I have over eight years of web development experience working for both small design agencies and a large development company. I am currently freelancing at Surface where I work as a contractor to agencies helping them offer web development to their clients.
I am fluent in both front- and back-end coding. I develop usable and accessible front-end interfaces using web standards, including semantic HTML, CSS for layout and visual design, and JavaScript (particularly jQuery) for progressive user interface enhancements. On the server side, I use PHP and MySQL, as well as theory in database design and security.
Web Developer
— Present
Surface is my web development freelance endeavour. I will be working with design agencies and other web development companies to bring my services of both front- and back-end development to their teams.
My main aim is to allow purely print-based design agencies the perfect path in to the online market place, handling web projects from start to completion.
Web Developer
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I am working with a large team of both front- and back-end developers and designers, developing bespoke content-managed ecommerce websites for a range of clients. I build large ecommerce websites from the ground-up as well as from existing database structures and code. Each project usually has a team of developers.
Since joining Interactive Web Solutions I have been the lead developer in working with the Zend Framework, and taking steps to unify the codebase used throughout the company.
As a developer I undertake every aspect of the development process. This includes writing HTML templates, CSS and jQuery, as well as complete back-end code, in the form of the Zend Framework. I also liaise with designers and write specifications.
Web Developer
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As the sole web developer at Creation, I undertake every aspect of the web development process, excluding visual design. I structure and implement the databases, write the server-side code (currently PHP). Front-end code consists of semantic HTML styled with CSS and progressively enhanced with JavaScript (custom or jQuery).
I also advise on best practices for usability and interface design when creating the design visuals. Because of this process we are quashing the belief that accessible websites are boring – our websites are accessible and beautiful.
Electronic Imaging and Media Communications
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I started university studying Cybernetics. In my free time, however, I ventured into the basics of dynamic websites by learning PHP and MySQL. I also improved my knowledge of best practices in HTML and CSS. In my second year I moved to a new department and course which better reflected my passion —” “Internet Product Design”.
My final year project was entitled ‘Unrestricted Access’, a website built using web standards, with articles and interviews about web standards. The site also showcased the flexibility of semantic markup and CSS, with multiple style sheets changing the entire look and feel.
An opinion peice in the printed net magazine, issue #216 (July 2011) about building a digital community in your area.
An article for the hugely popular Smashing Magazine about a twist on the common sprite technique that many developers already use on their projects. Using transparency within the sprite means that you can use it on different coloured backgrounds.
Read: smashingmagazine.com/2010/10/31/transparent-css-sprites
An article for 24 Ways, the yearly advent calendar for web developers, discusses best practices when developing a jQuery plugin. It includes a full step-by-step explaination of the plugin and example showcasing what can be achieved.
Read: 24ways.org/2009/front-end-code-reusability-with-css-and-javascript
An article for Treehouse, a web development magazine, about styling form submit buttons. The article discusses ideology, cross-browser caveats & fixes and best practices.
Features an interview with myself conducted by David Travis, a usability expert, about dispelling the myth that accessible websites can’t be beautiful. Also showcasing the work I did to recreate the Nokia and Vodafone websites with semantic markup and CSS to make them accessible.