CV - Christopher Gibbons
Ambitious, dynamic and reliable Web developer with over 3 years commercial web development experience, always willing to learn new technologies and skills to help adapt to any project.
Skills
Advanced knowledge of XHTML and CSS in order to build semantically coded HTML to produce flexible sites that work in a variety of browsers.
Good working knowledge of Javascript, AJAX and Unobtrusive techniques, to allow pages to function without Javascript.
Strong advocate for the importance of W3C web standards based development, Accessibility and Progressive Enhancement techniques.
Good working knowledge of PHP and MySQL – Over two years commercial experience of building database driven sites on LAMP systems.
Awareness and some familiarity with the WAI Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Interest and Awareness of emerging technologies: Microformats, HTML5, CSS3, evolving web standards and semantic web.
Limited experience using XML & XSLT.
Passion for good user interface and user experience design.
Interested in the use of MVC structure, use of PEAR library and Smarty templating system, as well as modern frameworks (Cake, CodeIgniter)
Other area of Interest
- Flash and Actionscript
- ASP.NET
- 3D graphics and Digital Video Production techniques
- Linux & Open Source tools
Qualifications
University of Central Lancashire (Sep 2001 – Jun 2004)
BSc Web & Multimedia [First Class with honours]
Course Covered
- Advanced Multimedia Production
- Multimedia Authoring
- Digital Video Production
- Commercial Net Applications
- Computer Graphics
- Multimedia Systems
- Advanced Web Programming
Final Year Project
Convergence of computer animation with live action film. This involved extensive use and researching of blue screening, 3D software and digital video for recording/editing/post production.
Blackpool & Fylde College
Higher National Certificate Computing
Blackpool Sixth Form College
A-Levels Computing, Geography & General Studies
Millfield High School
GCSEs Maths, English, I.S., Science, Design & Technology, Geography, German
Work Experience
Forepoint – Web Developer (October 2006 – Present)
16 person Design Agency in North West England – forepoint.co.uk
Main role within the company is as Web Developer, working both PHP/MySQL and front end XHTML/CSS
Significant achievements included the production (and ongoing development) of a re-written Content Management System (CMS) as well as being involved with the development of the current company website.
Ran code reviews on maintenance contracted websites to improve the quality of the code and also to bring sites up-to-date with current web standards
Helped to document best practice and coding standards.
Converting Photoshop/Fireworks/Illustrator designs into valid, semantic and accessible XHTML/CSS web pages.
Also helped to introduce the use of, as well as educating other developers, on the use of Progressive Enhancement techniques and unobtrusive DOM Script and AJAX
Worked with the design team to improve their understanding of current web trends as well as website usability and accessibility.
Vertex Data Science – Graduate Developer (September 2005 – October 2006)
10,000+ BPO company based in Manchester – vertex.co.uk
Joined the company on the United Utilities (their parent company at the time of being employed there)
Gained experience in building and maintaining ASP.NET 2.0 (and some ASP.NET 1.1) web applications within the 20 person Web Solutions team.
Development roles included:
- Completion of visual designs and mock-ups, XHTML & CSS templates and final styling implementations within .NET master pages.
- Consulted with developers (of all levels) on building web standards compliant and accessible web front-end using ASP.NET 2.0 in hand with this was the development and introduction of a web standards policy
- Worked on producing clean, standards compliant output, introduced CSS based layouts techniques and accessible enhancements to new and legacy applications
- Also developed with ASP and SQL Server 2000 for legacy application support
Other roles included working within a 5 person support team to handle support requests for current and legacy applications
As part of the graduate scheme courses to develop "soft skills" such as presentations and facilitation skills where held monthly
Freebird New Media – Web Developer (June 2004 – Sep 2005)
Small design agency - freebird.co.uk
Joined the company straight from university as the sole web developer.
Worked on full lifecycle of two major projects for NHS related web sites, this included building a bespoke Content Management System in PHP/MySQL
Educated the designers on use of XHTML/CSS and web standards for web projects – something that the company still uses to date.
Communication with clients was an essential part of my daily routine to discuss project related issues.
Freelance Web Developer
Writing HTML & CSS from templates supplied as well as maintaining old sites and bringing up-to-date with use of modern web standards
Interests
- PADI Scuba Diving
- Openwater - 2007
- Advanced Openwater - 2007
- Computer Generated Imagery and Digital art
- Football, Swimming, Gym work, Fishing
- Motor Sports inc. Formula One, Rallying, Drag Racing
- History & Archaeology
- Travelling