Yet another client that I get hungry just thinking about. Out of the Box Collective is a Los Angeles-based service that bridges the gap between local ranchers, farmers, vintners, and artisans with the local customers. Customers are able to order a carefully curated box of delicious locally sourced foods, complete with seasonal meal plans and recipes. I designed the site to combine the company’s wonderful, lush food photography with a whimsical feel with a textured paper bag background and fun slab serif font. Bold colors pop from the header and footer, but the body of the site lets the photography and content pop. The ecommerce platform was built on Delivery Biz Pro.

I got the best testimonial today from author Lynne Raimondo!

“Before I met Lisa, I thought a domain was a French estate, hosting was something you did for foreign exchange students, and a wireframe was a painful form of orthodontia. Lisa expertly guided this newbie through the process of setting up an author website and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out. Her design throroughly captures the atmosphere of my debut novel in a format that is easy to navigate and update on my own. Thanks Lisa for an outstanding result!”

I am so excited about the site I designed for HarperOne’s Elixir healthy living imprint. Not just because I used some technology that I’ve never used before when building the site, or because I think that aesthetically, it is some of the cleanest, most appealing work I’ve done. Rather, it is because I really am drawn to the subject matter—publishing (duh!), but specifically books about healthy living, yoga, cooking, and more.

I designed the site in WordPress so books could be easily added and deleted depending on press and publication date. I integrated the site with the client’s Facebook and Twitter feeds, so all channels include the most current information. HarperOne enlisted some of its A-list authors (including Mariel Hemingway, Dr. Joel Furhman, and Dr. Alejandro Junger) to provide Web-exclusive blog content. The blog also includes relevant , where we also include clips from relevant mentions on (for instance) Dr. Oz or The View.

The individual book pages are my favorite. Using a widget developed by HarperCollins, visitors can virtually page through the entire book online, enlarging it to fit their window. The site is integrated with a variety of online print and eBook vendors, so visitors can easily place orders. Best of all, bonus materials are included that are not found in the book, including instructional videos, tools, and more.

Oh, how I love working with authors! Authors and publishing in general are my very favorite niche. (If you didn’t already know, I was Web Director for Chronicle Books for eight years.)

So, when author Lynne Raimondo contacted me to create a site to promote her book, Dante’s Wood, I was delighted. Lynne’s thriller takes place in Chicago, so we had a lot of fun sourcing noir-inspired city scenes and manipulating the photos to make them even spookier. The site is designed to evoke the spirit of this book, but also accommodate future thrillers. And (of course) to inspire sales with conspicuous links to online retailers.

Side note: Lynne has a very interesting history that involves a career in law, losing a case to a guy with a funny name who later went on to become President, and defending Arthur Anderson in the Enron debacle, so I highly recommend checking out her biography on the site.

Mai Le is a Bay Area-based therapist who works with both individuals and couples. She wanted a site that exhibited the breadth of her practice, but also helped potential clients acquaint themselves with her approach and background. Aesthetically, Mai wanted a site that was welcoming, clear, and used images that were neither traditionally “masculine” or “feminine.” Lastly, the site had to be easy to maintain and very search engine friendly.

I’m so pleased with the final result, and Mai is, too. The design of MaiLeMFT.com  is direct, to the point, with plenty of room for growth, and inviting fonts and imagery.

This could be dangerous—I’m getting really into social media. I redesigned my Twitter page with the fun new design options that are now available. If you aren’t already following me on Twitter, check it out.

I absolutely love it when my personal and professional interests come together. A few weeks ago, I heard that a yoga studio was going to be opening up right down the street, I emailed the owner, expressing interest. (I currently teach spin and sub yoga classes at the Irving Park YMCA.) Mere weeks later, I am not only building their Web site, constructing their social media presence, but also teaching at least two classes a week. Here’s a sneak peek at the placeholder for The Yoga Shop Chicago in Old Irving Park. Shawn even designed the logo. There’s so much more to come in the new few weeks!

My girls from Bread & Wine got written up in the New York Times today. I’m so excited for them. Here’s the article.

Let’s just say that I have a vested interest in the answer to this question. As I am nothing if not a steward of my community, I created the world’s simplest site that distills the message to its essence. No more poring through acrimonious news stories again and again for these site visitors! Here’s a site that tells you exactly what you need to know, completely Rahm and Karen Lewis-free.

Is the CTU on Strike?