Turkmandu Visual Design

Small is the new big.

You think your project is too small for a full-service design agency but too big for you. You need access to full-service talent without the full-service hassles. You need a freelancer.

About

I specialize in the overall visual design of websites -- particularly:

  • User Interface Design (UI)
    Front-end XHTML/CSS templating from design to code.
  • CMS Customization (CMS)
    CMS installs and themes for Joomla and Wordpress.
  • Information Architecture (IA)
    Organizing and labeling websites for usability and findability.
  • Logos & Brand Identities (BI)
    Logo marks, wordmarks, etc as well as full identity systems and marketing collateral.

As a freelancer...

... I'm personally connected to you and your project. My approach is open, thoughtful and enthusiastic. I love to contribute ideas and suggestions and will only deliver work that meets my own expectations.

So if you are looking for a visual designer who can also handle a wide variety design-related tasks, I would love to speak to you about your project.

Colophon

The body text is Helvetica and the headings are Myriad Pro Condensed. This site is hand-coded using the 960 Grid system and is hosted by Bluehost. The design and development was accomplished using Adobe Photoshop for the design, Notepad for hand-coding, and FileZilla for FTPing files. Google Analytics, jQuery, and Cufon are also installed. The icons were designed by PICOL. The XHTML and CSS validates with some HTML5 quirkiness.

Work

DVC Magic Resales

  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
DVC Magic Resales

Project Description ...

Rachel is a fantastic client! She reached out to me after seeing the TikimanPages.com re-design and asked if could help bring her business to the next level. Together we identfied how the site should function and came up with a very customized Joomla template and even more customized Property Management System that is easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain, and was easy on the eyes. The DVC community is small but very competitive. We launched the site in April 2014 and before the end of the year, we were on the first page of Google. I am excited to continue working with Rachel.

I am so pleased with the job Matt has accomplished on the new website. The time and effort spent on this has been incredible! The look and functionality is better then I could have imagined. I also want to comment on the time and effort put into training me on how to use and operate the website. Matt has been fantastic in answering emails and calls and giving detailed instructions on how to complete what needs to be done. I would highly recommend Matt to anyone looking to build a business and new website. Thank you so much!!

— Rachel Thompson


Magical Vacations Travel

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Magical Vacations Travel

Project Description ...

Michele bought Magical Vacations Travel from a previous client. While Michele knows travel, she was new to running a business and wisely wanted to maintain the existing branding that clients had come to know and trust. But she also wanted put her own unique twist on the site's personality. Together we came up with a look and feel that is both recognizable and attractive but also highly engaging and full of calls to action. The site is another Joomla customization that allows Michele and her agents to easily update with their latest exclusives and specials. Michele is awesome to work with so this site was a lot of fun to build.

I just started my own business and was completely clueless as to how to even begin the process of starting a website. But I did know that having a great website, is the key to success in this day and age! Matt was wonderful!!! He was very patient, walked me through all of the steps, gave me great opinions and in the end he produced a wonderful final product that has already brought in so much more business for my company. I would highly recommend Matt. He is very knowledgeable, trustworthy and most importantly very dependable. Whenever I have a question, he responds to me within minutes and always takes the time to explain everything to me so that I understand. I can't thank you enough Matt!!!!!!

— Michele DeNofa


Danbury Youth Soccer Club

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Danbury Youth Soccer Club

Project Description ...

Danbury Youth Soccer Club was in need of an online registration system for it's many soccer programs but wanted one that had it's own look and feel. In addition to that, the Club determined it was time to update the Club's identity and branding system. Since my daughters played soccer with the Club, I was asked if I could help out. The result is something I hope to market to other clubs.

I have had the pleasure of working with Matt Turk on the redesign of the Danbury Youth Soccer Club's website. I found Matt to be very thorough in his work. He listened to the needs of the club and what we believed our participants wanted. He then provided a great website, helped everyone understand the functionality and has continued to support us when needed. Not only would we use Matt on any future projects, we would also recommend him highly.

— Franz Warren


Investment Metrics

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Investment Metrics

Project Description ...

Investment Metrics launched in June 2010 and is a leading provider of enterprise investment analytics and reporting solutions for institutional investment professionals. Not only did I design and develop their website but I also created their identity system and continue to design and produce their marketing collateral.

Matt has been an invaluable resource for our company. His creativity, industry knowledge and dedication to the success of our organization is outstanding. His ability to take a complex concept and make it a dynamic web presence that is easily understood by our clients and prospects is amazing!

— Scott Bugbee


Above All Style

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Above All Style

Project Description ...

Stephanie, a very successful and well-known local salon-owner, approached me for a logo and website for her brand new hair salon. She had very specific design and color requirements for the new identity but was very open-minded when it came to the design and layout of the website. The site is a Joomla customization thus making it very easy for her to update it with her salon specials.

Having known Matt for several years and being familiar with his work, I approached him immediately when I was in need of a logo and website for my new business venture. The result of his talent brought forth an amazing testimony to Matt's ability and set in motion an end product well beyond my expectation.

— Steph Johnson


Tikiman Pages

  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Tikiman Pages

Project Description ...

I discovered the original Tikiman site while planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World. I was so impressed with the content of the site I found myself wishing for a chance to give it the kind of design it deserved. So I reached out to Tikiman and the rest is history. This project was, and continues to be, a true partnership. Together we re-thought the entire site structure and came up with new features that have been universally applauded by the site's cult following. This is the 2nd full re-design using Joomla as the CMS.

The ideas and skills that Matt used to rebuild my site was above and beyond my expectations. Being an artistic and creative person myself I was going to be very critical of the final product and I found his design and ideas were exactly what my site needed to bring it back to life and up to date. From the professional graphics to the easy navigation, Matt has created an exciting environment for my readers to visit.

— Steve Seifert


Stephen J Nappi Photography

  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Stephen J Nappi Photography

Project Description ...

Steve approached me to help him put together a website to show off his digital photography. He wanted the design to be very clean but also something he could easily update himself. Given the vast number of open-source portfolio and gallery solutions available, I customized a ZenPhoto template and organized the back-office adminstration to enable Steve to hit the ground running. Steve will soon be looking to add a shopping cart for the purchase of his beautiful images.

I wanted to thank you for the excellent job you did in developing my web site. The aesthetic design of the site and the ease with which a visitor can navigate it were just what I was looking for. The great work you did was only exceeded by your professionalism, advice and attentive ear (it's nice to know that someone actually listens)... your suggestions definitely helped me to get the site to where I wanted it to be.

— Stephen Nappi


The Mighty Ploughboys

  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
The Mighty Ploughboys

Project Description ...

In need of a new look for their website, Pat contacted me to deliver a design more suitable for these Irish rockers. Given the band's growing popularity and media exposure, it was clear the site had to be informational as well as good looking. I re-organized the site structure and eliminated the extraneous content. I then placed the focus of the site on the gig calendar with a nod towards the imagery and videos from their live performances. These guys rock and I hope their site does too. The site was built using Joomla as the CMS.

I never get tired of hearing people say how impressed they are by our new website. Since Matt has re-vamped the site, it has made us a better band because we now have to live up to high expectations wherever we play. We were told that Matt could make our site 'Rock', what we did not know is that the result would be playing dream gigs! Answering fan mail, uploading pics and 'pop up' announcements are as simple as using face book. The first step was sitting down with Matt and explaining to him what the band wanted for a website. The second step was answering a few of his simple questions. The third and final step was becoming successful because of his talents.

— Pat Hearty


Ridgefield Baptist Church

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Ridgefield Baptist Church

Project Description ...

This is the 4th iteration of this website (all done by me) and each time I have been given free reign. Site structure, organization, functionality, and in a few cases, even content! The one new element to this iteration was a new identity. The church had recently changed it's vision and wanted an identity to reflect it. That change carried through to the re-design of the website. I was also asked to design a complete branding system to accompany the logo and website work. I also regularly contribute presentation designs for the pastor's sermon series.

It's been a joy to work with Matt for our church's website and graphic design needs. He's added meat to the bare-boned ideas we've thrown at him and his creativity and experience always shines through. We've never been anything less than thrilled with the final products he gives us.

— Dan Keaton


Bridge Foundation

  • BI
  • CMS
  • IA
  • UI
Bridge Foundation

Project Description ...

This is the latest re-design of the Bridge Foundation website. Along with Jon Fagan (public relations), I have been working with Stephen for years on this project and it has been one of the most satisfying I have ever been associated with. The site is a Joomla customization to allow for ease of updating and structure. The site highlights the amazing and on-going relief work of this small organization. I am very proud of the logo. It is one of the simplest designs I have done but, I believe, the most dramatic and effective.

I have known and worked with Matt for more than ten years. Matt showed exceptional creativity in designing both a logo and website . He exceeded my expectations. He not only possesses the creative ability but the technical know-how to get the job done. It is rare in the IT arena that someone has both creative and technical abilities. The graphics were tremendous and the layout was exactly what I wanted. Whenever I have needed revisions or additions, Matt has always presented numerous options and come through with flying colors. I look forward to his continued work.

— Stephen Skakel

Contact

I'd love to hear from you ...

If you'd like to talk to me about your next design project, please feel free to drop me a note using the form to the right.

Turkmandu, aka Matthew Turk [download vCard]
Danbury, Connecticut
United States
203.788.5010 Skype Me™!

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