Curriculum Vitae

A typical day for me involves working with stakeholders and end users to design intuitive, accessible and simple-to-use digital products and services.

I’m a confident communicator, with which, comes the ability to empathise with users, define their needs and present my ideas to technical and non technical audiences. I enjoy working remotely on an autonomous basis as much as I do collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and find I’m at my most comfortable in a dynamic and agile environment.

I’m genuinely intrigued by people and love how everyone is unique. As a daily user of digital products myself, I know how frustrating online experiences can be, which is why I get so much joy out of simplifying things for others.

Skills and tools

I do:

  • UX, UI and Interaction design
  • Responsive web design
  • Workshop facilitation
  • HTML and CMS
  • Print design
  • Accessibility
  • Website design and development
  • Photography

I use:

  • Adobe Creative Suite
  • WordPress
  • UX Pin and Adobe XD
  • Miro
  • Optimal Workshop
  • Contensis CMS
  • Office 365

I am:

  • An excellent communicator
  • Creative
  • Approachable
  • Genuine
  • Friendly
  • Honest and loyal
  • Good at listening
  • Quick and accurate

Experience

Freelance Designer
Medichecks
2020

Leading on the design and development of high-profile digital services based on data, customer needs and business requirements. Ensuring design is consistent and follows widely recognised standards while still injecting brand and personality appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. Working collaboratively in a fast-paced and agile environment on varying projects across multiple work streams ensuring stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

Key achievements

  • Curated a responsive and interactive Nottingham version of the Periodic Table
  • Introduced a range of scalable patterns and standards – saving time for all our editors
  • Increased the use of our Gecko Live Chat by 50% on our study with us pages
  • Facilitated various university-wide UX workshops including card sorting, user journey mapping and design sprints
  • Increased engagement with web community by delivering regular skills sessions – 100% of attendees learn something new at every session
  • Worked with developers to implement a responsive design for UK, China and Malaysia websites
  • Raised awareness on accessibility and how we can comply and prepare for AA compliance by September 2020
  • Analysed data and insight to inform design thinking and recommend improvements
  • Explored CX and emerging trends at the Adobe Summit
  • Presented concepts to senior stakeholders and large audiences
  • Sat on the advisory group for IWMW, a conference aimed at digital teams in higher education
  • Adopted an agile approach to project delivery
  • Attended relevant training and conferences and cascaded to colleagues

Owner and photographer
Photography by Gem
2015 – present

Focussing primarily on dating profile photography, helping singles attract more attention online. Building a rapport with clients to help relax them into the photo shoot, resulting in natural photos that capture their personality and natural beauty. I also shoot corporate and couples photography.

Website Designer and Developer
Broxtowe Borough Council
2004 – 2006

Designed and developed the Council’s internal and external facing online platforms while adhering to strict government enforced standards and brand guidelines.

Digital Designer
University of Nottingham
2006 – 2020

Leading on the design and development of high-profile digital services based on data, customer needs and business requirements. Ensuring design is consistent and follows widely recognised standards while still injecting brand and personality appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. Working collaboratively in a fast-paced and agile environment on varying projects across multiple work streams ensuring stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

Key achievements

  • Curated a responsive and interactive Nottingham version of the Periodic Table
  • Introduced a range of scalable patterns and standards – saving time for all our editors
  • Increased the use of our Gecko Live Chat by 50% on our study with us pages
  • Facilitated various university-wide UX workshops including card sorting, user journey mapping and design sprints
  • Increased engagement with web community by delivering regular skills sessions – 100% of attendees learn something new at every session
  • Worked with developers to implement a responsive design for UK, China and Malaysia websites
  • Raised awareness on accessibility and how we can comply and prepare for AA compliance by September 2020
  • Analysed data and insight to inform design thinking and recommend improvements
  • Explored CX and emerging trends at the Adobe Summit
  • Presented concepts to senior stakeholders and large audiences
  • Sat on the advisory group for IWMW, a conference aimed at digital teams in higher education
  • Adopted an agile approach to project delivery
  • Attended relevant training and conferences and cascaded to colleagues

Owner and photographer
Photography by Gem
2015 – present

Focussing primarily on dating profile photography, helping singles attract more attention online. Building a rapport with clients to help relax them into the photo shoot, resulting in natural photos that capture their personality and natural beauty. I also shoot corporate and couples photography.

Website Designer and Developer
Broxtowe Borough Council
2004 – 2006

Designed and developed the Council’s internal and external facing online platforms while adhering to strict government enforced standards and brand guidelines.

Digital Designer
University of Nottingham
2006 – 2020

Leading on the design and development of high-profile digital services based on data, customer needs and business requirements. Ensuring design is consistent and follows widely recognised standards while still injecting brand and personality appropriate for the intended audience and purpose. Working collaboratively in a fast-paced and agile environment on varying projects across multiple work streams ensuring stakeholders remain informed and engaged.

Key achievements

  • Curated a responsive and interactive Nottingham version of the Periodic Table
  • Introduced a range of scalable patterns and standards – saving time for all our editors
  • Increased the use of our Gecko Live Chat by 50% on our study with us pages
  • Facilitated various university-wide UX workshops including card sorting, user journey mapping and design sprints
  • Increased engagement with web community by delivering regular skills sessions – 100% of attendees learn something new at every session
  • Worked with developers to implement a responsive design for UK, China and Malaysia websites
  • Raised awareness on accessibility and how we can comply and prepare for AA compliance by September 2020
  • Analysed data and insight to inform design thinking and recommend improvements
  • Explored CX and emerging trends at the Adobe Summit
  • Presented concepts to senior stakeholders and large audiences
  • Sat on the advisory group for IWMW, a conference aimed at digital teams in higher education
  • Adopted an agile approach to project delivery
  • Attended relevant training and conferences and cascaded to colleagues

Owner and photographer
Photography by Gem
2015 – present

Focussing primarily on dating profile photography, helping singles attract more attention online. Building a rapport with clients to help relax them into the photo shoot, resulting in natural photos that capture their personality and natural beauty. I also shoot corporate and couples photography.

Website Designer and Developer
Broxtowe Borough Council
2004 – 2006

Designed and developed the Council’s internal and external facing online platforms while adhering to strict government enforced standards and brand guidelines.

Qualifications and training

  • Leadership and Management Level 3, ILM, 2014
  • Senior Award – Professional Practice in HE City and Guilds, 2013
  • Business Administration NVQ3 Apprenticeship 2004
  • ICT – Lakeview sixth form, 2002
  • GCSEs/NVQ – George Spencer Academy, 2000

I'm currently working towards the following:

  • Service Design: Designing for Experience Over Time
  • Mobile UI and UX Design
  • The Ultimate Guide to Usability and UX
  • UX Design for Emerging Technologies
  • Agile Crash Course
  • Facebook Ads and Facebook Marketing Mastery

Out of the office I enjoy:

  • Photography
  • Salsa dancing
  • Travel
  • Squash
  • Interior design
  • DIY – we built a bar in our garden in 2019

References

Available on request.