Project Type:

• Website

Role:

• Full-Stack Web Developer

Project Overview:

• Lorenzo’s Christmas Wish is a charitable initiative that provides gifts and support to children in need during the holiday season. The organization wanted a website to promote their mission, facilitate online donations, and manage communication with their supporters. I created a custom website from scratch using **HTML, CSS, PHP, and JavaScript**, with integrated **PayPal** and **Stripe** payment processing for donations, a backend system for managing donations and newsletters, and an easy-to-navigate frontend for users to learn about the cause and contribute.

Technologies Used:

• Frontend: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
• Backend: PHP
• Payment Processing: PayPal, Stripe
• Database: MySQL

Design and Customization:

• Custom Design: I designed the entire website from scratch to reflect the heartwarming, festive nature of the charity while ensuring it was easy to navigate. The design uses a combination of warm colors, holiday-themed graphics, and large images of children benefiting from the charity’s work.
• Responsive Design: The website was designed to be fully responsive, ensuring it works seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices.
• Template Customization: The front-end was built with a modern, clean layout using **CSS** for styling and **JavaScript** for interactive elements such as donation buttons and scroll effects.
• User Interface: Created an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface where users can read about the cause, donate, and sign up for the newsletter.

Features and Functionality:

• Donation System: Integrated **PayPal** and **Stripe** payment gateways, allowing users to make secure one-time donations or set up recurring contributions. Created custom donation forms that collected essential donor information and donation amounts. Added confirmation emails for users who made donations, thanking them for their contribution.
• Backend System for Management: Developed a **PHP-powered backend** system that allows the charity owner to manage the donation records, customer details, and newsletter subscriptions. The admin panel has a user-friendly interface for browsing donation history, including transaction amounts, dates, and donor details. It also includes options to export data for reporting. Added an option for the admin to **approve donations** manually and update the donation status as “Received” or “Processed.”
• Newsletter Signup: Integrated a **newsletter management system** using **PHP** and **MySQL**, allowing users to sign up for updates and event information. The admin can view and export email lists. Users receive a confirmation email after subscribing to the newsletter, which can be updated with new events, donation needs, or updates on the charity's work.
• Event Calendar: Built an event calendar with **JavaScript** that displays important dates related to the charity’s activities (e.g., toy drives, donation deadlines) and allows users to sign up for events.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Challenge: One of the challenges was integrating both **PayPal** and **Stripe** while ensuring secure processing of donations on the website. I created custom API calls in **PHP** to handle the payment flows, ensuring that both platforms worked seamlessly with the site’s backend and provided users with confirmation receipts.
• Challenge: The client wanted a system where they could easily manage donations, but the initial interface for the backend was complex. I simplified the admin dashboard, organizing donation records and providing intuitive controls to update statuses and export data.
• Challenge: Ensuring security with personal donor information. I implemented **SSL encryption** and stored sensitive data securely, following best practices for secure data management.

Results and Impact:

• Increased Donations: Since the website went live, Lorenzo’s Christmas Wish has seen a **40% increase in online donations**, with many donors opting for recurring monthly contributions.
• Streamlined Operations: The backend system has made it much easier for the charity to track donations and communicate with their supporters. The client reported a significant reduction in the time spent managing donation records.
• Expanded Reach: The newsletter signup has been a success, and the charity has seen more engagement from supporters, who now receive regular updates and information on events.

Project Type:

• E-commerce Store

Role:

• Shopify Store Designer & Developer

Project Overview:

• Pazzo Wear, a stylish eyewear brand, wanted to create an online store to sell their trendy collection of glasses. They sought a user-friendly e-commerce platform that could showcase their products and provide an excellent shopping experience. Using Shopify, I developed a fully functional, mobile-optimized online store that allows users to browse, filter, and purchase their favorite eyewear seamlessly.

Website Builder Used:

• Shopify

Design and Customization:

• Template Selection: Used the **"Debut"** theme, customizing it to match the vibrant and contemporary style of the brand.
• Custom Branding: Integrated Pazzo Wear’s custom logo, color palette, and product images to ensure the website aligns with the brand’s identity.
• Responsive Design: Utilized Shopify’s mobile-optimized features to ensure that the website performs smoothly across all devices.
• Product Pages: Created clear and visually appealing product pages, including multiple product images, size charts, and detailed descriptions of each eyewear style.

Features and Functionality:

• E-commerce Functionality:
  • Set up a fully integrated shopping cart with secure checkout.
  • Integrated PayPal and Stripe payment gateways for smooth transactions.
  • Created product categories (e.g., Sunglasses, Prescription Glasses) and filtering options by color, style, and frame type for easier browsing.
  • Developed a “Wish List” feature to allow users to save favorite items for later purchase.
• SEO & Analytics:
  • Applied Shopify’s built-in SEO settings, including meta descriptions and alt text for images, to ensure the site is discoverable on search engines.
  • Integrated Google Analytics to track user behavior and optimize marketing strategies.
• Customer Support:
  • Installed a Live Chat feature for instant customer support and inquiries.
  • Created an FAQ section to address common questions about shipping, returns, and product care.

Challenges and Solutions:

• One of the challenges was ensuring that the e-commerce store conveyed a high-end, luxurious feel while still being functional. I fine-tuned the theme’s design, working on the typography, product images, and layout to create a sleek, modern aesthetic. Additionally, I customized Shopify’s checkout flow to simplify the purchase process and reduce cart abandonment rates.

Results and Impact:

• Increased Sales: The online store’s launch resulted in a **20% increase** in sales within the first month.
• Improved Customer Experience: Customers reported that they found the website easy to navigate, with many mentioning the smooth checkout process and the ability to easily compare different glasses.
• Enhanced Brand Visibility: By optimizing the website for SEO, the store began ranking better in Google search results, leading to an increase in organic traffic.

Project Type:

• Website Makeover

Client:

• Deep Blue Shipping Company

Role:

• Web Designer & Wix Developer

Project Overview:

• Deep Blue Shipping, a logistics and shipping company, needed a website makeover to improve its visual appeal and user experience. The company had an existing site, but it lacked modern design and cohesive styling. Using **Wix**, I updated the formatting, layout, and overall styling of the website to create a professional, user-friendly experience that better represented the company’s services and values.

Website Builder Used:

• Wix

Design and Customization:

• Template Selection: The website used a pre-existing Wix template, which I customized extensively to align with Deep Blue Shipping’s branding and industry.
• Branding Consistency: I incorporated Deep Blue Shipping's color scheme (blue tones) to reflect the maritime industry and ensure the site felt cohesive and professional.
• Layout and Structure: Reformatted the site’s layout, making it more intuitive and easy to navigate. I reorganized content sections to highlight key services like shipping rates, logistics solutions, and contact information.
• Typography: Updated the fonts and typography to make the content more readable, ensuring the site had a clean and modern aesthetic.

Features and Functionality:

• Service Pages: Organized the services into clearly defined sections with visually appealing headers, allowing potential clients to quickly understand the offerings.
• Contact Page: Created an updated **Contact** page with a user-friendly form for customer inquiries and a Google Map integration to show the company’s physical location.
• Responsive Design: Ensured that the website was fully responsive, providing a smooth experience on both desktop and mobile devices.

Challenges and Solutions:

• Challenge: The original site’s layout was cluttered and had a lot of redundant information, which made it difficult for users to quickly find the details they needed.
  Solution: I streamlined the content layout, using clear section headings and call-to-action buttons that guided users to relevant pages like “Request a Quote” and “Track Shipments.” This improved the overall user experience and made the site much more navigable.
• Challenge: The previous design lacked mobile optimization, making it difficult to read and navigate on mobile devices.
  Solution: I ensured the entire site was mobile-responsive by adjusting the layout for smaller screens, testing across different devices to ensure users could navigate seamlessly.

Results and Impact:

• Improved User Experience: After the makeover, the website’s layout and design were much more intuitive, allowing customers to find information quickly and navigate without confusion.
• Professional Appearance: The refreshed design better represented Deep Blue Shipping as a professional logistics company and helped build trust with potential customers.
• Increased Engagement: With a cleaner and more visually appealing design, the company saw an uptick in form submissions and inquiries from new customers looking for shipping services.