Filemaker

Over the years, I’ve found that working as a creative that there’s a tremendous need for tools to organize your existence. Software such as Filemaker allow us to build these tools ourselves without departing from our core: to create as well as guiding the design and development process.

Filemaker. I can hear the voices of protest from a few thousand SQL guys and five SAP developers right about now. Lighten up, kiddos.

Here’s a few things I’ve worked on over the years starting with the one that dug the first rabbit hole. MTVN Creative Services had an ongoing request for a project tracking system. After meeting with the IT department, I whispered that this is something that we could build ourselves. Two months later, we rolled out the PO, invoice, and project reporting tools.

During the 2005 Video Music Awards in Miami, Hurricane Katrina provided a trial by fire for the Travel Management database system. The storm having caused about an 80% change in hotel, air and ground transport information. The system managed and reported all changes,  something its bloated, overpriced, outsourced predecessor could not accomplish.

There’s a lot to be said about living with the people that’ll be using the system. Creative people tend to be polar opposites of developers that author painfully rigid systems. The unfortunate result is a software engineer’s wet dream, an application that leave clients confused.

I’ve developed friendly systems for MTVN’s Convention Planning and Special Events departments, both of which are in daily use. In addition, I’ve also implemented Comedy Central’s tracking system to manage their on-air, off-air and online projects. While database development is not my primary role, I’ve had great success as well as satifisfaction  creating  very touchable solutions.