dang
ovan
.com

Introduction

Though a fan of the Internet since the days of 90s dial-up, I only really discovered HTML in early 2002, while studying Mechanical Engineering at Warwick University. I loved tinkering with user interfaces: from the outset I found markup, styling and scripting to be a pleasingly dynamic and immediate medium of problem solving. Though it took a lot of experimenting, self-teaching and developing a serious knack for googling I was able to turn my hobby into my profession.

I'm now a front-end web developer in the London branch of a global agency, working for large well-known clients on projects ranging from client-facing to B2B, brochure-ware to infrastructure and temporary campaigns to long term web-presence. I’ve also had the opportunity to make forays into design and back-end skinning, push standards-based best practices and improved interdepartmental communication, and have been part of defining the emerging identity and ethos of the diverse 200-strong team.

Skills

Markup and styling: ~9 years
  • Accessibility, standards-aware and SEO-minded XHTML / HTML 4.0, usually transitional. I'm looking forward to using more HTML 5 when IE allows.
  • Hand-coding HMTL emails and inputting using various web-based CMSs.
  • Resident expert on CSS 2 and 3 prototyping, graceful degradation and particularly cross-browser bug squashing. Enjoy adding subtle hover styles to enhance designer's flat PSDs with web-appropriate visual feedback.
  • Using XML (and XSLT on some older sites) with projects that require localisation
Scripting: ~2 years
  • Object oriented jQuery-based Javascript, used for form validation, ajax, and general new-school DHTML.
  • Implementing 3rd party scripts and plugins: tracking code, integrating flash and backend technologies with the front end.
Graphics apps
  • ~9 years using Photoshop for cutting up designs, spiriting icons and backgrounds, cropping down assets as well as photo editing and design work.
  • Have moved from Bridge/Photoshop to Lightroom to process the hundreds of photos a week I get through as a hobby.
Comms and admin
  • Enjoy articulating effectively to discuss solutions with skilled people and diverse points of view
  • Consistently deliver high quality project tasks on time and to budget, with the pressure of often working on several tasks at once.
  • Worked with elements of Waterfall and Agile methodoligies, though a combination usually works best for most projects.
Other software
  • I'm a PC user so I have a fair bit of experience with the standard Office apps: Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint.
  • Favoured text editors: Notepad++, Crimson Editor, Visual Studio '05/'08/'10.
  • Source Control and local development apps: TFS, VSS and SubVersion, IIS.

Experience

'07- nowMRM London: Front-end Developer
  • Design, develop and maintain solid HTML, JavaScript and CSS development, drawing together and reconciling the deliverables of back-end developers, designers and copy editors.
  • Creating cross-platform, cross-browser layouts with clean, efficient, robust mark-up and styling for extensive localisation.
  • jQuery-based javascript form validation, AJAX, JSON manipulation, new-school DHTML etc
  • CSS consultancy, HTML emails, web design, collaborating with back-end developers on skinning applications in dotNet, Ektron and SharePoint.
  • Part of a team formed to define and present the collective Values and Vision of the company.
'06-'07 MRM Worldwide: Associate Client-side Developer
  • Client-side role in an agency tech team implementing designs in HTML/CSS then templating with in XSLT/XML across large multilingual websites for extensibility and ease of maintenance.
  • HTML emails, site maintenance and updating web content
  • Championed the advance of standards-based and CSS2 methods as well as accessible and SEO-sensitive XHTML.
  • Presented on best practice and improving communication between the design and the development departments, setting an oft-cited precedent for similar knowledge-sharing in the company.
'04-'06 ProspectUs LTD: Temp work
  • Range of administrative and client-facing roles including web work and first-line tech support at educational organisations e.g. Imperial College London, City Lit and The Royal College of Psychiatrists.
  • In the same period I also did freelance web design and development, creating brochure-wear and web presence sites for small businesses e.g. Armchair Books, Saxcollective and The Main House.
'02-'04 Warwick Pride: Publicity officer
  • Designed and distributed all publicity for events and socials of a Student Union Welfare Society at Warwick. Designed, developed and maintained their 40-page website as well as two 60-page welcome booklets. Increased membership by 25%.

Training & Education

'06- nowProfessional training and conferences
  • Mark Boulton's Design 101 one day workshop: 2010
  • dConstruct conference by ClearLeft: 2007, 2010, 2011
  • Future of Web Design two day conference by Carsonified: 2007, 2008 & 2010
  • Web Programming with JavaScript two day workshop with QA-IQ: 2009
  • Eric Meyer's In Depth CSS XHTML Techniques one day workshop: 2006
00-'04 University of Warwick
  • Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering (high 2:2) with a Final-year project (1st) using a Pascal-based macro language and various graphics processing packages.
  • Group projects in Design Technology, Professional Studies and Mechanical Design; other courses included Computing Technology and Design Techniques & Management.
'93-'00 Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh
  • A-level: Physics (A) Maths (A) Further Maths (C), AS-level Electronics (B)
  • GCSE: 4 A and 6 A*, including Maths and English