About Me

Overview

I am a freelance interactive designer based in Edinburgh.

Most of my commercial experience has been with a busy Edinburgh digital agency, I have over 6 years’ experience in total.

I’m interested in all types of digital work, from interface design, web design, and animation, to front-end development using Flash, Javascript, jQuery, CSS3 and HTML5.

My ideal projects are creative, experimental, user-centric, with interesting and innovative interface design. I love learning new skills and frameworks, and getting to grips with upcoming technology.

Early Days

February 1982: Am born

I don’t get up to much else that year, but the world sees the advent of the Commodore 64, the Compact Disc, and Emoticons. It’s also the year that Adobe Systems is founded.

September 1993: Start grammar school in Magherafelt, N.Ireland.

A notable month for the internet – September 1993 was known as the “Eternal September“, a month when purists believe UseNet and the wider internet became overrun with newbs.

1995/1996: Messing around with graphics software

Our family computer (an old Apple mac) opens up the excitement of desktop publishing and graphics programs.

One particularly interesting program which I spend a lot of time using is Hypercard – a hypermedia application which was a forerunner to Flash and Javascript.

June 1997: First website

I get my first web job for a local tech company. It’s a basic affair, coded using early HTML editor HoTMetaL.

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Formative Years

September 2002: Enrol at University Of Ulster (near Belfast)

My degree subject is Interactive Multimedia Design, a 50/50 blend of computing and visual design.

The course covers a wide range of topics like graphic design; web design; animation; scripting for client and server; 3D modelling; game design; and application design.

August 2004: Internship with Kainos Software

I join Kainos Software, a large technology company in Belfast, for a year-long position as graphic designer.

There, I work on web design projects with well-known brands PropertyNews.com, Belfast Festival, Intertek Group, and Tourism Ireland.

Also, I get to produce graphic design work like in-house logos, brochures, documentation, and advertising.

June 2006: Graduate From University of Ulster

I complete Interactive Multimedia Design with First Class Honours.

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Going Pro

September 2006: Join Realise Digital

Making a move to Edinburgh, I begin work as an Interactive Designer with Realise Digital.

Realise is a leading digital agency working with a range of high profile clients, like: Scottish Widows; Lloyds Banking Group; Channel 4; Jupiter Asset Management; Scottish Hydro Electric, and Learndirect Scotland.

My work involves the production of award-winning viral campaigns, games, and data-driven apps integrating Actionscript, Javascript, HTML, XML and server-side technologies.

I also spend a lot of time on the design, animation, and coding of rich interactive video advertising. This gets featured on the web, top UK news sites, and on outdoor campaigns.

April 2008: Award-winning Campaign

Viral campaign, Donkeymail, developed with Realise and Story UK (for Scottish Hydro Electric), wins the DADI Award for Interactive, Entertainment Website, or Campaign.

May 2009: Voluntary work with Lothiansound

I begin working with voluntary organisation, Lothiansound, carrying out audio production on their weekly news for the visually impaired.

November 2010: More award nominations

APB.com (for Realtime Worlds) is nominated for DADI Interactive Entertainment Website, Game or Campaign.

Little Book of Money (for Scottish Widows) is nominated for DADI Financial Services Website or Campaign.

April 2011: Leave Realise to concentrate on freelance work

I decide to leave Realise to work with a wider variety of clients and to expand my skillset with new technologies.

Still concentrating on rich websites and apps using Actionscript and Javascript, I am also getting the opportunity to do more interface design and motion design work.

Recent projects have allowed me to get back into HTML and CSS, particularly building WordPress templates.

September 2011: Exhibiting my work

For the first time, I exhibit some of my digital work as part of an exhibition – Colony of Artists exhibition, Edinburgh.

My featured work is an installation piece, utilising stop-motion animation sequences and projection mapping. You can see the work under the projects “Landscape With Cranes”, “Let’s Get Fizzical”, and “Heavy Petal Band”.

I also designed the website for the exhibition.

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