the very violet portfolio

RENEGADEconversations with Ronna Detrick utilizes a custom skin for the Thesis Theme. It was a complete redesign from the original concept. (March 2011)

Kate Northrup's Freedom Tour is a custom Wordpress theme designed and developed from scratch. Features a Google Maps "Freedom Tour" Map. (March 2011)

Thirtybit is a custom Wordpress theme designed and developed from scratch. Features large, graphic typography and intense colour blocking. (April 2011)

The Art of Thriving utilizes a custom skin for the Thesis Theme. Uses a custom landing page with customizable content blocks. (April 2011)

red+purple is a custom Wordpress theme designed and developed from scratch. Features large, graphic typography and bold iconography. Uses custom post-types for the two Wordpress authors. (April 2011)

01. Oh, hello there!

A little backstory:

violetminded Design's portfolio has undergone some pretty massive changes over the last little while, especially with the influx of work I've been experiencing in 2011. What you're witnessing here is a collection of the work that I've done over the last year and a half.

In its entirety. Rock on.

The things I'll do for dolladollabills:

Artfully crafted web design: I'm in the biznez of creation, baby. I distill the essence of your online aesthetic with a killer design questionnaire. Your brilliant answers (and big vision) give me the tools I need to create an aesthetic that both represents who you are and gets you dolladollabills.

Maintainence for the frazzled web professional: there are times when your site just needs a little pick-me-up and you just don't have the time (or the know-how). You can purchse maintenance packages from me in 2, 5, and 10 hour intervals, depending on what you need done.

Branding for your email marketing campaigns: you've been using MailChimp or Aweber for a while now but your campaigns are so... ordinary looking. Good thing I've got your solution!

02. About

Amanda Farough, Personally & Professionally:

Amanda Photo I'm a geek, a nerd, a gamer, and a femme entrepreneur. I design websites, craft aesthetics, and help creative professionals (that means you!) distill their brands over at violetminded Design. I work with Kelly Diels to make websites that convert and make you mad monies over at red+purple. I write about everything from geekery to mamahood to the Quarter-Life Crisis all over the interwebs.

I'm a Vancouverite, an urbanite, and a mama-to-be. I enjoy theatre, elegant writing, artful cafes and coffee, and proper diction. I should've been born a Brit. It would explain my affinity for BBC television.

I can often be found on Twitter, tweeting my brains out about whatever catches my fancy. On lazy weekends, I can be found browsing sample sales and gleaning thrift stores for unique, awesometacular fashion.

03. Featured Projects

RENEGADEconversations with Ronna Detrick

Date: March 2011 | Type: Wordpress, Thesis, Graphic Identity

Ronna and I have been working together for the better part of a year. It started small, with a graphic, and eventually bolstered itself into a full-on reimagining of her graphic identity and website. RENEGADEconversations is now a far more evocative, inviting place for Ronna's inspirational writing.

The Freedom Tour with Kate Northrup

Date: March 2011 | Type: Wordpress, Custom, Email Marketing Branding, Custom Google Maps Interface

Kate Northrup is a mad woman -- a madly awesome woman, that is. She sold almost everything she owns and will be travelling around the United States (and into Canada) in her Prius. To celebrate, we created a website. The graphic identity was crafted by the oh-so-talented Natasha Lakos.

Thirtybit

Date: April 2011 | Type: Wordpress, Custom, Graphic Identity

It's no secret that Candice Shane is a dear friend of mine. Something about working the E3 tradeshow floor will do that to people. When Candice told me that she was going to be launching a new site of her this year, I leapt to help. And then we created Thirtybit. And there was much rejoicing.

The Art of Thriving

Date: April 2011 | Type: Wordpress, Thesis, Graphic Identity, Content Strategy, Email Marketing Branding

Padma and I are kindred spirits. Sisters from another mister, even. We spent a good while crafting and honing the graphic identity for her website, making sure that all pieces were there before we flipped the switch. We spent hours jamming about content and design. The result? Thrive on, baby.

red+purple=money

Date: April 2011 | Type: Wordpress, Custom, Graphic Identity, Brand Strategy, Email Marketing Branding

red+purple=money is the culmination of a year and a half working in the web trenches. Kelly Diels and I recently came together to create red+purple: a web design & copywriting boutique. We create sites that sell, baby. We even have measurables. 'Cause sometimes, we dig math. But only sometimes.