Apart from the actual coding I can also add a number of other features to your website to make it more interactive such as forms, polls and commenting systems. Take a look at the sites in my portfolio to get a better idea of what my experience and knowledge can offer you.

The work experience I have gained

My first website was a personal website called Emby, that was later re-named to heresmary.com. It has been re-designed many times as my skills in the trade improved over time and experience. A few years ago I made a campaign website for Amelia Maciejewski whom was running for the Social Credit Party of Alberta at the time. It was very basic with not much content, but it was created in a short time frame and the client was very happy with the final outcome. During my time in College I also produced a few mini-websites that are shown in my portfolio, one of which was used to showcase a students view of the course for prospective students to see. Later I was approached by the owner of a construction company called "Create 'N' Build" which is situated in the USA. I was asked to produce a website that would be used for potential clients to peruse their past construction work. This website is still being maintained by myself as new projects come and go for the company so that it remains up-to-date.

About the business

Working with the client

Right now, I offer my website design and development services to anyone that is interested. I cover small jobs such as just a logo design or a 3 page mini-site, up to large scale projects like multiple-page portfolio websites with interactive capabilities. If you are stuck for time and need a website made fast, I will work my hardest to meet your needs. If you already have a clear understanding of how you would like your website to be, I can work with you as we develop it into a fully-functioning domain, keeping your specifications a top-most priority. Please take a look at my portfolio to get a good feel for the work that I do and the satisfaction of my clients needs in response to it.

If you are just thinking about owning a website take a look at the benefits that can come out of it and make up your mind. Finally getting your own .com can give your business that extra needed boost in the world of advertising.

A basic background of what the process involves

Interested in what the whole process entails? You can give me as much or as little information as you desire and I will create the website most dedicated to your needs. Here are some examples of information that you can (but of course do not have to) give me to enable to meet your specifications as much as possible:

• Company name
• Company logo
• Colour scheme
• Font scheme
• Specific images to use
• Sketches of some ideas
• Website map
• Links to websites that you like the look of
• An old website that you would like to be revamped

I can also come to visit you and take some digital pictures of your business or scan in any types of documents to be put on your website e.g. flyers and coupons. If you so desire, I will create a digital version of anything that you would like to be shown on your website for customers to view or even print out and use at your store.

You can be as involved or un-involved as you wish in the production and maintenance of your website. If you are not internet savvy yourself, you can leave it to me and I will work my best to satisfy your needs.

Finally, if you feel that you would like to own a website that changes when you get new clients or offer new products etc. I will gladly update your website for you as often as needed.

Please take the time to decide whether a website is right for your company and let me know if you're ready to join the newest form of advertising.