Sandvox Site Gallery | Karelia Software

Mr. Dresel's Social Studies Classes

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 15:56:46 -0800

Chuck Dresel, a middle school teacher at Redwood Middle School in Napa, California, uses Sandvox to create several websites for the social studies classes he teaches. The first of his sites to catch our eye was one he created for his Social Studies 7 class. Mr. Dresel told us that using Sandvox means he can spend more time on student work and less time maintaining the site. He wrote:

I'm a middle school teacher who doesn't have a lot of time to maintain a quality website for my class/students. Sandvox is the perfect tool for me because it allows me to quickly and easily provide my students with all the information they need to stay successful in my class and it really looks great. I use the blog collection to post and manage homework assignments; most documents that students need for my class are available from various download collections; students are able to access their current grades which are posted on the same server via ftp and then linked back to the Sandvox site; students can earn extra credit by completing several web-based geolab assignments that incorporate QuickTime video and audio files; and of course it is very easy to contact me using the contact form pagelet. Sandvox also makes it really easy to incorporate some really cool add-ons like Google custom search. Thanks again for making a great product.

More recently, Mr. Dresel has created a site for his Social Studies 8 class, and in addition to making homework assignments and supplementary reading available for download, the "B-3 Audio Files" section of his site makes class activities available via podcasts that can either be listened to online or downloaded by students for their iPods or iTunes libraries. Useful links for students appear in text and in a List of Links pagelets, and, so no one misses an assignment, homework information and deadlines are available via an RSS feed.

Those are just a few of the Sandvox tools teachers can make use of when designing their class websites with Sandvox. If you're a teacher who wants a great looking, effective website for your class, why not download the free demo version of Sandvox and get your class website up and running today?

The George Mason University Libraries

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:12:14 -0800

With a campus-wide license reaching its end, the Digital Programs and Systems group at the George Mason University Libraries found itself in an interesting position; how to help its users migrate to new software tools in a clear and efficient manner? A website seemed like the logical choice, but how could they get one up and running, quickly? The answer: Sandvox. Within an hour, library staff had their migration site up and running and available to provide faculty, staff, and students with the information they needed. As they describe on the department's blog:

Since I wrote this post I've been digging around the help file and various sites on the web. Upgraded my registration to "pro" so I could make use of inline HTML within your templates. Very nice. Also had a brief but very helpful interaction with your support group pointing me to where I could get the code to run the mailme.php program locally rather than relying on your services.karelia.com site. Anyway, I'm now a fan and will be happy to recommend Sandvox.

The Citation Migration site offers members of the campus community the ability to get clear directions through a series of text pages, to make appointments with IT staff for further assistance, and to send questions via a Contact Form pagelet. It also uses the IM Status pagelet to alert readers when staff are available to take their questions and comments via instant messaging. Their site is based on Blueball's Cubicle design for Sandvox, a simple and highly readable design.

It also shows that Sandvox can easily be used to build websites for very technical purposes. If you have a similar need - to design a highly technical website — download Sandvox and put its technical capabilities to the test.

Scalliwag Toys

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:04:17 -0800

The independent retailer business is a tough business in any economic climate, but in Belleville, Ontario, Scalliwag Toys has been going strong since 1985. We were intrigued when we read on the Scalliwag blog about Karin Belanger's can-do attitude when faced with the task of rebuilding their store's website:

This problem was compounded by my Scrooge-like nature: I hate to pay for anything that I can possibly do myself. The flip-side of this characteristic is a "can-do" attitude, of course -- but, like so many fixer-upper projects, the website turned from a creative exercise into a dead weight that I could neither cope with nor (in keeping with that thriftiness) farm out to a third party to take care of.

So in 2008 I admitted defeat and started the search for a better, newer, HTML editor. To my surprise, I found that editors have evolved over the past few years into true website-building software, in which the site builder gives up some creative control (no more raw HTML for me) in return for stunning simplicity and ease-of-use. The software I finally decided upon is called Sandvox, from a company called Karelia. I couldn't be happier.

And we couldn't be happier to have Scalliwag Toys as part of the Sandvox community! Using the Sandbox design as the basis gives the site a playful look, but the clean font, great organization, and use of product illustrations is anything but childish.

Why not try creating a website for your business using the many tools Sandvox has to offer? Just download the free demo of Sandvox to get started.

Mildura Internet

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:49:44 -0800

With their website, Mildura Internet, a website design, hosting, and consulting company based in Mildura, Australia makes excellent use of the flexibility and layout of Blueball's Pro Tabs design. Michael Quinn and his team took advantage of the many Raw HTML features of the Pro Edition and created a user-friendly, content-rich website that not only looks great, but also gets them noticed by their potential clients.

Using Raw HTML pagelets, the Mildura home page offers visitors the ability to search the site, to link to the company's LinkedIn profile, and to follow the company on Twitter. That same page also offers examples of the company's work, lists of clients, a contact form, and an overview of the company's services. All the information is presented cleanly and clearly, with helpful graphics perfectly spaced to peak visual interest and to help guide the reader without making the page look cluttered. The Pro Tabs design lets site visitors easily identify and find their way to other pages that describe Mildura and its services in more detail. We're delighted to share their site with you to illustrate how you can pack a lot into your site without sacrificing readability or elegant design.

See how you can make a similar website by downloading the Sandvox demo for free.

Douglas Deveny

Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:45:44 -0700

Douglas Deveny created a Sandvox website to share his abstract and impressionistic landscape art. The Saffron design provides a great backdrop for his artwork, setting off its vivid colors and images. Photo albums allow Doug to group his work, display thumbnails, display larger images, and display information about each piece, such as the media used and the canvas size.

A blog allows Doug to share news and progress reports with friends, collectors, curators, and others interested in his work. By combining the albums with text pages and several pagelet types, the site provides a great overview of his philosophy, process, work-in-progress, and completed works.

International Sites

Mon, 21 May 2007 14:23:01 -0700

Sandvox has made support for languages other than English a priority, and we're pleased to offer localizations for French, Danish, German, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese languages.

Among the many international sites we've seen we're especially pleased to spotlight Gilblog, JT Gilbert's personal site. The "Wall" design with the substitution of a banner featuring an aerial photo of La Borne gives the site a personal touch, as does the rich array of images that are displayed in text, in pagelets, and as photo albums throughout the site.

Need to design your site in another popular language other than English? Download Sandvox for free and see how easy to create websites in any of our wide array of available languages

Andrew Soh

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:31:53 -0700

Andrew Soh uses Sandvox to great effect to showcase his digital photographs. The site design--one of his own creations--provides a neutral backdrop that doesn't distract from the vibrancy of his photography.

Through a series of photo collections, Andrew shares not only photos from his travels, through northern California and to international destinations, but also information about his preferred equipment. By adding flickr pagelets, he directs visitors to additional photos.

Andrew also had this to say:

"Sandvox is a great piece of software. It should be used in a software design class as an excellent example of an intuitive user interface. The features are accessible to basic users, but it is also powerful enough for advanced web designers. I've tried out different web publishing software, but they don't come close to Sandvox when compared on features, ease-of-use, and pricing."

Download the free demo version of Sandvox and you'll easily create a showcase for your hobbies and talents.

A Little Peek Into Our Lives

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:46:41 -0800

Family sites may not have the sophistication of corporate or more high-profile sites, but the information they convey is just as important. Scott Corscadden of Ontario, Canada, uses his site, A Little Peek Into Our Lives, to share photos of his family, their activities, and their friends.

Scott's site is a collection of collections: photo collections organized by topics and people, easy to navigate and enabling readers to glance at a series of thumbnails or to review photos in nearly full-page size individually. Being able to drag and drop photos and create these collections quickly is a huge plus. As Scott noted: "I had new pictures up in moments of our new baby [arriving] (which is a really useful ability, given how little time we have now)."

Scott's site is based on the Sandvox Sunburst design. You can start sharing your pictures, news, and events with your family too. Just download the free demo of Sandvox and easily create a website that every member of your family will love to explore!

I-Open

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:49:47 -0800

The key communication tool used by The Institute for Open Economic Networks is their website, which they created using Sandvox.

Effective communication is important for all organizations, whether for-profit or nonprofit, and the I-Open site offers an example of how an organization can communicate timely information by establishing a blog, share more substantial information by making white papers available for downloading, and alert readers to upcoming speaking events and workshops.

If your organization needs to create a website for its members, download Sandvox for free then use its many tools to communicate with your members quickly, easily, and creatively.

Wendi Schneider Photography

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:19:49 -0800

Because Wendi's business is all about photography and design, she needed to design a site that reflects her aesthetic sense to her potential clients. Wendi Schneider's site is a showcase for her work, but it's also a way for potential clients and customers to contact her.

Wendi has used Sandvox collections to present examples of her work in several categories. Each category is easily identified in the site index on her home page and in addition to the site's rich visual content, Wendi used a combination of text pages and pagelets to provide important information about purchasing her artwork, obtaining her design services, and the terms and conditions under which her work may be used.

Wendi's site uses Sandvox's Cathedral design as a starting point and features her own, unique enhancements. If you own a business that requires showcasing both creativity and practicality, you can use Sandvox to design a site that encompasses both of these elements for you. Download the free demo version and see how it works!

VetFM

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 12:17:59 -0800

VetFM.com is the website for a Mac and PC veterinary practice manager, and they've used Sandvox to present an outline of their services to potential customers.

Of particular interest is the Sandvox photo grid they've used to create a slideshow of their product's features. Presenting a collection in this way gives the viewer a clean and easy-to-read photo grid, presents a nearly full-screen shot of each slide, and allows viewers to easily navigate forward or backward, or to jump to the index to find a particular slide. (For information on how you can create collections, visit the "How do I....?" overview on collections.)

Like other sites in the Site Gallery, VetFM's site also illustrates how the banner can feature a corporate logo or a combination of logo and text to give your site a unique look. Users who are comfortable with graphic design and CSS may wish to review the "How do I...? overview on modifying designs.

The VetFM site is based on Sandvox's Aqua design and demonstrates that no matter what type of service you offer, Sandvox has the perfect template design for you. Download Sandvox for free now, choose the perfect template for your needs, then give it your own unique touch to make it everything you want in a website and more.

Escuela Bilingüe Internacional

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:08:29 -0800

Orlando Antonio Sánchez is an enthusiastic Sandvox user; modifying designs and combining many features to achieve the look he wants. His design and implementation of the Escuela Bilingüe Internacional website in Oakland, California is particularly attractive, and we're grateful to Orlando for making his revised design template available free of charge to Sandvox users. (See the link in his "downloads" pagelet.)

Clean and easy-to-read, Orlando's design attractively guides the reader to the site's key pages via his creative use of the site index, pagelets, and callouts. We think it's an excellent example of how Sandvox can be used to create a rich site quickly and stylishly, and we hope the staff of EBI are as pleased with Orlando's work as we are!

If you like what Orlando did with Sandvox, just imagine what you could do! Download the free demo of Sandvox now and find out.