I divide my time between developing and problem solving code and designing unique user experiences for the web.
I conceive, design, and develop unique UX web-based interfaces, sites, and web applications. I utilize W3C standards, social media campaigns, user trends, analytic reports, SEO, and SEM to promote variety of projects for various clients.
My professional experience spans nearly 15 years and I continue to engulf myself in learning all things web.
During my career I've had the privilege of working with a variety of design agencies, e-commerce startups, organizations, and individuals. I'm currently employed as the Web Director at a boutique design agency, Tisha Creative where I've worked at for the past 6 years.
I'm the Co-founder and Web Director of hMAG; a local lifestyle magazine and social networking website which along with my 2 partners was built from the ground up.
I'm a strong believer that design, code, and content need to exist in a framework that allows for isolation. Clean code enables designers and developers to easily orient themselves around the project at hand and is extremely crucial to successful SEO results.
I approach every project by analyzing the client's target audience, brand message, and orient myself around the strengths and weaknesses of their competition.
I hand code and stay away from WYSIWYG applications to replicate the UI of my designs. I push CSS to its limits in order to force the user's browser to generate as much of the design as possible.
I'm extremely detail oriented. When not staring at code, you'll find my Photoshop canvas zoomed-in at 1600%.
Download my Resumé.
I'm currently the Web Director at Tisha Creative; a boutique design agency based in Hoboken, NJ. I've had the pleasure to not only project manage but also design and develop a variety of web based content, execute social media campaigns, digital marketing strategies, and e-marketing campaigns. I’ve utilized these skills for clients such as Howard Stern, HBO, U.S. News, Daily News, The City of Hoboken, NY Yankees, Bass Shoes, The Sak, Rescue Ink, Mommies 247, and others.
My 2 partners and I launched hMAG in 2009 as a lifestyle magazine and a social networking community based website for Hoboken, NJ. hMAG is heavily involved in a variety of events around Hoboken. We are aimed at helping local non profit organizations. hMAG has had the pleasure of hosting the last 3 Hoboken music festivals with bands such as The Walkman, School of Seven Bells, and Tokyo Police Club. Partnering with sponsers such as Ben & Jerry's, GBX, Prudential Center, and the NJ Devils has allowed us to bring this music entertainment on such a large scale to local residents . In addition to helping structure the magazine content i also took part in various photo-shoots for our covers with people such as Tim Ream from the NY Red Bulls, NJ Devils' Zach Parise, and many others.
As a former partner in Mommies 247, I designed and developed a successful mom-based social networking community. The website reached 3000 members only a few months after its launch. Along with the founders I established a social media presence and created several e-marketing campaigns. I developed a CMS platform to aid the founders publishing content. The platform was designed to manage members, events, articles, group discussions, classifieds, and ads. The company is currently expanding as a franchise and aims at launching in other cities in the near future.
Primary responsibilities included maintaining and administrating the company’s network and software utilizing Windows 2003 Small Business server. Created branding for both companies by designing and developing various CMS-powered web sites, logos, brochures, letterheads, and business cards. Designed, developed, and administered an interactive web site for the company structured around a comprehensive database controlled through my own custom CMS system enabling anyone in the office to update the numerous apartment listings available under the company's privately owned buildings located in the East Village.
Designer Outlet was a startup e-commerce company offering designer apparel for women, men, and kids at a discounted price. At the peak of its span it was in direct competition with bluefly.com. As an Art Director I inherited the company's website through an outside agency. From there I designed and developed new features, photographed and photoshopped content, and managed online inventory.
Having noticed my work with Adobe Livemotion 1, The McGraw-Hill Companies, contacted me to author a book entitled "Livemotion 2: A Beginner's Guide". The 446 page book, which took me 9 months to write was the very first book to come out after the software was released. The flash-based application released by Adobe Systems on which the book was written on, was in beta phase at the time. I not only took part in learning the new version of the software while writing the book, but also participated as an Adobe Systems beta tester for the software. The book was aimed at educating readers on creating flash-based content. The application was discontinued a year later with Adobe's purchase of Macromedia. Several interface features of Livemotion 2 are now a part of Adobe Systems’ Flash software.
I designed, developed, and am a former partner/CTO of Mommies247.com. To date, Mommies247.com, boasts over 3000 members, and plans are on the way to expand onto other cities.
Mommies 247
Social networking community website build around local moms.
Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund
Designed a non-profit disaster relief website launched shortly after Hurricane Sandy.
Young Audience of New Jersey
My work done at Tisha Creative
An organization that provides educational programs and activities to schools across NJ.
Beer Boken
A mobile web application letting users track beer club activity.
Watts Capital
My work done at Tisha Creative
An independent wealth management firm website with a full-fledge CMS.
GBX Shoes
My work done at Tisha Creative
A concept e-commerce design for GBX Shoes.
Rescue Ink
Show Canceled
My work done at Tisha Creative
A television series (now canceled), A CMS powered website enabled the staff to manage content and e-commerce.
U.S. News Digital Weekly
My work done at Tisha Creative
A preference center Digital Weekly subscribers.
HER the Band
http://www.simoncreative.com/her
Site designed nearly 6 years ago for a NYC local band called HER.
United Way of Hudson County
CMS platform built for an existing design enabling the UW staff to publish and manage content.
Tisha Creative
My work done at Tisha Creative
A unique interface that reflects the current weather in Hoboken as well as time of day.
Howard Stern
My work done at Tisha Creative
Howard Stern Media RFP finalist. Lost the contract in the finals to a larger agency.
Andaz Hotels
E-marketing Campaign
E-marketing campaigns for Andaz 5th ave and Andaz Wall Street hotels.
Maridian Properties
http://www.maridianproperties.com
My work done at Tisha Creative
Real estate development company in Hoboken website.
Lackawanna Music Festival
http://lackawannamusicfestival.com
Simple site for our annual hMAG Music Festival put together every summer at Pier A, in Hoboken.
Monkey N Middle
My work done at Tisha Creative
Design for a fashion industry virtual marketplace.
85 Maple
http://www.thesimoneat85maple.com
My work done at Tisha Creative
Website for a luxury residential building in Weehawken, NJ.
Rebuild Hoboken Logo
Created a free logo for the Rebuild Hoboken Relief Fund organization shortly after Hurricane Sandy.
Croda ChromAveil
My work done at Tisha Creative
Website for a chemicals company, Croda, promoting one of their manufactured ingredients through an experiential marketing campaign
U.S. News E-Marketing
My work done at Tisha Creative
U.S. News e-marketing campaigns consisting of custom eblasts and e-newsletters.
U.S. News Preference Center
My work done at Tisha Creative
U.S. News email preference center for subscribers.
Yankees Legends Hospitality
My work done at Tisha Creative
Website for Yankees' owned hospitality service.
Livemotion 2 A Beginner's Guide
Book I authored on Adobe Livemotion 2 for McGraw-Hill Companies
Helped U.S. News establish a preference center enabling subscribers to not only manage their digital subscriptions but also compose and customize the content of their weekly mailings.
Interview: Simon Dabkowski, Web Developer & Designer - by Michael Kuhlmann for his book - Social Media for Wordpress.
Music to Move Hoboken - by Tricia Tirella - hMAG Lackawanna Music Festival interview.
hMAG.com and Mommies247.com spent a combined total of 2 years in being ranked as the #1 and #2 website on Wordpress.org Site Showcase.
13 Shining Examples of Buddypress in the Wild - Sarah Gooding
Buddypress Eye Candy 17 of The Best and Beautiful - Sarah Gooding
25 Remarkable Examples of WordPress Websites - Tripwire Magazine
hMAG.com mentioned at WordCamp Reno 2012 - Nicole Rose Dion
25 Great Looking Magazine WordPress Designs - inspiringwp.com
25 Stunning Magazine Style Website Designs - Wordpress Aisle
The Hoboken Chamber of Commerce awarded hMAG 2nd place for "Business of the Year Award".
Proud member of the Hoboken chapter of The Elks Club
Author of "Livemotion 2 A Beginner's Guide" published by The McGraw-Hill Companies.
"Livemotion 2 A Beginner's Guide" available at Nakatani Teaching and Learning Center at the University of Wisconsin.
"I worked with Simon in the Adobe Livemotion user to user forums as well as his own Livemotion forum, where he was a helpful regular contributor and leveraged his expertise to author one of the first Livemotion 2 books released. Simon enjoys helping others, learns the tools well, and applies his knowledge thoroughly." - Joe Bowden, Quality Lead Engineer at Adobe Systems
"Simon knows his stuff, it's that easy. He knows what questions to ask, he studies his target audience well and he's an incredible designer and developer. Bottom line – he loves what he does, he's passionate and it shows in his work. I thoroughly enjoyed working with him, from both a professional and personal standpoint. For anyone interested in working with him in the future – it should be a no-brainer." - Kathleen Lota, Senior Designer at Davis & Company
"In my business, I stress the significance of advocacy in all that I do. Without a strong partner who understands this approach, my clients will never benefit in full. When I think of Simon, two words above all stand out...passion and advocacy. Simon's focus on success has helped me in achieving incredible results for both my clients and me. He has a firm understanding in regards to the benefits and overall need for employing strategy into all efforts and it stands out in the brilliant design and front end coding you see as a result. I am proud to say that Simon is my preferred partner on many initiatives and it is with great pleasure that I extend a very sincere recommendation for his work." - Brian Riback, E-Marketing Strategist, Daily News.
"Simon is a true professional; I had the pleasure of working with him while I was the COO at Tisha Creative. He constantly impressed me with his high level of creativity, amazing technical skills and a real understanding of our clients' needs. Simply put, Simon is a great person to work with." - Christopher Kogler, Chief Operating Officer at Tisha Creative, LLC
I surround myself with extremely creative and entrepreneurial individuals. All of us are involved in building brands, helping out our community through our work and through our own personal projects.
