Skilled web designer and developer with 15+ years of experience, passionate about creating visually appealing and user-friendly websites. With expertise in front-end development, responsive design, and UI/UX, I strive to deliver seamless digital experiences.
My portfolio showcases my proficiency in graphic design, creative problem-solving, and implementing cutting-edge technologies.
It was 2019 when she walked through my door. Her dress clung to her dangerous curves. The click of her heels echoed off the worn wooden floor. She approached me, a rugged man with a pencil mustache and a perpetual look of suspicion etched upon my face. She gazed at me through smoky eyes, her voice carrying a hint of desperation laced with seduction, as she whispered the words that would change both our lives: "I need a website, sweetheart. Something dark, mysterious... just like me."
Intranet and public facing web design and development.
www.sandia.gov redesign - View the site from Out of the Past
Redesign of sandia.gov home page and topic pages. Carefully translated the client's vision into a visually appealing design, paying meticulous attention to details such as color schemes, typography, and intuitive navigation. The use of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript brought the design to life, seamlessly integrating captivating visuals and interactive elements. The result was a website that not only reflected the client's brand identity but also captivates visitors with its seamless functionality and user-friendly interface.
Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Dreamweaver), VSCode, Git, HTML, (S)CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Wordpress, Cascade Server, graphic design, mockups, prototyping.
And so, our fates intertwined, we plunged into a web of intrigue and deceit, where the lines between business and desire blurred, and danger lurked behind every line of code.
I had seen it all, but tonight fate had something special in store. A flickering streetlight revealed a forgotten website, abandoned like a discarded secret on the cold, rain-slicked pavement. My eye caught a glimpse of the missing website's logo, a digital breadcrumb in the dark underbelly of the city. Just as I bent down to retrieve it, a figure emerged from the shadows — a figure with a haunted past.
Intranet and public facing web design and development.
www.ihs.gov redesign - View the site on the Lost Highway
Redesign of all core, public-facing web pages. Through meticulous attention to accessibility, the redesigned website catered to diverse users and provided easy access to crucial health resources for native populations. Conducted thorough research to comprehend the specific needs of the Native American community and crafted a design that embodies their rich heritage while maintaining a modern and intuitive user interface. Designed new version of IHS logo, incorporating colors from traditional medicine wheel design, for use on external web pages. Developed mobile version of site utilizing jQuery mobile.
Adobe CC (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD, Dreamweaver), Flash(ActionScript) HTML, (S)CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, ColdFusion MURA CMS, graphic design, mockups, prototyping.
Our eyes met, a silent understanding passing between us, as we realized the truth: this website held the power to expose the city's darkest secrets, a digital key to unlocking a tangled web of corruption that reached far beyond what we could have ever imagined.
Derek Best
I specialize in bridging design and development—taking an idea from structure and visual design through prototype, responsive front-end implementation and launch.
This portfolio site is inspired by classic Hollywood films, especially the Film Noir movement that began around 1941 and culminated in the late 1950s. Many other notable Noir inspired films followed in the ensuing decades, eventually earning the moniker of 'Neo-Noir', but these later films could never really capture the moral and psychological complexities of mid-century America.
Profile
Senior UX/UI Designer & Front-End Developer
Brand & Digital Experience
2003 — Present
Focus
Team
Tools
Education
B.A. in Film and Media
University of Utah
Web Development Certificate
San Diego State University