Resume

Innovative, enthusiastic and creative Interactive Designer with 6 years commercial experience successfully delivering technically proficient web solutions. Excellent understanding of all issues surrounding interactive design including graphic design, usability, information architecture and development using XMHTL/CSS/PHP/MySQL/Flash & Actionscripting. Good understanding of general business and marketing practices.

Education

Brunel University, Egham, Surrey / 1996 – 2001 / 2.1 Product Design (BSc)
Subjects studied include: User Centered Design, Polymedia Graphic Design, Cognitive and Physical Ergonomics, Environmentally Sensitive Design, Managing Product Innovation, Design History, Workshop & Technical Skills.

Work Experience

Morris Furniture Group, Glasgow / May 2006 – Present / Web Designer & Developer
Personally responsible for planning, designing, developing, user testing and marketing of 10 individual B2B and B2C websites.

  • Working within the marketing department to plan online strategies, produce project scope, create user definition & scenarios, technical specifications, wireframe and ‘low res’ prototypes.
  • Communicating and negotiating ideas, strategies and concepts with various stakeholders within the business.
  • Designing sites with ‘user centred’ design principals to maximise user experience through ease-of-use, graphical look and feel, relevance of content and download speed.
  • Conducting focus groups and iterative user testing to improve sites during design and development stages.
  • Development using XHTML/CSS/PHP/MySQL /Flash/Actionscripting ensuring compliance with accessibility regulations, browser compatibility issues and protection against security threats.
  • Design and marketing of sites to ensure maximum search engine optimisation.
  • Facilitating the expansion and ongoing improvement of the websites inline with strategic marketing plans and business development.
  • Project planning & time management with a highly varied range of projects.
  • Ongoing search engine optimisation – several sites highly ranked.
  • Researching, designing a prototyping an e-commerce system.

Allied Vehicles, Glasgow / April 2004 – May 2006 / Web & Marketing Executive
Responsible for building the existing website into an effective sales and marketing tool.

  • Main duties included day-to-day upkeep of 2 company websites
  • Conducting user testing amongst internal and external clients and improving site according to feedback.
  • General online marketing & PR activities.
  • Producing e-marketing material such as emails, managing pay-per-click advertising and ongoing search engine optimisation.
  • Search engine optimisation - 80% of key search phrases occupy top 10 positions.
  • Increased flow of traffic to site and subsequent sales by 80% in 8 months. Sales generated by the website in 2005 reached £7million.
  • Working along side a Mac Operator, providing cover and support for design for print work on a weekly basis.

Interactiveallstar* / August 2001 – April 2004 / Freelance Interactive Designer
Worked for clients including BSkyB and Cisco as well as SME’s. Responsible for:

  • Writing tender documents and proposals.
  • Interpreting client requirements and producing project specifications.
  • Brainstorming and developing concepts.
  • Ensuring technical practicality.
  • Employing information architecture, usability and accessibility principals.
  • Managing relationships with 3rd party companies and freelancers.
  • Presenting innovative solutions and finished designs to clients at all levels.
  • Developing appropriate solutions within budget and timescales.
  • Continuing to develop a wide range of technical skills including HTML, CSS, XML and Flash Actionscripting
  • Producing a wide range of projects including e-commerce systems, database driven web

    • applications, e-learning material, interactive games and marketing material.

ICI PLC HQ, London / August 1998 – August 1999 / Graphic Designer
Worked in busy in-house reprographics bureau, frequently dealing directly with senior level executives and members of the board of directors. Responsible for:

  • Designing internal and external marketing material including posters, flyers, presentations, exhibition graphics and interactive media.

Achievments

Tailit / Motoring safety device / 1995
While at High School I designed and built ‘Tailit’ - a solution to common motoring problem.
Won several competitions including ‘Young Electronic Designer’ and ‘Young Engineer for Britain’ in 1995. Now patented in my name. Exhibited in numerous competitions and exhibitions throughout UK. Appeared on ‘Eureka!’ TV programme.

Interests

Other than a passion for music and design, I enjoy the outdoors being an enthusiastic mountain biker, wake boarder, snow boarder, swimmer and hill walker. I am also a keen photographer and have an active interest in modern technology.

Key Skills

  • User testing, user & scenario analysis, wire framing, information architecture techniques.
  • XHTML, CSS, XML, PHP, MySQL, Flash MX, Actionscript 1 & 2, Dreamweaver MX, Photoshop and Illustrator. QuarkXPress, InDesign, Fireworks, Imageready, Microsoft Office, Swift 3D
  • Strong graphic design and page layout.