Ask a Web Developer Panel

All companies need at least a basic website, and now, many companies' core product is a complex web application. This panel presentation will discuss how to evaluate what you need and how to get started building it. We'll cover how to choose a platform, how to decide what to outsource, and how to maximize limited financial and time resources.

This workshop will also be useful for those with an app or website already built. We'll talk maintaining and growing products, what to do when you outgrow your platform or skills, and how to prioritize features (hint: talk to your users!).

Come with questions about your idea or startup!

About the panelists:

Brenda Janish, Iteraction Designer

Like many of her WS colleagues, Brenda is a former smartest-kid-in-class who loves to figure stuff out. Relying on 15 years of experience as an information architect and interaction designer, she works closely with clients to uncover and document organizational goals, user needs, and technical constraints to ensure that we design not only a beautiful site or application for them, but one that satisfies business and user goals as well.

Claire Micklin, Iteraction Designer

Claire came into the design world via a master's program in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University. She spent a large part of her time completing a year-long capstone project on the Portuguese island of Madeira, where Carnegie Mellon has a partnership with the University there.

Claire earned a bachelor's degree in Spanish from Earlham College and spent her early career as an ESL and citizenship test preparation teacher. She carries her drive to understand human behavior, simplify complex information, and use design thinking to solve problems into her work as an interaction designer.

Nana Ofosu Budu, Front-end Developer

Nana Ofosu is actually his first name but after years of trying and failing, he now answers to Nana.

Nana began his career as a web developer in 2009 in Portland, OR where he worked on some exciting projects for some big names as a freelancer. He joined Web Services in 2016 as a front-end developer and spends most of his time working on Drupal related projects.

Nana speaks four languages and hopes to add two more to that number in the near future. He is a proud millennial and he wants you to know it.

Ryan Wake, Sr. Front-end Developer

Ryan came to web design via the print world. He is a 2000 graduate of Ball State University, where he received his BFA specializing in graphic design. He toiled away learning his design chops in the print world for many years, gradually transitioning to full-time web design. When he is not writing code, Ryan enjoys brainstorming about our processes and different ways to approach projects.

In addition to slinging code for Web Services, Ryan is also a married father of two little girls. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors. The never-ending list of home projects he and his wife, Amy, have keep them pretty busy.

Jack Auses, Lead Front-end Developer

Jack started making the internet in 1998. At UChicago he is the technical lead and primary developer of the University's main website: www.uchicago.edu. Since joining Web Services in 2005 he has worked on two uchicago.edu redesigns—winning the 2013 Webby and Webby People's Voice Awards in the School/University category. In addition to partnering with communications colleagues across campus on a host of web projects he also provides technical and strategic leadership around the University's ExpressionEngine content management offering. His professional interests include web performance, dev/sysops, development standards, and reducing technical friction for users. Away from the office he spends too much money on vinyl.

Prior to UChicago, Jack was a web developer at Lesley University and also held fine arts administration positions at Carnegie Mellon University and the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. He earned a BA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Pittsburgh.

Dora Fraeman, Associate Front-end Developer

Dora made her first website—Padawan Penguin—in high school. She began college with an engineering major, but after taking several design, art, and film classes, she created her own computing and visual design major.

In Web Services she continues to combine her love of coding and “making things pretty.” Dora’s also interested in process improvement, and has helped us become more effective and efficient with her astute suggestions. Before moving to New York to work remotely, she had the best Star Wars figurine display in an office of Star Wars fans.