Monday, December 14, 2009

Bi-Weekly Interview: Jim Ford

Written by Natan Edelsburg
Edited by Sara Sald
i

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jim Ford, talented actor and Chief Web Designer for NYU Steinhardt. Jim has played an essential role in helping the Comm Club begin to re-brand themselves this semester by helping us design a new website. He's also been helping out Steinhardt's Undergraduate Student Government by working with their new social media guru, freshman Jeremiah Malina. More importantly though, Jim was behind Steinhardt's phenomenal new web design, which if you haven't noticed, rolled out this semester. Here's a condensed and edited version of my interview.

How did you start your career as a web developer?


I majored in acting in college. I got my first job as an "HTML Monkey" making travel sites for destinations in the Caribbean.

When did you start working on Steinhardt's Website?

In 2000 the web team consisted of one person. We spent two and a half years building a site for the school. I then left Steinhardt for a bit and went to work for a company called Fractured Atlas, a non-profit that helped provide affordable healthcare for emerging artists, where I served as Director of Member Services. I then ended up coming back to NYU when a new position opened up.

When was the last time the site was redesigned?

We redesigned the site in 2007 when Steinhardt re-branded itself, changing its name to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The problem with the original website was that the site was based more on the design and less on the userability. Using a trackpad with the site was horrible. However, we did introduce a great CMS (Content Management System), which allows departments and student organizations to easily create a page with their content.

What are some of the cool features of the new redesign?

When designing the site we used the mega drop-downs with a limitless options-style designed by expert usability consultant Jakob Nielsen. It lets users click where they want to go as quickly as possible. We also have a great video portal with interviews and lectures. Lastly, we launched our News Portal that features new blogs and happenings around Steinhardt.

Many students prefer to use Gmail as supposed to NYU's Messenger and other intranet features. Do you have any insights why NYU hasn't gone Google?

I'm not positive but it probably has to do with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) that protects academic records. NYU may not want to give Google access to student's private communication with professors and other students. Another concern may be that they don’t want to sell their student’s attention to Google. It’s true that Google is pretty good about ads with their academic suites, but it could still be a potential issue.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello !.
You re, I guess , perhaps curious to know how one can make real money .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may start to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you thought of all the time
AimTrust represents an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

Its head office is in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become a happy investor?
That`s your choice That`s what you really need!

I`m happy and lucky, I began to take up income with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper companion utilizes your money in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I make 2G daily, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to join , just click this link http://mypoququsa.jamminweb.com/ewovon.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to become rich

Anonymous said...

Кажется, это подойдет.

Anonymous said...

Good day !.
You may , perhaps curious to know how one can manage to receive high yields .
There is no need to invest much at first. You may commense to get income with as small sum of money as 20-100 dollars.

AimTrust is what you need
The firm incorporates an offshore structure with advanced asset management technologies in production and delivery of pipes for oil and gas.

It is based in Panama with affiliates everywhere: In USA, Canada, Cyprus.
Do you want to become really rich in short time?
That`s your choice That`s what you desire!

I feel good, I started to get real money with the help of this company,
and I invite you to do the same. If it gets down to choose a proper partner utilizes your savings in a right way - that`s AimTrust!.
I take now up to 2G every day, and my first investment was 500 dollars only!
It`s easy to get involved , just click this link http://sofuvubi.freewebsitehosting.com/jydane.html
and lucky you`re! Let`s take this option together to feel the smell of real money

Anonymous said...

quite interesting post. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did any one learn that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.

Anonymous said...

Good day, sun shines!
There have been times of troubles when I felt unhappy missing knowledge about opportunities of getting high yields on investments. I was a dump and downright stupid person.
I have never imagined that there weren't any need in big starting capital.
Nowadays, I feel good, I started to get real income.
It gets down to choose a proper companion who utilizes your money in a right way - that is incorporate it in real business, and shares the profit with me.

You may get interested, if there are such firms? I'm obliged to tell the truth, YES, there are. Please be informed of one of them:
http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Unknown said...

christian louboutin outlet, prada handbags, air jordan pas cher, louis vuitton outlet, uggs on sale, nike free, chanel handbags, ugg boots, prada outlet, longchamp outlet, replica watches, nike air max, ugg boots, tory burch outlet, longchamp, louboutin pas cher, tiffany jewelry, ralph lauren pas cher, gucci outlet, air max, louis vuitton outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, nike air max, nike outlet, louis vuitton, longchamp outlet, jordan shoes, oakley sunglasses, burberry, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, cheap oakley sunglasses, replica watches, louboutin, longchamp pas cher, ray ban sunglasses, nike free, michael kors, tiffany and co, louboutin outlet, ray ban sunglasses, nike roshe run, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, kate spade outlet, polo ralph lauren outlet, louboutin shoes, sac longchamp, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses

Unknown said...

nike roshe, ray ban pas cher, michael kors outlet, north face, ralph lauren uk, timberland, burberry outlet online, mulberry, true religion outlet, lacoste pas cher, michael kors, kate spade handbags, true religion jeans, nike free run uk, air force, tn pas cher, new balance pas cher, nike blazer, michael kors outlet, vanessa bruno, sac guess, oakley pas cher, coach purses, coach outlet, ray ban uk, nike air max, michael kors outlet, vans pas cher, lululemon, michael kors, hollister pas cher, hogan, converse pas cher, hollister, true religion jeans, abercrombie and fitch, coach outlet, ugg boots, true religion jeans, replica handbags, nike air max, michael kors, michael kors, burberry, nike air max, north face, michael kors outlet, hermes, michael kors outlet, ugg boots

Unknown said...

vans, mcm handbags, asics running shoes, ferragamo shoes, iphone cases, lululemon, timberland boots, longchamp, converse, mont blanc, abercrombie and fitch, gucci, chi flat iron, converse outlet, nike roshe, ralph lauren, oakley, soccer jerseys, north face outlet, p90x workout, baseball bats, nike air max, reebok shoes, nike trainers, bottega veneta, valentino shoes, birkin bag, instyler, beats by dre, herve leger, giuseppe zanotti, jimmy choo shoes, nike huarache, nike air max, soccer shoes, babyliss, nfl jerseys, hollister, louboutin, hollister, north face outlet, ghd, vans shoes, hollister, wedding dresses, celine handbags, mac cosmetics, new balance, insanity workout, ray ban

Unknown said...

replica watches, canada goose outlet, doudoune canada goose, pandora charms, moncler, canada goose, marc jacobs, montre pas cher, links of london, louis vuitton, swarovski, ugg boots uk, toms shoes, thomas sabo, moncler, canada goose, louis vuitton, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, supra shoes, pandora charms, lancel, hollister, moncler, juicy couture outlet, bottes ugg, louis vuitton, coach outlet, canada goose uk, pandora jewelry, canada goose, moncler, karen millen, moncler outlet, wedding dresses, canada goose outlet, sac louis vuitton pas cher, barbour jackets, ugg pas cher, canada goose, barbour, moncler, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, swarovski crystal, moncler, juicy couture outlet, moncler, louis vuitton, pandora jewelry