Welcome
Thank you for visiting my site. I am a web designer / developer based in Hoboken / Jersey City, New Jersey with extensive experience creating online content and helping businesses / individuals establish an online presence. I can take a site from start to finish, handling all phases of development, or simply handle specific tasks. On this page you will find samples of my work and information about my background.
If you have any questions, please email me at bob.gourley@gmail.com. References and additional work samples are available upon request.
Background
With over ten years of new media experience, I have been creating content for the online world since before the web as we know it even existed. In 1993 I started the electronic music zine Chaos Control. Originally created in Hypercard format, 10 self-contained issues were distributed over America Online and independent online services such as The Cyberden and The Online Book Initiative.
Chaos Control led to my being hired to create interactive promotional kits of bands such as The Cult, Killing Joke, and Mudhoney. Like Chaos Control, these presentations combined text, images, and audio. Rather than simply recycle promotional materials, I would deal directly with the bands, interviewing them and getting their content ideas. This is something I strive to do whenever possible - getting the subject involved is essential to making engaging content.
From 1995 until 2000 I worked for Nettmedia, creating enhanced cds (hybrid music cds / cd-roms) for artists such as Backstreet Boys, Tommy Shaw (Styx) and KRS-One. While at Nettmedia, I also went on the 1997 and 1998 Lilith Fair tours, taking photos, shooting video, and conducting interviews for the website. In addition, I co-produced Sarah McLachlan's "Mirrorball" live DVD.
I then went on to work for Sudden Industries, where I designed, produced and programmed websites. Among other things, I was lead programmer for Bravotv.com and designed / produced / developed content for American Movie Classics' "American Pop" site. I went freelance in 2002, but still work on projects with Sudden as an independent contractor.
While much of my work has been with the entertainment industry, I have also done projects for small businesses and non profit organizations. Other current clients include World Wrestling Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records, RockPop Gallery and Epstein & Fass.
In addition to interactive and design work, I have extensive experience as a journalist. My work has appeared in publications such as Wired, The Boston Globe, The Boston Phoenix, Online Access, and CD Review.
Services
Web sites : All phases of web site development, from concept planning to design and content generation to final programming and publishing. I am capable of creating custom management sysetms (CMS) so that a site can be easily maintained through a web-based admin tool. Featured samples can be seen to the right; please email if you'd like to see more.
Ecards & Media Players: Design and production of compact self-contained multimedia presentations. These ecards can contain high quality music samples and are useful for viral marketing (where users are encouraged to pass them on to friends). Tracking and user customization can be added.
» View NICOLE C MULLEN ecard
» View DAN ZANES ecard
» View SIX PENCE NONE THE RICHER ecard
» View GEORGE HUFF ecard
» View POINT OF GRACE ecard
» View AMY GRANT player
» View DAVID PHELPS player
» View JANE'S ADDICTION Player
Games : Having games on a site is a great way to draw attention. These can either be fully original creations, or variations of classic games branded with the imagery of a company or entertainment property. The following games were created for World Wrestling Entertainment.
» Launch "Divas Super Slots"
» Launch "Ball Breakers"
» Launch "1989 Royal Rumble Jigsaw Puzzle"
» Launch "WHO AM I? Memory Game"
» Launch "Rumble Word Search"
» Launch Chaos Control holiday game
Blogs : Setting up custom designed blogs with commenting, user profiles, tagging, rss and other features. I work with the open source Wordpress platform, which is higly flexible and extremely stable.
» View Pretty Tasty Cakes
» View Chaos Control Digizine
Other Skills : In addition, I have created screensavers, banner ads, custom applications, kiosks, composed music for the web and done video work. I'm proficient with HTML, PHP, Realbasic, Lingo (Director/Shockwave), javascript, jquery, and Flash (including Actionscripting,) as well as software applications such as Photoshop, BBedit, Final Cut, Drewamweaver, Audacity, Amorphium, and Illustrator. I can quickly learn new software and technologies as needed, and am comfortable creating projects that need to integrate with other back-end systems.
Contact
I can be reached by email at bob.gourley@gmail.com or phone at (201) 610-0688.