Constantly staying ahead of the technology and multimedia curve

Chad Austin Best Web Design in Hickory
Chad Austin is a multi-faceted individual whose extensive experiences in design and multimedia have set his skills far above the typical ad agency or standard web designer. Since 1996, he has created hundreds of web sites, E-Commerce sites, banner ads, e-mail campaigns, web-based Content Management Systems, and all types of Flash™ media design. To cap some of his experiences, Chad successfully completed the UNC-Chapel Hill Multimedia Bootcamp in May 2005.

Chad started in basic HTML web design in 1996. As time went on, he began to work with other mark-up languages, server-side mark-up, and scripting languages. Common to his experience arsenal are xhtml (strict and transitional), WordPress, Joomla!, XML, CSS, ASP, ASP.net, Php, ColdFusion, JavaScript, CGI, AJAX, HTML5 and more. He holds certifications in most of these areas.

Web designers today cannot create professional sites without understanding and implementing SEO techniques and Convergence techniques. Chad learned the core value of these methods at the start of his HTML site-building experiences. And he continues to expand his knowledge and application of the SEO and Convergence modus operandi.

Since 1998- and starting with Macromedia Flash 2- Chad has trained extensively in multimedia, achieving multiple certifications. He has built hundreds and hundreds of banner ads (including static, “off-screen” and animated), Flash™ components, animations and full-scale multimedia environments.

He started work with 3-D design in 1997, with valuable training in Solid Edge (CAD) coming later in 2001. After 2001, Chad kept a focus on Flash™-based 3D creations using Swift 3D and Flash™; creating online presentations, logos, CD-Roms, DVDs, catalogs and sites with a 3-D look as well as interactivity.

Video, analytics and music

Video also became a skill. While working at communications company Media General (2003-2009) he cut his teeth shooting, editing and producing news-documentaries, commercials, entertainment videos and music videos. He was certified in Adobe Premiere Pro in 2006 from Lodestone Digital in Charlotte, NC.

While web site analytics are no stranger to most web designers, Chad started working with web statistics and analytics in 1999. In 2003, he started working directly with Omniture™s Site Catalyst, an analytics company utilized by such giants as Microsoft, Wal-Mart, Cadillac, Sears, Kenneth Cole, PayPal, HP, Oracle, Neiman Marcus, Blockbuster and many others. It was with Site Catalyst that Chad developed a deep understanding of web site statistics and trends and goals. He also has a vast knowledge of Google Analytics™.

Chad Austin’s name cannot be mentioned without reference to his rich history in music. Aside from current public performances with his band, the Logic, Chad has been producing albums and singles and demos for popular regional artists since 1995. He has won engineering, production and songwriting awards since 1994. He also wrote, produced and engineered the Logic song “Catalyst“, which reached #1 on the Broadjam World Wide Modern Rock Charts. He has written music across many styles and genres, and custom-created all of the music beds (backgrounds) for the videos in which he created.

Chad has had his own recording studio, Salamander Studios, since 1992. He’s been performing since 1984, and is a multi-instrumentalist. Chad has an extensive knowledge of MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), audio production, audio editing, audio mixing, sequencing, and musical arrangement and orchestration. He is certified in Adobe Audition and Cubase.

Certifications and Education

  • Multimedia – (May 13, 2005) UNC at Chapel Hill, School of Journalism and Mass Communication
  • Learning Adobe Animate CC (July 25, 2017) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Shooting a Hyperlapse Time-Lapse Video (August 2, 2016) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Creating Time-Lapse Video (July 31, 2016) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Up and Running with the Sony Alpha a7 Camera Series (July 28, 2016) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Working with Raw-Format Photos in Lightroom and Photoshop (April 28, 2016) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Up and Running with Cubase 7 (Apr. 8, 2015) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Superior Drummer Master Class (with Toontrack CEO Rikk Currence) (Oct. 14-15, 2015) – creativelive.com
  • Working with Raw-Format Photos in Lightroom and Photoshop (Apr. 28, 2015) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Up and Running with Cubase 7 (Apr. 8, 2015) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Creative GoPro Photography and Video Techniques (Nov. 29, 2014) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Design the Web: Graphics and CSS Pseudo-Elements (Apr. 18, 2014) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Developing a Style Guide (Oct. 25, 2012) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Social Media Marketing – 2012 edition (Twitter™, Facebook™) (Sept., 2012) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Creative Portfolios in WordPress (Aug. 7, 2012) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Online Marketing Fundamentals (Mar. 11, 2012) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Edge First Look (Feb. 9, 2012) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Analyzing Your Web Site to Improve SEO (July 15, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Google Analytics Essential Training (July 6, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Joomla! 1.6 Essential Training (Mar. 27, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Web Site Strategy and Planning (Mar. 26, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Joomla! 1.5 Essential Training (Feb. 24, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • WordPress 3 Essential Training (Jan. 02, 2011) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • XHTML and HTML Essential Training (Apr., 2010) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • SEO: Search Engine Optimization (Sept., 2010) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • HTML5 First Look (Oct., 2010) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Flash CS4 Professional Essential Training (Nov., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Social Media Marketing (Twitter™, Facebook™) (Nov., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • ActionScript 3.0 in Flash™ CS3 Professional Essential Training (Nov., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • “Flash” forward: BitmapData and 3D Image Manipulation in AS3 (Aug., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Adobe Flash™ CS3 Animation Secrets (Aug., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Adobe Flash™ CS3 Professional Fundamentals (Aug., 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • Adobe Audition (May, 2009) – Lynda.com (now inLearning of LinkedIn).
  • ColdFusion (1999) – Allaire Corp. Cambridge, Boston, Mass.
  • Flash™ (1999, 2003 – MX 2004) Lodestone Digital, Charlotte
  • Advanced Flash™ (2004) Lodestone Digital, Charlotte
  • Adobe Premiere Pro (2006) Lodestone Digital, Charlotte
  • CSS (2000, 2007, 2008 -3x) Online course; Lodestone Digital, Charlotte; Webucator online (instructor-led, online training)
  • XML (2003) Microsoft™, Charlotte facility
  • HTML (1999, 2000, 2001) Online courses
  • Microsoft™ ASP (2000, 2001) Online courses
  • Database Development (2000, 2001, 2002) Online courses