Focus

Photo provided by Adam Mark who invites people to visit his site at www.adammark2009.com or become a fan on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Student develops web site unique to his interests

Jess Morton
For the Logos

Most people would not normally place Mountain Dew and Darth Vader in the same universe, but one NIACC student pulls it off.

Adam Mark, a 2009 graduate from Osage, singlehandedly combines these two seemingly unrelated items in real life and on his Web site.

“I have a vintage 1970’s Mountain Dew wall clock in my room,” Mark said.

His Web site’s title, Adam Mark 2009, uses the same font and colors as the Mountain Dew logo. Also featured on the Web site is a Darth Vader link. “Halloween is the best because I can dress up like Darth Vader and not look so weird,” Mark said of his favorite holiday.

Mark said he originally set up his Web site for a media development class in high school. Up and running since 2008, his site offers a little something for everyone. He sells sweatshirts, t-shirts and tank tops with various designs starting at ten dollars.

Mark creates his own designs or modifies ideas from other graphic artists and turns them into shirt format.

One shirt design says “I’m not short ... I’m fun size” with a Kit-Kat like bar graphic. Another depicts Darth Vader screaming in distress over a broken iPod.

His other designs include his Web site logo, instructions on how to defeat a Jedi and his newest design, Ukulele Hero.

Buttons are also available with his Web site’s or a picture of Darth Vader on it for six dollars. Mark’s Web site even has the option to download music he wrote himself which he performs on the piano.

Also featured are links to his YouTube videos he creates for his Web site. His first YouTube video consisted of a reenactment of Star Wars: New Hope, complete with action figures.

Mark offered tips on how to get good ratings on YouTube.

“Make sure to have a good camera and lighting, don’t make the video too long and pick a hot topic,” Mark said.

When not running his Web site, Mark is pursuing his web development and graphic design degree from NIACC.