About Us

With over 2,000 websites designed, IdeaZone is a powerhouse team and one-stop marketing shop.

Our first passion is developing eye-catching websites for businesses and organizations – which we’ve been doing since 1998. When you hire IdeaZone, you’re hiring us as part of your team. We’ll be there for you, whether it’s your company’s first website, a website redesign or a full-fledged digital marketing campaign. We’re here to help you grow your business through great content, stunning web design and effective, transparent digital marketing campaigns.

Continually recognized as one of the top 3 web designers in Victoria, we specialize in serving small businesses around the globe. So whether your business is based in Victoria, BC, or Victoria, AU, our web designers can ensure outstanding design and captivating content tailored to your business.

Our Design, Development & Marketing Team

Everyone at IdeaZone has in-depth expertise working in web development, SEO, PPC, social media marketing and of course, content strategy. We all play to our strengths to ensure each site we design perfectly complements and highlights your business and its goals. Whether you need a brand-new website, don’t have time to keep up with your blog, or want 1st page rankings, you can count on us.

Jon Valade

President

Luna Valade

CCO (CHIEF CUTENESS OPERATOR)

Dave Webb

Web Developer

In addition to web design, we also offer the following digital marketing services:

Search Engine Optimization

GMB Page Optimization

Website Audits

Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising

Social Media Marketing

Content Audits & Strategy

Conversion Rate Optimization

Companies Whose Trust We’ve Earned

“Effective design is not about the medium, it’s about the message. It’s the ability to convey this message to the intellect, and a feeling to the senses – whether it be on paper, on a computer screen, or communicated through the ear.” If Jon’s not in front of his computer, you’ll likely find him absorbed in music in his studio.

Effective design is not about the medium; it is about the message. It is the ability to convey this message to the intellect, and a feeling to the senses – whether it be on paper, on a computer screen, or communicated through the ear

Understanding this is what makes Jon Valade unique. Whether it be designing print material, WordPress website design or music in his recording studio, Jon’s approach is the same – you must convey a clear message, with simplicity, beauty and grace. His style is modern and edgy but he always keeps the client’s goals at the forefront.

Jon also believes that while creative talent is significant to the profession of Graphic Design, it is equally important to treat clients and colleagues professionally and with respect.

Jon has been developing websites and producing high impact corporate communication art in Canada since 1995 from his home in Victoria, B.C. He has a wide range of clients in Canada, the US and abroad.

Website design using the popular WordPress platform has given Jon a competitive edge, allowing unlimited creativity while providing easy updates and edits for clients.

“In an era where frequent website updates and online conversations are the key to being found in a Google search, you need to be able to communicate directly with your customers through your website,” says Jon, “ We have a product that allows people to do that easily, and retain all the advantages of excellent custom design.”

Jon’s design experience extends back over 20 years in the industry, including two years as Vice President of the Vancouver Island Chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada. Currently, he is on the Board of Directors of the Greater Victoria Film Commission.

Career Highlights

  • Renowned, award winning, creative director and production manager with over 20 years of industry experience ranging from print collateral, multi media development and website design.
  • Portfolio approved for membership with the Graphics Designers Association of Canada where he sat for two years as Vice-President on the board of directors
  • Considered one of Victoria’s foremost authorities on WordPress development,  social networking and HTML5/CSS3 development
  • Educator and public speaker on topics ranging from Social Media, proper creative design for web applications and custom WordPress website design and development
  • Expert knowledge of all Adobe software, MS Office, Cubase,  Basecamp and other production & development applications
  • Experienced managing production teams including graphic designers, programmers, copywriters, photographers and third party service providers
  • Active host, participant and educator in numerous WordPress and Social Networking conferences and events

Personal Highlights

  • YES Victoria 2016 —
    • Board of Directors
  • Greater Victoria Film Commission 2010 —  2013
    • Board of Directors
  • Graphic Designers Association of Canada 2007 — 2010
    • Three years on the Board of Directors
    • Two years as Vice President (Electronic Media and Website Design) of the Board of Directors
  • North Douglas Community Center 2007 — 2010
    • Co-founded a computer education center offering free classes to marginalized students
    • Classes include Microsoft Office, website design and operating system management
Reese Richards Digital Marketing Specialist Victoria

Reese Richards

Reese has been dancing with Google since way back in 2005. An avid marketer, throughout his long online career, he has had the opportunity to work with small, local businesses as well as enterprise level companies from around the globe. If he’s not testing the latest and greatest SEO software, you’ll find Reese getting creative in his workshop.

Reese has been dancing with Google since way back in 2005. An avid marketer, throughout his long online career, Mr. Richards has had the opportunity to work with small, local businesses and enterprise level clients as well as on several of his own businesses.

Being a business owner himself, Reese understands what it takes to be successful online, testing and tweaking new strategies on his own online properties before successfully rolling them out for IdeaZone clients.

In the offline world, Reese is a gadget lover – appreciating the time and energy these tools afford. In the online world, his love for gadgets turns into a love for online tools, software, plugins and extensions; anything really, that will do the job better and faster.

This love for tools translates into a knowledge and familiarity of a plethora of online marketing tools and software including (but certainly not limited to) the following:

  • SEO Tools – SEMrush, Screaming Frog, MOZ, SEMrush, Majestic, Deep Crawl, Xenu, Copyscape
  • Local SEO – Whitespark, BrightLocal, MOZ
  • PPC – Facebook Page / Audience Insights, Facebook Business Manager / Ads Manager / Power Editor, Google Adwords
  • Analytics – Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools, Hot jar, CrazyEgg
  • Keyword Research – SpyFu, Keyword Spy, Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, Keywordtool.io, AnswerthePublic, Google Trends
  • Social Media Tools – Hootsuite, Buffer, BuzzSumo, Bitly, SocialMention
  • Email Marketing – Aweber, GetResponse, Constant Contact, MailChimp
  • Landing Pages – Click funnels, Leadpages, Thrive
  • Graphic Design – Canva, PicMonkey, Photoshop
  • Project Management – Trello, Podio, Wrike, Asana, Todoist, Teamwork
  • Programming – basic HTML & PHP

If he’s not playing with tools and gadgets in his spare time, you can find Reese creating something in his wood working shop or thinking deep Jack Handy type thoughts while lounging in his hot tub.

Dave is a father, wannabe athlete, coffee drinker, and full-time web developer and graphic designer who calls Victoria BC home. He considers himself lucky to be able to make a living doing what he loves. Being able to work in track pants isn’t so bad either eh Dave?

After proudly serving his country for 22 years as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy, Dave decided to embark on a new career. Dave was introduced to web design in 2018 at Q College, and he completed a web design diploma program at Academy of Learning. His studies have given him the skills needed to produce quality websites and assist clients to meet their marketing goals. Dave finds inspiration by the work of fellow designers, following design blogs and websites to discover current trends and new styles. Always eager to learn, Dave continually doing research in an effort to improve his own knowledge and skills.

When Dave is not with the family or in front of the computer, you will find him either in the bowling alley or the ballfield where he still dreams of some day being a professional athlete. His dreams and passion for sports will never die and he hopes someday his beloved Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cup.

Luna

The leader of our pack, Luna is inquisitive and hyper active, likes long walks, eats mostly meat and drinks only filtered water.

Danielle Hobbs Burgess

Danielle’s interest in development was sparked in 2005 and in 2009 she graduated with a Diploma in Open Source Development. Since then, Danielle has continued to hone her craft and dedicates a lot of her free time to researching what’s new in WordPress. She’s fearless when it comes to experimenting with new and innovative development methods and ideas.

As an Open Source Developer, Danielle expertly creates websites using WordPress Content Management System. Danielle’s background is in XHTML, CSS, PHP, and open source development—specializing in WordPress development.

Danielle’s interest in development was sparked in 2005 and in 2009 she graduated with a Diploma in Open Source Development. Since then, Danielle has continued to hone her craft, keeping up with advances and trends in her field. She dedicates a lot of her free time to researching what’s new in WordPress and Drupal communities and is fearless when it comes to experimenting with, and implementing, new and innovative development methods and ideas.

Her favourite aspect of her job is delivering the finished product to clients: being able to bring clients’ visions to life and seeing their subsequent satisfaction is an immensely fulfilling conclusion to a project for Danielle.

On the weekends, Danielle is likely still working on websites, but she also makes time to enjoy the sunshine, good food, and most of all, her family.