Portfolio| Nate Williams Interactive

Amped Freestyle Snowboarding

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
This is one of the product sites I created while working for Microsoft Games. I was responsible for development of the product web site, from start to finish. I defined, conceived, storyboarded, designed, programmed, coordinated and produced 50 plus web sites. I created flash animations and interactive interfaces, utilizing emerging web/multimedia technology. I designed web pages that utilized database-driven content, using ASP, Microsoft SQL and XHTML/CSS. I built interface screens for PC games and CD-ROMs.

Technologies:
Flash with advanced ActionScripting, ASP, XML

Xbox.com

Microsoft Xbox

Description:
I was responsible for the art direction of the overall user experience for the 1st Party Games’ web presence on Xbox.com.

I developed a holistic design framework that took existing elements (Flash microsites, game-detail pages, supporting game-specific content pages, and game-specific graphical elements) and created a more singular, well-integrated and high-impact experience for each 1st Party Game.

I was in charge of developing the optimal design solution that enabled a unique, title-specific experience while also reinforcing the Xbox brand and the Xbox.com navigation system consistently and created a flexible template that increased the efficiency of creating each title’s web presence.

I oversaw the production of individual graphical elements for 1st party games (title and promo banners, icons, etc.) designed by vendors and CSG and collaborated closely with the Product Management team and with the rest of the Xbox.com team to develop designs that are informed by marketing strategy, customer needs, content requirements, and other design and technical requirements.

Technologies:
Flash, CSS, XML, CMS

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the XBOX game Blood Wake. The site incorporated video,dynamic animation and sound effects and application to view the boats in a psuedo-3d environment. Lots of advanced ActionScripting in this site.

Technologies:
Flash/ActionScript, ASP

Halo

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the XBOX smash hit Halo. The site incorporated video,dynamic animation and sound effects. I also created a first person shooter navigation to reinforce this aspect of the game.

Technologies:
Flash/ActionScript, ASP, XML

Illustrationmundo.com

Client:
Illustrationmundo.com

Description:
Illustrationmundo.com was created because I noticed that there were many catch-all design portals .. and great ones at that ... portals that have inspired me for many years .. portals that provided information about design, photography, art, interactive, illustration, film, literature, etc .. but as I made the career transition from an art director to an illustrator I wanted to find a site specifically dedicated to commercial illustration with in depth information and a way to communicate easily with other illustrators. I wanted to find a site that was all about illustration and nothing else .. a site that I could think of as "THE ILLUSTRATION SITE", but there wasn't a site so I decided to create a centralized location that would be purely dedicated to this purpose ... a FREE community based site about Illustrators and the commercial illustration industry.

I programmed a custom content management system could accommodate publishing articles, news, ranking illustrators, site registration, and have a searchable Question and Answer database. I also wanted to facilitate user submitted news so I programmed a tool where registered users can upload images and submit their news regularly. In order to manage all these submissions I created and programmed a custom approval and email auto responder system.

Illustrationmundo.com was created to achieve the following objectives:

Just Illustration
Show case great Illustrators
Provide information about the commercial illustration industry
Provide a central location where people can get inspired, share information and seek advice
FREE!! - Participation is absolutely free

Technologies:
PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, XHTML,CSS, SEO, RSS

Kung Fu Chaos

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the XBOX game Kung Fu Chaos. Incorporated video and dynamic animation and sound effects. Facilitated viral marketing with a custom flash electronic postcard system.

Technologies:
Flash/ActionScript, ASP, Database Integration

Magnet Reps

Client:
Magnet Reps

Technologies:
PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, XHTML,CSS

Magnet Reps is a leading artist representation and management agency representing a diverse group of stylistically unique award-winning illustrators from across the globe.

I planned, programmed and re-designed the web site to accomplish the following objectives.

Re-design Objectives:

Provide Magnet Reps with an easy way to publish new content on their web site (no html, coding)
Make the site scalable (easy to add new artists, content, etc)
Improve usability
Make it easy to find the Art/Artist you are looking for
Make the site "Sticky" (increase return visitors)
Increase Traffic
- Facilitate word of mouth marketing
- Increase Search Engine Ranking/Indexing
Improve understanding of statistical data

Solution:

Provide Magnet Reps with an easy way to publish new content on their web site (no html, coding)

I programmed a custom content management system specific to the needs of Magnet Reps. This system allows them to easily publish articles, news, art and much more by just the click of a button.

Make the site scalable (easy to add new artists, content, etc)

It was important that this site doesn't only work well today .. but can accommodate the future. By just the click of a button Magnet Reps can add a new artists to the web site complete with all the artist sub-sections. These sub-sections can be turned on and off based on each artist's specific needs.

Improve usability

Lots of sites look great at first glance but ignore major usability issues (frames, bad use of flash, ignoring the browser functions [location bar, back, forward, bookmark, etc] ) and become a nuisance if you frequently visit the site. It was a top priority that the Magnet Reps web site not only look great, but function great as well. Every piece of content on the site has a unique friendly url that is easy for people to bookmark, copy and paste into an email .. sounds pretty basic .. but lots of web sites ignore this rule. In addition, the web site uses a ton of image caching so when you are browsing you don't have to wait for images to load .. making the user experience much better.

Make it easy to find the Art and Artist you are looking for

Magnet Reps has amazing artists so it's not hard to find great art or artists .. but now you can search all the art by a variety of search parameters to help you find exactly what you are looking for quicker.

Make the site "Sticky" (increase return visitors)

It's very important that visitors return to your web site, not only does this increase your traffic .. but when you have something important to announce .. people are listening . It also helps increase search engine ranking. In order to make a site "sticky" you need to constantly have new content .. So I created a tool that allows Magnet Reps to easily publish new content and set the date of when this content goes live. They can publish art, news, awards, articles, etc easily with no knowledge of html and hiring a web designer no longer becomes the bottleneck in the process.

The site also utilizes a Mailing List and RSS news feeds so people can keep up-to-date on what Magnet Reps is doing even when they are away from the site.

Increase Traffic

Facilitate word of mouth marketing

The strongest form of marketing is word of mouth .. so it's extremely important to facilitate this and not hinder it. We accomplished this by having every piece of artwork bookmarkable, an option to send it as an electronic post card .. and just having a friendly unique url a person can copy to email someone and search engines can easily index.

Increase Search Engine Ranking/Indexing

Search engines can generate a number of referrals if you know how to design a web site that takes of advantage of SEO techniques. Not only is Magnet Reps web site coded in a way that is easy for search engines to index. It also runs daily scripts/programs to let search engines know about all the new content on Magnet Reps.com so all the content gets indexed quicker.

Improve understanding of statistical data

If you don't understand how your web site is being used, you will not know how to improve it, which marketing efforts have the best ROI, who is using your site, how they're using it and which content generates the most interest.

Magnet Reps was designed and coded in a way that makes this information crystal clear, using a 3rd party statistical system.

Microsoft CD Sampler

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the Microsoft Interactive CD Sampler 7.0.

Technologies:
ASP, JavaScript, HTML

Revenge of Arcade

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the Windows's game Revenge of Arcade. I created all the graphics including the logo and 3D rendered the joy stick navigation system.

Technologies:
ASP, JavaScript, HTML, 3DMAX

Finca Chica

Client:
Finca Chica

Description:
Fincachica.com - Rental Houses in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica.

Showcased the properties

Made it easy for people to view the properties and learn about Puerto viejo (accessible, reasonable downloads, easy to navigate)

Attracted new clients (facilitate word of mouth via electronic postcards, facilitate bookmarking the site so its easy to find in the future. Brochured .. downloadable pdf )

Made it easy for people to find and contact (optimized for search engines)

Technologies:
PHP, CSS, XHTML, Flat File Database

Azurik

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for the XBOX game AZURIK. Incorporated video and dynamic animation and sound effects.

Technologies:
Flash/ActionScript, ASP

Mech Commander

Client:
Microsoft Games

Description:
Product site created for Microsoft's hit Mech Franchise. You could switch between a flash version and html version of the web site with a click of a button. Doesn't sound too impressive now .. but was for at the time it was created.

Technologies:
Flash/ActionScript, ASP, CSS, DHTL, JavaScript

Microsoft Baseball 3D