Be Like Water

Effective, custom web design and development for nonprofits.

Work

Here are some case studies of sites I've built along with comments from the clients who commissioned them. Follow the links to read the full case studies.

The Monitor

We absolutely made the right choice when we decided to develop our new site with Mike and BLW. From early sketches to launch and through to maintenance, Mike has been collaborative, guiding in his vision while still open and responsive to our feedback. In addition to being a skilled designer, Mike is a polished project manager and a great communicator. He heard our unique needs and challenges and ensured that the site that was designed was the one that the Monitor needed. I've worked on several website redesign projects and none of them have been as smooth and successful as this one.

Róisín West, Senior Editor of the Monitor and Behind the Numbers, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
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The Monitor

Caring for Kids

Although we were pleased with the popularity of the Caring for Kids’ website content, the previous static design no longer met our needs. Mike seamlessly brought our vision to life, and offered creative and dynamic design and navigation solutions, including an attractive mobile-responsive design. He also created a new colourful wordmark that better represents our audience and content. Mike is a dream to work with – his expertise comes through in his thoughtful suggestions, and he always has the client’s best interest at heart.

Francine Charbonneau, Manager of Public Affairs, Canadian Paediatric Society
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Caring for Kids

The Canadian Paediatric Society

Updating the design on our flagship website—www.cps.ca—was not an easy task, given some of the parameters, but as usual Mike brought his keen sense of design and understanding of our target audience. Mike integrated current features and functionality, so our website feels current without being too "trendy". I look forward to working with Mike again, and would highly recommend him. 

Elizabeth Moreau, Director, Communications & Knowledge Translation, Canadian Paediatric Society
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The Canadian Paediatric Society

Diabetes at School

Mike took our one-dimensional content and brought it to life. His clean and thoughtful design enhances the text without competing with it. What we appreciate most about Mike is his ability to understand an audience’s needs, and use the latest technology and functionality to meet those needs.

Elizabeth Moreau, Canadian Paediatric Society
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Diabetes at School

Thomas Yu

Thomas Yu is one of the most well-known and respected amateur pianists in the world. He hired me to design and build his website to showcase his music and promote his live appearances. Built on Craft CMS, every aspect of the site's content can be managed by Tom himself.

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Thomas Yu

Caring for Kids New to Canada

Mike's technical expertise, design acumen and insights for how to optimize the user experience are superb. We received an enthusiastic response from users of the site in our post-launch surveys. Mike would be the first person I'd call for another project.

Barbara Szijarto, Canadian Paediatric Society
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Caring for Kids New to Canada