CompostModern 2011 Site

Wordpress, CSS, and Cardboard.

Being on the committee for compostmodern 2011 was challenging, rewarding and fun. I originally was brought on as a marketer but as planning got underway it was clear that someone was needed to develop the conference website. That was a better fit for my core strengths and I was passionate about helping out with the conference website.

Addis-creson was tasked with developing the identity for the conference and they developed the dramatic crystal-motif and provided mock-ups for the website. My role was to take their mock-ups and develop them into a Wordpress theme and ensure the style was consistent throughout the content. That meant creating any supporting visual art that was needed as well as ensuring all of the content was styled to the theme and fit the visual hierarchy. I also supported the web efforts by developing flash ads for the conference, blogging, managing the google indexing, and tuning the performance of the site.

We also were charged with space design to carry the identity of the site. In the parking-lot of Addis-creson I helped to build the podium for the conference out of (mostly) compostable material. It's tons of fun to get out the spray paint and exacto-knifes and the podium was well received.

After many late nights working on the site and supporting materials the conference arrived and brought with it euphoria. It was inspiring to have contributed to something that so many design professionals that I admire attended and to be at a conference with so many people who were passionate about sustainability.

Being on the conference committee and attending the conference I met many great professionals. It was a pleasure to work with all of them though here I only mention a few with whom I had a continued relationship. Colin Multcher, who was the project manager of the identity work led me to help with LoudSauce. Martha Pettit, who was in attendance started the google users group Bay Area Data Viz at the conference during our first meeting. And most enthusiastically, Aaron Pava, with whom I connected strongly and who led me to work with CivicActions. At Compostmodern I also made many friends and professional acquaintances and most importantly realized how many designers are passionate about sustainability.