portrait

web designer / developer Christopher James Simmons

i love to build web apps, tinker with technology, and play indie video games.

2012Mobile: Weather XML Feeds

Website Radars (Feed Source), XML Feed, iPad (screenshot), iPhone (screenshot)
This feed utilizes the weather radar content from the Clickablity CMS that powers all the Belo station websites and converts it into a format that can be parsed into a DoApp slideshow gallery. This enables radars to be displayed on smartphone and tablet applications by mirroring the content of the website.

2012 Website: WeatherCaster

Belo has published this weather-oriented iPad app. The website is meant as a promotional tool and central hub for the app download, social sites, news blog, as well as showing off the capabilities of the app.

2012 Mobile Web App: Mobile App Directory and App Dashboard

Mobile App Directory, With Wrapper, App Dashboard (screenshot)
The Directory automatically displays relevant apps based on the device you're viewing it on, including: smartphone, tablet or PC. App data is stored, fetched and parsed via JSON feeds. The App Dashboard is the backend system for the App Directory and gives users direct control for adding, modifying, reordering, or even deleting apps displayed on the Directory.

2012 Mobile Web App: WCNC Traffic Web App

The WCNC Traffic app utilizes API data provided by Traffic.com to display a list of incidents (accidents, construction, and events). It then filters each incident into into a list of tabbed data. Clicking a list item displays the details as well as the location via the Google Maps API.

2012 Web App: Mobile XML Feed Tool

Allows Belo site managers to generate an XML feed for use on DoApp-powered mobile apps.

2011 Mobile Web App: Ustream Mobile

This page utilizes UStream video content to live stream on mobile devices (smartphones and tablets). It uses HTML5 for structure, semantics, and the video output on iOS devices. Javascript is used to determine the device you’re viewing on and display the appropriate video player and the page adjusts to fit the screen size using CSS media queries.

2011 Mobile Form: Mobile Contest Form

A contest form for use within our smartphone apps.

2011 Web App: Yollar Widget Generator (screenshot)

This in-house tool for Belo provides a variety of options for generating ad tags based on the Tippr API feed. This powers the daily Yollar deals on Belo station websites.

2010 Website: Real Property Resources

Website built for Times Record News. Utilizes a custom built Wordpress-based CMS, HTML5 page structure and CSS3 for design with progressive enhancement fallbacks.

2009 Flash Ad: Buffalo Wild Wings

Flash ad designed for Times Record news.

2009 Flash Ad: ProTeam Harley

Flash ad designed for Times Record news.

2008 Flash Ad: Weeks Park Golf

Flash ad designed for Times Record news.

2008 to 2009 Indie Game Dev: Legend

Lead texture artist, project management, recruiting

2010 to current Web Interface Designer for Belo Corp.

Web design, development, mobile, social network integration, CMS interface design

2008 to 2010 Web Designer for Times Record News

Flash advertisement, web design, e-commerce, assistant Webmaster

2007 to 2008 Freelance Web Designer for KFDX

Flash advertisement, web design

2002 to 2008Graphic Designer for Gordon Photography

Digital imaging and effects, cropping, project management, large format printing, web design, trainer for additional graphic designers

2006 Training with Don Emmerich

Studio Art Photography in Oklahoma City, OK

2003 to 2005 Computer Animation and Design Certificate

Vernon College in Wichita Falls, TX

Languages

HTML5, CSS3 (Less), Javascript (jQuery, AJAX, Handlebars.js), PHP, Python

Software

Sublime Text 2, Coda, Photoshop, Flash, Less, WAMP/MAMP, Office Suites, FTP, Backend Systems (MySQL and basic Node.JS)

Browsers

Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Internet Explorer
Mobile: Android Browser, Chrome for Android, Mobile Safari, WebOS

Content Management Systems / E-Commerce

Clickability, Wordpress, Concrete, Shopify

Operating Systems

Windows, Mac OSX, Linux(Ubuntu, Chrome OS), Android, iOS, WebOS

Development and Design

Open web standards, designing for mobile and touch interfaces, grid based design, color theory, elements of art, fluid design, responsive design, progressive enhancement, typography and interface design, mobile optimization, SEO

October 2009 Employee of the Month

Times Record News at www.timesrecordnews.com

May 2009 Texas Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (TAHSA)

Website of the year: www.tccc.com

2002 Texas Technology Students of America

TSA Annual Competition in Waco, TX
1st Place - Best Original Artwork
3rd Place - Best On-Site Design

In my free time I enjoy watching movies, playing video games, tinkering with computers and gadgets, and eating delicious food. I have a passion for technology and enjoy keeping up with the latest tech news and blogs, as well as the latest design and dev trends. A few of my favorite sites include net.tutsplus.com, theverge.com, and reddit.com

You can follow me on the sites listed below.