The personal dispatches of Justin Benner
I'm Justin. I make websites, bowl every week, and make love to my wife once a year, on her birthday.
One of these things is an exaggeration. In any case, this is my version of a 90s' internet space, where websites were passion projects, covered anything the author wanted, and were a heckuvalot more fun. I'll showcase the work projects I'm proud of, the personal tales that make me laugh, and probably some memes.
your correspondent, on assignment
Selected work
Four websites, four field reports. Each one is live, so click through and see the real thing.
My best work
Dispatch #001 · Sanford, North Carolina
Tobacco Road is one of the most distinctive courses in golf, and its website had to carry the same character. I built an OpenWeather-fed live weather system for the primary navigation, and then knocked out a beautiful Southern Gothic theme for my favourite client yet.
this was so fun to build i went way over hours
Scope: [BEYOND WHAT WAS ASKED FOR]
Website: tobaccoroadgolf.com (opens in a new tab)
Dispatch #002 · Off the course
dignity, respect, healing
My favourite org in the world, I built a fully custom client/volunteer management system, soup kitchen ordering system, audit log, tax receipt and donation tracking system, in addition to the usual brochure site. This site saves staff hundreds of hours. It is the closest to my heart because it directly helps my hometown.
My most meaningful work
Dispatch #003 · County Wicklow, Ireland
A classic, gorgeous course, I was shocked I was allowed to build a website so visually punk rock above the fold.
Visit powerscourtgolfclub.com → (opens in a new tab)
Dispatch #004 · LEARNING
This was my first real attempt at using GSAP. I had played with it for years, but the mobile menu on this site is when I first "got it." I think it still holds up.
Visit blasigolf.com → (opens in a new tab)Off the clock
Opinions, experiments and whatever else falls out of the notebook. Probably not updated enough.
Opinion
Every brochure site for a private club seems to be opting for Scandinavian, ultra-modern, sterile design. Let's get back to designing websites around the organization and the people.
On the workbench
I'm really becoming interested in showcasing clubs natural environments through the use of interactive, weather-based design. WebGL and clever CSS filters let you modify photos graphically and introduce dynamic elements.
Poke at it →
Justin Benner
Web designer & developer
Balancing personal struggles with trying to help the community and take care of myself.
About me
My first website was The Great James Bond 007 Shrine, built at 12 years old. I've been obsessed ever since. Not a programmer, not a software engineer, but a big fan of open internet and building websites.
Various interests include: bowling, golf, sci-fi novels, yelling inaccurate song lyrics at my wife, reading enough WWII and Roman history that you'd think I was a fascist, making stupid websites for fun - shoutout to robynsbill.com (opens in a new tab) - and generally being wholly irresponsible for my age.
Clients
120+
Started building
1997
Say hello · No sales pitch · Stop
This site isn't selling anything. It exists because I love the web and I love this work.
If you want to talk shop about design, golf, how to ragebait people, how you're going to expose me as a pervert, or anything else - email me.
justinbenner@gmail.comreplies may arrive faster than a four-hour round.