I developed the WordPress-powered portfolio website for actor Isaac Keys. The site served as his professional online hub, featuring sections for his bio, portfolio (including headshots and production stills), media appearances, blog updates, news/events, and contact information. It provided a comprehensive platform to showcase his work and connect with industry contacts.
In 2011, Pastor Kelvin Truitt of The Living Room Network (TLR), a Christian ministry, sought to enhance their online presence. I was contacted to build their website, creating a platform to share information about the ministry’s activities and vision.
Key features included details about the ministry, an integrated calendar for events, donation capabilities, and various contact forms to facilitate community outreach and engagement. I made 2 versions of this website but I can’t find the 2nd version to save my life.
On special occasions, I take on design projects, and in 2011, this meant creating the album cover for my long-time friend, Jeremiah The Prophet, for his album Urban Hymns. This involved setting up a makeshift photo studio in my condo’s carport to capture the necessary shots. Following the photoshoot, I used Photoshop to design and produce the final album cover artwork, delivering a custom visual for a personal project.
In 2010, I built the website for Sigmonds Cookies, my dad’s cookie company known for its all-natural, preservative-free cookies “For Those With Extravagant Taste.” Recognizing the potential to expand his reach beyond local fame, I convinced him to let me create an online presence. I developed the site with e-commerce functionality, enabling him to take orders both online and potentially in person. This allowed the business to operate and sell directly to customers through a dedicated digital channel.
In 2008 this project originated when the client saw previous cover art created for artist Jeremiah the Prophet and requested a similar style for their own project. While the specific details of the brief are hazy now, the core task was to leverage that existing aesthetic direction and deliver a compelling visual. The final artwork successfully captured the desired feel, fulfilling the client’s request based on the initial inspiration.
In 2008 and 2014, I designed and built the website for CPR Success, a school offering CPR training across various sectors including businesses, individuals, and government agencies. The site served as a central hub for information, detailing their class schedules, available courses, and other services. A key functional requirement was implementing different contact forms to streamline client intake and inquiries, effectively turning the website into a tool for both information delivery and lead generation.
Back in the MySpace era (2008), I developed a custom Flash application for Joe Budden’s profile. This app provided richer functionality than standard MySpace pages, featuring an integrated audio player for his tracks, a picture gallery, and a section for news and updates which could be refreshed by editing an external text file – a common technique at the time. It served as a dynamic hub for fans directly on his MySpace page.
In 2007, I built Spa-View, a blog focused on the wellness space. Developed using WordPress, the site covered topics like spa reviews, healthy eating insights, lifestyle tips, and smart nutrition choices. Beyond content creation, the blog was also set up to generate revenue through integrated advertisements and sponsorships.
As co-founder of PrimeTime Uncensored starting around 2007, my role spanned the full spectrum of launching and running a media production. This involved executive production duties, managing live broadcasts, and overseeing all studio operations – from set architecture and lighting design to camera configuration and control room administration. On the technical side, I was responsible for defining the product vision and strategy, managing the product roadmap, and prioritizing features and user stories for the website development. Additionally, I handled IT infrastructure oversight, network management, and system maintenance. This hands-on, end-to-end involvement required blending creative direction and strategic planning with technical execution and team leadership to bring the production to life.
I founded Prime Time Uncensored with Micheal Fattorosi and Damon Berg. We also had a lot of help from Sylvia Guillen and major contributions from Tanya Faulkner. Tanya taught me everything about production and video editing.
When I was developing the idea for PTU, I had a vision for a HipHop show that was reminiscent of the old Yo! MTV Raps show, which I used to love. But I wanted it to be hosted with a male and a female. So I reached out to Same and Chasity and pitched the idea; they loved it. The put together the show and The Platform was born. It was one of the first Hiphop shows on the Internet.
In 2006, I developed a Flash-based portfolio website for makeup artist Rosalinda. The site’s primary functions were to showcase her latest work through an integrated photo gallery and to provide essential booking information for potential clients, establishing her professional online presence.
While at Funk Media in 2004, our work for Sony involved graphic design and asset management for key business development and marketing needs.
This included designing presentation slides (pitch decks/sales decks) intended for presentations to potential sponsors, as well as various B2B marketing materials like movie posters and other collateral.
This work supported promotional efforts for various projects, including films like Spider-Man, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Bewitched, The Da Vinci Code, Domino, Legend of Zorro, and Open Season, alongside work related to brands such as Dragon Ball Z, McDonald’s, and Oprah.
In 2004, we worked with Columbia Records to create the website promoting Destiny’s Child’s final album, Destiny Fulfilled. This project involved developing another hybrid HTML/Flash site, but with some unique interactive elements.
A key feature, intended to mimic animation effects from their earlier fan site (DC-Unplugged), was a dynamic color scheme that shifted as users navigated between different pages, creating a distinct visual experience for each section. Flash was strategically implemented, powering the main header and integrated into specific body sections that varied from page to page.
Planning the architecture and user flow for this site, and then building out these dynamic features, was a particularly enjoyable process. It was a cool challenge to blend the technologies to support the launch of such a significant album.
Back in 2003, while at Funk Media, we developed the dynamic online presence for Beyonce, timed with the launch of her highly anticipated debut album, Dangerously in Love. This was a hybrid site, blending foundational HTML with the rich interactive capabilities of Flash, which was cutting-edge at the time.
The project involved integrating animations and a music player to create an engaging user experience tied to the album release, while also ensuring that key information on the site could be dynamically updated. It was an exciting challenge balancing the visual flair of Flash with the practical requirement for fresh content for such a major artist launch. Lastly, this site is featured in the Web Design Museum.
Developed a B2B website for the fashion brand Softwear / Vikki Vi back in 2003. This project utilized a hybrid approach, combining HTML for structure with Flash for visual elements. The primary function of the site was to serve as an online catalog, providing wholesalers with a platform to view the available product lines. It represented an early foray into using web technologies to streamline B2B interactions in the fashion industry.
In 2002 we worked with the Atlanta-based clothing company Blood Sweat & Tears to build their online presence. The brand had a distinct rebellious and gritty identity, and the goal was to translate that vision into a compelling web experience. We developed a hybrid HTML and Flash site that incorporated a music player to set the mood.
A key component was integrating an e-commerce store, allowing them to sell directly to consumers. The project focused on using the available web technologies (HTML structure, Flash interactivity) to capture the specific brand aesthetic while providing functional online retail capabilities.
Developed a B2B website for the fashion brand City Girl / Ruby Cho back in 2002. This project utilized a hybrid approach, combining HTML for structure with Flash for visual elements. The primary function of the site was to serve as an online catalog, providing wholesalers with a platform to view the available product lines. It represented an early foray into using web technologies to streamline B2B interactions in the fashion industry.
In 2002, Funk Media designed and built the website for Kelly Rowland’s debut solo album, Simply Deep. This project involved creating a hybrid Flash and HTML site to promote the album release, incorporating features like an audio player to sample tracks, news updates, an email list sign-up, and other elements designed for fan engagement. My role involved working closely with our internal team of designers and developers, coordinating efforts to ensure the successful delivery of the website according to the project requirements. It was another exciting opportunity to support a major artist launch within the Destiny’s Child ecosystem.
Continuing our work within the Destiny’s Child family, Funk Media developed the website for Michelle Williams’ debut solo gospel album, Heart to Yours, in 2002. This project utilized a hybrid Flash and HTML approach, common for high-profile launches at the time. The site was designed to promote the album and engage her fanbase, featuring elements like an audio player to sample tracks, news and updates about Michelle’s solo career, an email list sign-up for direct communication, and other interactive features to build community around her music. Similar to the Kelly Rowland project, my role involved working closely with our internal team of designers and developers to bring the site to life.
Working with Music World Entertainment artists in 2002, Funk Media also developed the website for Solange Knowles, supporting the launch of her debut album, Solo Star. Consistent with the approach for other artists in that portfolio, this project involved building a hybrid HTML/Flash website designed to establish her online presence and engage fans during that formative period.
In 2001, Funk Media built the fan site for the music group Play, another client managed by Music World Entertainment. Following a similar technical approach to the DC-Unplugged project launched around the same time, this site utilized a hybrid HTML and Flash structure to create an engaging online presence for the group’s fanbase. This further solidified our agency’s early specialization in developing dynamic websites for music industry clients.
This was a landmark project for our young company, Funk Media, back in 2001. Music World Entertainment entrusted us with rebuilding DC-Unplugged, the official fan site for Destiny’s Child, right during the height of their “Survivor” single’s success.
The site featured a distinctive Flash header that dynamically changed colors as users navigated between pages, adding a unique visual flair. A core part of the technical undertaking was developing a custom Content Management System (CMS) from the ground up. This bespoke CMS served as the foundation, powering the public site and exclusive members’ area, enabling efficient updates for content like news, tour dates, merchandise, and downloads.
The CMS also managed the distinct members-only section with its exclusive content and interaction opportunities. Beyond the CMS, a crucial element of our strategy, specifically aimed at boosting fan engagement per the client’s goals, was the integration of robust community features, particularly the message board.
We identified this as a key driver for interaction, and it proved highly successful. Fans embraced the message board, using it not only to connect with each other but also to organize and strategize, making their collective voice heard by the group and the wider world. This feature was pivotal in achieving the project’s engagement objectives and significantly benefited the group and the label.
Delivering this custom backend alongside strategically impactful community tools and dynamic visual elements was key to the success of this complex, high-profile platform.
In 2001 my best friend, Sylvia Guillen, and I started Funk Media. Our vision was to provide an ethnic voice and option in a space where there was virtually none at the time.
I did all of the technical work (sometimes I did some creative things) and she handled all of the creative work (sometimes she did some technical things). We worked on a ton of projects. We made it happen for over 15 years. I don’t know what else to say after that without getting emotional.
We managed to find the time to build maybe 3 different versions of our website over the years. This is the version from 2012 is the version I have most of the screen shots from for some reason. I don’t know how or why but we would always forget to take screen shots of our work. It was always one to the next project. We had a few different websites. A few different logos. Some ups some downs and all that other sappy stuff you say when you put your heart and soul into that lasted for a while.
