WHAT CAN I DO?
I design things
I’ve worked with all kinds of clients to design systems not just at a code-and-infrastructure level, but also to make sure that the user interactions and experiences are good enough that people will actually *use* what gets built.
I build things
I make things with application frameworks and devices like Objective-C and iPhone and iPad; and web environments and frameworks like Ruby on Rails and PHP. I get code, I understand developers, and I can make the server and infrastructure plumbing work online.
I’m also interested in how the online and physical worlds collide with tools like Processing and Arduino.
I run things
I’m an experienced project and team manager – I prefer Agile to waterfall, but I’ve worked with both and know how to get the best out of people under whichever scenario. I’m good with clients, as well – I don’t do “sales”, but I look good in a suit and I’m happy consulting in the boardroom, as well as thrashing out the gnarly details with the techies.
I organise things
I organised the Interesting North 2010 conference in Sheffield that brought 350 people together to hear about topics as diverse as cake, side-saddle riding, why games work the way they do, and feral children. It’s on hiatus in 2011, but returns in 2012.
I teach things
I’m an associate lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University, teaching undergraduates about Ruby on Rails, internet technologies and Linux systems.
I write things
I’m currently working on the (tentatively-title) “Pro iOS TableViews” for Apress, due to be published in Jan 2012.
Want to hire me? I’m freelance, and available to
hire for interesting projects at reasonable rates.
My acronym soup
Ruby, Rails, Objective-C, iOS, HTML5, jQuery, CSS3, PHP, Linux, Apache, MySQL, shell scripting, Git, SVN
TDD, BDD, RSpec, Cucumber, Agile, Scrum
My hard skills
MBA & Prince II-qualified. Experience of project P&L. Range of in-depth technical and design skills.
My soft skills
Experienced at recruiting, running and developing teams. Track record of creating, building and managing client relationships.
WHAT HAVE I DONE?
A few examples of things I’ve built recently include:
- build of an iPhone app for national NHS service
- web presence and online store for range of folding bikes
- iPhone / iPad app for Channel 4′s Food Hospital series
- TeaWars – an iPhone game that solves your tea rota dilemmas
- iPhone app for Rattle’s WeWatch service
- iPhone/iPad app for TheyWorkForYou.com
- iPhone app for finding listed and historic buildings
Some examples of the kind of projects that I’ve delivered include:
- managing the redevelopment of the BBC Blogs Network to provide an improved user experience, through a full information architecture and user experience redesign, then migration onto a new technical platform
- running a international airline’s project to build a social networking site from the ground up in 12 weeks
- overhauling the website and delivery channels of an international brand intelligence agency using an open-source content management system, while redefining their customer segmentation strategy
- implementing a revamped intranet for the Victoria & Albert Museum using a customised wiki platform
- designing an online collaboration portal for clinicians and public health professionals built in Ruby on Rails
