Space art meets technology: a NASA interlude
NASA at a glance
- Developed brand identity for NASA art initiative
- Mastered NASA CMS platform in two days
- Built prototype for ArtSpace content platform
- Created NASA's first mobile-responsive website
In the summer of 2011, Kevin Boyd landed a unique contract opportunity at NASA Ames Research Center. The role combined Boyd's passions for science, art and web development, leading to two innovative projects that would test his adaptability and technical skills.
Lost in ArtSpace
When NASA scientist Dr. Yvonne Clearwater approached Boyd about a website showcasing NASA's artistic endeavors, the project carried the working title "NASA Cultural Convergence." Boyd's first contribution was suggesting a rebrand to the more accessible "NASA ArtSpace."
The project began as a WordPress implementation, but midway through, NASA decided to use their custom content management system instead. Boyd demonstrated his adaptability by learning the NASA CMS in just two days. He then:
- Designed the ArtSpace brand logo
- Built a working prototype including 20 pages
- Trained NASA's New Media Innovations Team
- Successfully navigated complex governmental requirements
The ArtSpace prototype launched successfully in August 2011 and served its purpose until NASA's platform-wide upgrade to Drupal in 2015. You can read the full NASA design brief.
Pioneering responsive design
As a secondary project, Boyd created what appears to have been NASA's first mobile-responsive website for a quantum technologies conference. Using HTML5 and CSS3, he built a site that adapted seamlessly to different screen sizes - an innovative approach for the time. The conference website earned praise from attendees and demonstrated Boyd's early adoption of responsive design principles. You can read the full NASA design brief.
Though his time at NASA was short, it showcased Boyd's ability to quickly master new technologies, adapt to changing requirements and deliver results in a complex organizational environment. These skills would prove valuable in his future roles, particularly in managing enterprise-scale web initiatives at Signifyd and Stanford Medicine.