Paul Brownsmith

With over 10 years of experience on the web and 13 years experience in the design industry, I have worked in a variety of environments from helping small businesses realise their web presence to global projects with major blue chip companies.

A member of the Guild of Accessible Web Designers, I have made every effort in the last few years to embrace and encourage web standards and accessibility into every project I undertake.

I'm friendly, easy to get on with and passionate about the web, please see my portfolio for some examples of my work to date.

Virgin Media

Front End Developer // November 2009 - present

Front end development work for Virgin Media.

Technologies used: HTML, CSS, Javascript (jQuery), XML, XSLT.

GAME Stores

Front End Developer // May 2009 - November 2009

Front end development work for one of the UK's leading video game stores. Integrating a new e-commerce platform (Endeca) into the back end, new HTML/CSS templates were required. Along with this, I developed some ASP.net Master Page code and used the jQuery and Prototype Javascript libraries.

Technologies used: XHTML, CSS, Javascript (jQuery, Prototype), ASP.net, Visual Studio 2008.

UKTV London

Front End Developer // Aug 2008 - May 2009

Front End Developer for Digital Television Broadcaster UKTV. I developed XHTML and CSS templates for their major rebrand project creating a new television channel Watch and re-branding G.O.L.D, Alibi, Eden, Blighty and Yesterday. Responsibilities include design consultancy, front end development, strict cross browser compatibility and Accessibility awareness.

Technologies used: XHTML, CSS, Javascript (YUI), Apache, SSI, AJAX.

Ivis Group/Tesco.com

Senior UI Consultant // Aug 2007 - Aug 2008

The initial site was developed in XHTML and CSS using Server Side Includes on Apache. Once the design, mark up, and CSS was finalised it was then reviewed and put into XSLT production. Tesco.com have a strict accessibility policy meaning the code is developed to a very high standard. Other responsibilities include general consultancy with regard to coding best-practice and reviewing business requirements.

Technologies used: XHTML, CSS, XML, XSLT, Accessibility, Usability, Javascript, Apache, SSI, AJAX, Visual Studio 2005.

Cheapflights Ltd, London

Contract Front End Developer // Jan 2007 - Aug 2007

Front end developer role for the creation of the Cheapflights.ca website. Using ASP.NET Master pages for templating purposes, I developed many aspects of the XHTML and CSS for the site which is based upon in-house designs.

Technologies used: Visual Studio 2005, Microsoft ASP.NET, C#, XHTML, CSS, Photoshop CS, Microsoft Team Foundation Server, Rythmyx CMS, VSS (Visual SourceSafe) Javascript and TextPad

I-Neda, Bracknell, Berkshire

Contract XHTML/CSS Developer // Dec 2006 - Jan 2007

XHTML/CSS developer role for online gaming website. The role required the creation of XHTML, CSS and images for the whole site, based upon supplied designs. The back end is coded in a Java environment.

Technologies used: TextPad on Windows to hand code XHTML and CSS, Adobe Photoshop CS2, Eclipse, XSL, AJAX, Java Struts, Tiles, JSTL (JSP), CVS.

Arcadia Group, London

Ecommerce Development Team Manager // Jan 2006 to present

Manager of the design team for Arcadia group, responsible for designing, developing and updating the designs and content for all of Arcadias online high-street brands:

With Arcadia Group’s ongoing commitment to ensuring an accessible web experience, all coding for the brands websites are done with Web Standards and Accessibility in mind. To complement this we use JAWS during site verification testing as well as validating all code whenever possible.

During my time at Arcadia I have sourced and hired the permanent design team who are now responsible for updated and creating standards based content across the brand sites.

Technologies used: Macromedia Homesite to hand code XHTML and CSS, Adobe CS2, IBM WebSphere, CVS.

Thomson Directories Farnborough, Hampshire, UK

Primary UI Programmer // October 2003 to Jan 2006

Working within the Internet Development Group Technical Team as the primary User Interface designer and developer, I created all aspects of the User Interface and presentation layer of the Thomson Directories family of websites. The sites include:

ThomsonLocal.com, the business directory service online. This generates over 14 million page impressions per month.

Thomson Directories pay per click search engine, WebFinder.com. This generates over 60 million UK based web searches every month.

Thomson Directories intranet, used nationwide internally for a number of in house applications.

Using Photoshop to design the websites, and working closely with the internet product managers and the marketing team, I have designed usable and functional user interfaces. Focusing on user experience and usability, and also considering accessibility, I was solely responsible for design and development.

Technology used: User Interface Design, Photoshop, XHTML, CSS, Search Engine Optimisation, XSLT, XML, and Visual Studio.NET.

Travelex Worldwide Money, Peterborough, ,UK

CSS Developer (Contract) // July 2003 to October 2003
  • Travelex FX Paynet - This is a secure site, so only the homepage login screen is available

Short term contract to re develop Travelex's CSS Stylesheets to enable usability for disabled and visually impaired users. This was for their Online Money Transfer service FXPaynet. Rewrote from the ground up the CSS stylesheets to account for high contrast copy, and ensuring all text could be resized appropriately by visually impaired users. Also wrote many XML to XML XSLT transformations for the backend application.

Technology used: XML, XSLT, HTML, XHTML, CSS, JavaScript

Dell Computer Corporation, Bracknell, UK

Senior Internet Developer, Dell EMEA Online Architecture // Jan 2001 to April 2003
  • Dell UK - One of many EMEA websites

Responsible for development of the XML content publishing application which publishes the 26 regional country, and 12 language websites for Dell Europe, Middle East and Africa. This is written using Microsoft .NET and replaces a proprietary XML Content Management System which I too helped to develop and deploy. Training courses attended include UML and Visual Studio development.

Technology used: XSLT, XML, HTML, XHTML, Cross Browser Compatibility Testing, Usability Testing and awareness, Dynamic HTML, UI Design/Photoshop, Javascript.

Content Development Team Leader/Developer, Dell EMEA Online // March 99 to Jan 2001

Development and deployment of a proprietary XML based Global Content Development, Publishing & Management system. Assisted in development of content editing software running entirely on XML, for use by business representatives to create web based content for use with the content publishing system Europe wide.

Technology used: XML, XSLT, HTML, XSD and XDR Schemas, User Interface Design/Photoshop.

Internet Developer, Dell EMEA Online Operations // July 98 to March 99

My role within the Online Operations Team was to ensure the quality of all 26 Dell EMEA websites. The job involved rolling out production class code throughout countries, business segments and languages, ensuring server stability and performing routine server maintenance and setup. I was also responsible for deploying new content areas throughout the sites, once the design had been agreed and signed off by the appropriate business representatives.

Technology used: HTML, Photoshop, Dynamic HTML, XML, Javascript, ASP.

Training:

PRINCE2 Foundation Certificate
Gained on 30/11/2006

Accessible Web Design
Completed 25/04/05 - Run by Webcredible
Course details can be found here

Advanced CSS Training
Completed 26/05/05 - Run by Webcredible
Course details can be found here

Microsoft Certified, 'Developing Microsft ASP.NET Web Applications Using Visual Studio .NET'
Completed 26/05/04 @ The Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centre, ICS Solutions Ltd, Basingstoke, Hants

Associations:

Member of the Guild of Accessible Web Designers

GAWDS is a world-wide association of organisations and accessible web designers and developers - designed to both promote and protect standards - not technical standards - but accessible design standards.

Education:

Sep 93 to Jul 94 - Surrey Institute of Art & Design Surrey

  • BA (Hons) Packaging Design

Sep 91 to Jul 93 - West Surrey College of Art & Design Surrey

  • HND Packaging Design

Sep 90 to Jul 91 - North Herts College Stevenage, Herts

  • Art Foundation Course

GCSEs, including Mathematics, English and Physics and A Level Art

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