Amy Gelfand

Current

Owner, Web Designer and Communications Professional at Gelfand Design

Past

Web Designer at New Era Portfolio HD
Web Developer at The Crossings
Web Developer at National Instruments

Staff Desktop Publisher at National Instruments

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1 more...

Education

University of Texas at Austin
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
University of South Carolina-Columbia

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Recommended

10 people have recommended Amy

Connections

214 connections

Industry

Online Media

Websites

Amy Gelfand’s Summary

I am an independent Web designer and front-end developer with broad experience in Web technology, marketing, and communications. I specialize in hand-coding accessible Web sites with W3C-compliant XHTML and CSS.

In short, I worry about the geeky side of Web development so my clients don't have to.

I have a BA and MA in English, as well as 5 years of experience working as a desktop publisher in Technical Communications. I began developing XML-driven publishing tools for FrameMaker and realized that my passion for language could be channeled into front-end Web development, which is, after all, highly semantic. I began studying interface design, graphics production, and multimedia development. Eventually I transitioned to a career in Web development.

After I started working at jobs-that-start-with-the-word "Web," I moved into writing and editing copy for print and online marketing materials (Web site copy, brochures, catalogs, etc.). I am pleased to be able to help my Web design clients construct compelling copy for their Web sites.

These days I run my own Web design studio, Gelfand Design. My services include Web design and development, email design and development, Web site assessments, marketing consulting, writing, editing, and proofreading. I enjoy integrating my technical, design, and communications skills to devise creative marketing solutions for my clients.

Amy Gelfand’s Specialties:

front-end Web design and development, site architecture, branding and identity, technical editing, technical and marketing writing, publishing, print and Web template design, email marketing (design, development, and overall strategy), localization of print and online collateral, XHTML, CSS, XML/XSLT, AJAX, JavaScript, Adobe Certified Expert in FrameMaker 7.0, Flash/ActionScript, InDesign, Photoshop, PHP

Amy Gelfand’s Experience

Owner, Web Designer and Communications Professional

Gelfand Design

(Online Media industry)

May 2006 — Present (3 years 7 months)

* Beautiful and compelling Web design
* Standards-compliant XHTML/CSS layout
* Organic SEO
* Accessibility
* Email design and development
* Social media coaching
* Content development
* Editing/Proofreading
Web Designer

New Era Portfolio HD

(Fine Art industry)

September 2008 — December 2008 (4 months)

* Designed and developed company Web sites and other online collateral.
* Designed, developed, and deployed email marketing campaigns.
* Created banners and graphics for online collateral.
Web Developer

The Crossings

(Privately Held; Hospitality industry)

June 2007 — September 2008 (1 year 4 months)

* Managed the design, development, and maintenance of company Web site and online store.
* Managed the design, development, and distribution of HTML email campaigns.
* Collected and analyzed Web and email metrics to better track business goals, needs, and initiatives.
* Wrote and edited copy for Web content, email campaigns, and print collateral.
* Designed Marketing print collateral.
Web Developer

National Instruments

(Public Company; NATI; Computer Software industry)

May 2006 — May 2007 (1 year 1 month)

* Worked with designers and content producers to develop Web-based user interfaces for NI's corporate and global Web site.
* Managed multiple tasks under tight timelines to support frequent product launches.
* Built client-side applications and enhancements to meet functional specifications, application development standards, and support requirements.
* Developed and maintained HTML/CSS templates.
* Promoted Web accessibility/device independence.
Staff Desktop Publisher

National Instruments

(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; NATI; Publishing industry)

March 2001 — April 2006 (5 years 2 months)

* Managed multiple projects with tight deadlines in team environment.
* Edited and formatted technical documentation to company style and publishing standards using FrameMaker, Word, PowerPoint, HomeSite, or XMLSpy.
* Prepared documentation for commercial publication using Acrobat.
* Built FrameMaker templates for English and localized documentation.
* Served as Webmaster of department intranet site.
* Authored custom XML for NI Technical Communications.
* Developed custom XML/Structured FrameMaker applications for single-sourcing technical documentation.
* Trained new employees in FrameMaker and template management.

Amy Gelfand’s Education

University of Texas at Austin

MA , English , August 1997 — May 1999

Emphasis on seventeenth century British poetry and Biblical literature.
Thesis compared the blazon poetic form in the Song of Songs and the elegies of John Donne.
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

none , Hebrew, Rabbinic Literature, Biblical Poetics, Yiddish , June 1996 — May 1997

Visiting Graduate Student.
University of South Carolina-Columbia

BA , English , 1993 — 1996