Hi.

My name is Jack Wheeler. I’m a web designer located in Eugene, Oregon. I love to create beautiful, usable, accessible web sites, usually with WordPress, always with great care. You can view some of my work here. If you would like to work with me, please contact me.

I also occasionally write about web design, WordPress, photography, owning and/or running a web site and whatever else strikes me as important or helpful.

Case Study – Typography Design Patterns – Smashing Magazine

This is an interesting study on current practices regarding typography in web design. I’m surprised at how many of the sites are using san-serif body copy. I wonder if this is a reaction to the proliferation of good san-serif fonts available now that we have the ability to use web fonts. The freedom that web designers are now experiencing with responsive design techniques and typography options is

exciting.http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/05/17/typographic-design-patterns-practices-case-study-2013/

(Re)design

crows

You may have noticed that things look a little different around here. A reworking of the structure and content of this site was long overdue.

In the process of redesigning, I made some profound changes to the content structure. The focus of the design is now much more heavily on the blog and less on Blue Hat Design as a web design company. Don’t get me wrong, I’m as focused as ever on the design company. However, I’m one guy (plus occasionally one of several amazing local designers and programmers) and when someone hires Blue Hat Design, they’re hiring me. So one of the goals for the redesign is to create a much more cohesive and personal connection between myself, my clients and the web design community. Read more »

How mood boards can save you time, and your clients frustration.

cjw-mood-board2

This article was originally published in 2010. I’ve updated it somewhat and re-published.

Mood boards are a great way for a designer to get their client actively involved in the process early-on in a web project. This allows the client to feel that they are being included and kept in the loop. And it gives them a way to participate in the design process. Read more »