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 18 years as a designer I have discovered what is important to me:

• 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:

• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group
• Sensis – White Pages & 1234
• Westpac Banking Corporation
• Telstra – consumer and health divisions
• Realestate.com.au
• National Australia Bank
• BankWest
• Home Building Society
• Sharman Networks – Kazaa
• Nestlé – corporate affairs and Nescafé

I’ve worked for many smaller companies, products and brands as well. Email me if  you would like to see some of these in my portfolio.

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.