My resume

This resume is a little different to most. I’ve tried to present what I look for in a resume in a simple, easy to read way. If you like this, if you don’t, if you think I’ve left something out, or could do something better, then please let me know.

What do I do?

Put simply I design really great websites, applications and software. Sometimes I cross over into hardware and service design as well. Doing this involves the following activities (and more):

• Discovery – product research & user needs analysis
  interviews,  observation,  workshops,  field studies,  and other forms of enquiry
• Understanding – exploring & define the parts of the problem
  personas,  scenarios,  interaction frameworks,  information architecture,  workflows
• Design – finding the right ways to make everything work
  interaction design,  wireframes,  visual design,  prototypes,  specification
• Evaluation – ensuring everything works well & provides a positive user experience
  onsite & field trials,  usability testing,  lo-fi & hi-fi prototypes,  production testing

What sort of work do I like?

After more than 20 years as a designer I understand what is important in my work:

• Being an integral part of a strong team, focused on delivering the best possible products.
• Finding better ways to get things done, and improving the way people work and play.
• Working on products which have a positive effect on the lives of other people.

Where have I worked before?

I have been freelance since late 2009, and before that between 2001 and 2007. I have been formally employed as follows:

• Symplicit Pty. Ltd.
  Senior Experience Designer, 2009
• Sensis Pty. Ltd.
  Design Lead, User Experience Team, 2007 – 2009
• WA School of Art, Design & Media
  Lecturer, Design & Multimedia, 2003
• Powerlan Ltd.
  Manager, Interactive Design Unit, 2000 – 2001
• Senacon Ltd.
  Senior Interaction & Visual Designer,  1999 – 2000
• Eycon Studio / Eycon Communications Pty. Ltd.
  Senior Interaction & Visual Designer, Company Director, 1995 – 1999
• Magnetic Designs
  Interaction Designer, Business Partner, 1992 – 1995

Whose products have I worked on?

I have worked on a wide range of products for a wide range of clients. Some of the companies you may know of are:

• ANZ
• Sensis – White Pages & 1234
• Westpac
• Telstra – consumer and health
• Realestate.com.au
• NAB
• BankWest
• Home Building Society
• Sharman Networks – Kazaa
• Nestlé – corporate and Nescafé

I’ve also been lucky enough to work with a range of great agencies, including Clemenger, Hyro Digital, M&C Saatchi, and The Royals.

What have I done recently?

Here are a few different projects that I have worked on in last year or so:

• Created a solid interaction framework for an authentication and app launching system.
• Designed a personalised news service targeted at tablet devices.
• Helped two companies merge their web presence and IA.
• Ensured a subscription and order website was simple and easy to use.
• Established a solid interaction framework for an online business tool.
• Explored the future of online banking and financial services.

The highlights from my career so far?

I’m sure there are many more, but this is a good list to start with:

• Working with people who had improved their health with a new health monitoring system.
• Improving the use of a button by 40% overnight by improving the visual design.
• Increasing the use of another product by more than 100% overnight by improving it’s overall user experience.
• Overseeing the transformation of the Sensis Usability Lab into the Sensis Design Lab, and watching all the great new work that was done in the new space.
• Stopping whitepages.com.au from rendering listings in ALL CAPS.
• Reducing the documentation required to run a franchise down to five small binders and a range of posters, by working closely with the owners, managers and staff.
• Helping to evolve and grow several non-profit organisations’ websites over five or six years.
• Designing and building the first web site for the Nestlé company anywhere in the world.

Where did I study?

I worked very hard for a Bachelor of Multimedia with First Class Honours – BMMedia(Hons), from Murdoch University in 2006. If you are really interested, you can read my honours thesis, Approaching interaction design, or designing a better way to record personal time use.

Anything else?

• I’m a Scorpio and a passionate perfectionist – that is mostly good, but has its down sides too.
• I received a $20,000 grant from Nescafé in 1992 to help set up my first business.
• My favourite “designed object” in my house right now is our Oxo angled measuring jugs my shiny new MacBook Air.