LTRI / London Metropolitan University - Adobe AIR Architect
I am providing ongoing architectural input and support for a team of developers working on an ambitious Adobe AIR project. The application is being developed as part of research into generic learning objects used to develop e-learning content, lead by Professor Tom Boyle of the Learning Technology Research Institute (LTRI).
We are developing a modular plugin architecture for the application, along with a cutting-edge user interface for creating page layouts and learning content.
The project is centred on Adobe AIR and uses the PureMVC framework.
Mastercard Priceless Travel Flex Application
Sole Flex developer and overall Flex architect for the brand-new Mastercard Priceless Travel application. The Flex app forms the centrepiece of the pricelesstravel.co.uk website and displays aggregated travel information from major internet content providers.
Throughout the project I worked closely with the back-end team to develop and integrate .NET webservices and with the design team to create a visually immersive experience.
This was the first Flex project taken on by the company and I gave internal presentations on the technology used and the benefits of adopting Flex for rapid application development.
Developed in Flex 3 using the PureMVC framework.
For MRM Worldwide London.
Intel GameOn Site - Flash Image / Video Galleries
Sole/lead developer and overall technical architect for the image gallery and video gallery Flash applications, which form a core constituent of the GameOn site's content delivery structure.
The two applications were produced for the launch of the Intel Gameon site to meet tight deadlines and demanding design and technical requirements.
Each gallery application was built in AS3 using the PureMVC framework and Tweener animation libraries. Complex data relationships and menu structures provide content filtering and related-item features. External data sources provide full localisation support across Intel's worldwide site network. Deep-linking functionality allows the site editors to link directly to particular galleries or content items.
The video gallery supports both streaming and progressive download, flexible video sizes and fullscreen Flash video playback.
For MRM Worldwide London.
Dolce & Gabbana - Spring/Summer 08 - Flash Site
Sole/lead developer and overall technical architect for a Flash site to showcase Dolce&Gabbana's collection for Spring/Summer 2008.
Produced by one of the leading digital agencies for one of the leading fashion brands, the site was created with an extreme eye for detail. The fantastic fashion photography is given pride-of-place, accompanied by sleek and unobtrusive navigation.
The site was built using AS3 with an MVC-based design-pattern architecture. A modular structure provides an extensible framework to cover future development requirements.
External, internationalised content, a sophisticated preloading strategy and dynamic, browser-sized page layouts complete a fast-paced development process.
For Hi-Res!, London.
Sony Cybershot/Handycam Flash Microsite
A snappy, fun project built to exacting design specifications, this interactive microsite shows off Sony's latest Hi-Def products.
As sole developer and architect I was able to use a custom object-oriented architecture to turn the project around well ahead of expectations and it went live with absolutely no change requests from the client.
Actionscript-based animation, external configuration files and assets and Omniture-based tracking were combined to fit in with the existing requirements specified by the Sony website.
For Dare Digital, London
Comcast Hi-Def High Flash Site
Sole/lead developer and overall technical architect for a stunning Flash site to celebrate the launch of Comcast's HD cable service.
The site brings together intense Flash video, voiceovers, interactive games and effects to create an immersive and informative experience.
A sophisticated, design-pattern based core gives the project a solid underpinning - a factor that proved essential in reaching very ambitious targets, as it allowed rapid integration of content and creation of interactive elements in response to design team deliverables.
In addition to a robust setup to handle navigation, config files and content files, the framework abstracts complex custom code to handle configurable playback of FLV video and MP3 sound file sequences.
Complex preloading code, extensive state handling, centralised sound management, a narrating parrot and development of interactive games completed this highly complex and challenging project.
Awarded FWA Site of the Day on launch.
For Hi-Res!, London.
Flash-based Lijit Network Browser
This is my contribution to Web 2.5 - a snappy Flash-based social network graph browser For the friendly people at Lijit.
As lead Flash developer and technical consultant I worked with Lijit to create an easy to use and exciting graphical solution to display a blogger's immediate Lijit network.
Feeding off dynamic XML data, the app creates an explorable, animated graphical diagram. Underlying data caching and lookup mechanisms coupled with thorough visual feedback provide an immediate and informative user experience.
For Lijit Networks, Boulder, USA
Many thanks to Brad Feld for establishing the initial contact.
Sony Blu-ray Disc ™ Flash Site
Lead Flash developer and overall technical architect for a site to promote the Sony Blu-ray Disc format. The Flash site is published in 5 languages and makes extensive use of Flash video throughout. The site is based on a modular, configurable and easily extendable structure to allow new sections and languages to be added easily. Full integration with Omniture tracking services.
A separate text site provides a single access point to content for the Flash site itself, for search engines and to cover accessibility requirements.
As lead developer I was responsible for devising and implementing the site's core functionality, load-handling, video transitions, video handling, XML configuration and content handling and implementing Omniture tracking and was also heavily involved in adding functionality to the content itself.
For Hi-Res!, London.
Intel® Centrino® Pro - Road Warrior Flash Game
Pseudo-3D isometric tile based Flash game to promote the Intel® Centrino® Pro notebook processor.
I developed this project using best-of-breed techniques, including MVC design patterns for handling game state, finite state machines for handling game logic and view states. All text content, sound effects, game settings and levels are configurable via external XML files. The display code is highly optimised to support a large number of operations on medium-end machines.
For MRM Worldwide.
Just Jack - Downloadable Desktop Buddy
This was a fun and quick project to develop a downloadable desktop buddy for Mercury Record's artist Just Jack. It installs onto the user's computer and plays random Just Jack animations. It also acts as an automatic news system and allows users to send 'Shout Outs' to each other.
Developed using Flash and Northcode SWF Studio.
For Oneshoe Digital.
Argos.co.uk - Concept Designs
I was a member of a team of designers tasked with delivering fresh concepts for the redesign of the Argos website. The project consisted of a number of workshops to discuss ideas and produce original concepts.
This project was based on my extensive previous work as senior designer for the Arcadia Group retail websites, including Topman and Topshop.
Developed under NDA for CVL Business and Technology
Chelsea FC Club Website
Flash team leader / project architect for the 2006 relaunch of the Chelsea FC Website.
A business-defining Flash relaunch of one of the leading FA Premiership football websites. Leading a group of up to 4 Flash developers/designers as architect and providing strategic Flash support to the company. Responsible for the development of the site's core functionality, navigation, overall structure, project setup, version control setup, full integration with Omniture tracking services, development of custom components to display data and much more.
The website is fully integrated with an existing content management system and 5 levels of context-sensitive, intuitive navigation provide access to thousands of pages of articles, live match reports, images, press releases and videos.
For Premium TV Limited.
The LOST Experience - Channel 4
Flash strategy, site architecture work, graphically rich user interface programming and dynamic data services for www.hansofoundation.org.
The site formed an integral part of the tremendously successful Lost Experience game and was modified on a weekly basis to introduce further clues to the tens of thousands of players involved world-wide. The site was set up with an easily customisable structure to allow a group of Flash designers to rapidly change content.
Read more about the Lost Experience.
For Hi-Res! London
BBC Jam / Digital Curriculum
How I Have Changed learning activity
Sole Flash developer and technical lead for a second e-learning activity for 5-7 year old children. A monkey provides context-sensitive helps and tips as children complete a learning game. Resources in the game can be coloured in and the completed work can be printed.
The deliverables had to comply with strict BBC guidelines and integrate with an existing Learning Management System (LMS) and component structure. Full technical documentation and specifications had to be written as part of the project.
For Luecker Interactive.
BBC Jam / Digital Curriculm
My Day Now learning activity
Sole Flash developer and technical lead for an intricate and fun e-learning activity for 5-7 year old children. Highly interactive, the activity is based around an active, animated monkey guiding the user with context-sensitive hints and tips. A highly customisable avatar is used in animations and resources throughout the game. The completed work can be printed.
The deliverables had to comply with strict BBC guidelines and integrate with an existing Learning Management System (LMS) and component structure. Full technical documentation and specifications had to be written as part of the project.
For Luecker Interactive.
Naked Communications (nakedcomms.com)
Lead Flash Developer working with a small team of flash designers to produce a rich, graphically demanding website for this leading international advertising agency.
The site uses an XML-based content management system. The underlying site framework allows deep-linking and cross-linking to any piece of information on the site. A modular, XML-driven approach was used to make sure that future sections can be seemlessly integrated with the site, while still allowing for immersive transitions.
The site was a finalist at the 2006 Cyberlions and received an FWA award.
For Hi-Res!, London.
SCEE / PS2 Eyetoy
Play 3 gravity game engine
Sole Flash developer for a gravity-based space game - launch your rocket through the planets to reach the target. The aim was to produce a game's engine that could then be adapted by changing graphics/settings to produce the finished game.
Key features include physics-based games programming, random level generation, easily updatable graphics and settings and fully localised text.
For Exposure Digital, London
Flash Actionscript training courses
Investis is an award-winning internet solutions consultancy working with a large number of well-known brands.
I provided their in-house Flash team with a bespoke two-day Actionscript training course, covering programming fundamentals, animation with Actionscript and best-practice interface development.
SCEE / Eyetoy product site integration
Following on from the Eyetoy.com relaunch, existing and new Eyetoy product sites were given an Eyetoy navigation bar. This needed to be tied in with the Eyetoy language selection process and made easily available to future sites. It was also important that language selection stayed persistent within the different sites.
Responsible for: devising a strategy for easy implementation of the navigation bar, applying it to a number of product sites, amending existing language selection code to tie in with Eyetoy.com localisation strategy.
For Exposure Digital, London
SCEE / Eyetoy.com
Lead Flash developer for the rebuild of this major PS2 product site for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Published in 11 languages with a large and extensible number of pages, this highly complex project was built using 100% Flash objects in a portal-style site. Fully database driven with over 150 page elements and a number of developers working simultaneously, a strong, OOP-based application structure was essential to guarantee an efficient and flexible build process.
Responsible for: devising and implementing site architecture, OOP AS2 programming lead, creation of site event, data and sound models, server-side integration, dynamic multi-language support, font and symbol sharing, strategy development with server-side programmers, troubleshooting and coordinating build process with up to 7 Flash coders, designers and animators.
For Exposure Digital, London
Topshop 2005 Redesign
Another major conceptual redesign for the Topshop site. With HiRes carrying out all creative work, I was responsible for coordinating and handling the build process.
The Topshop site is updated weekly and has a high volume of sales and visitors, making a highly structured build essential. Flash e-commerce, a fully skinnable interface, dynamically generated content, complex transitions and extensive design requirements made this a very interesting project. Topshop had always been at the forefront of online Flash e-commerce and we needed to ensure it stayed that way.
Responsible for: Structural concept and implementation, site event model and data structure, full site build in OOP AS1, porting previously developed E-Commerce API to the v6 player, extensive coordination with design team @ HiRes, management of content build process.
Developed whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Pan-European Customer Survey
Developed over an evolutionary course of 5 releases, I created an engine for automatically generating complex surveys from an XML file. This technology was essential for rolling out business-centric customer surveys in multiple languages across Europe.
Responsible for: Design and concept, strategic feature development, application design, full implementation in AS2, custom component development.
Developed whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Not publicly available.
Graduate Recruitment site redesign
Following last years graphical feast, this year's redesign produced a clean, CSS-styled site to provide easy access to the wealth of information.
Responsible for: site design based on existing print material, CSS-based site structure, creating XML-fed Flash navigation, automatic page titles, overseeing content creation.
Developed whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Topshop Wishlist
Flash Project - creating a 'wishlist' feature for the TOPSHOP website, fully integrated into the existing shopping front-end, emailable to friends and family.
The project was implemented as a Flash Actionscript library, so it could be easily integrated with all sections of the site, as and when necessary.
It also necessitated further development to enable the Wishlist section to be seamlessly integrated with the existing site.
Responsible for: overseeing the design, the entire Flash implementation, all Actionscript coding, integration with server-side scripts, creating text/html email templates and testing.
Developed whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
UK Online Broadband 8000 Launch
An exciting, high-profile project to prepare the online creative for the launch of a ground-breaking 8Meg consumer broadband service.
As part of a team it was my responsibility to lead the online creative efforts and oversee online design work carried out on the site. The project was intense and carried out in a very short time. Further work is ongoing.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Miss Selfridge 2004 site restructure
The existing successful Flash site needed restructuring to allow for new content to be added in line with site expansion.
New transitions and a new site structure was created using the existing flash setup - backwards compatible but allowing for a new flexible page format and tighter integration with the Flash shopping system.
Responsible for: structural concept, flash rebuild, content description format.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Miss Selfridge Flash Shopping Development
The Miss Selfridge site was the second Arcadia site to be converted to use a Flash front-end to the e-commerce engine. This process was handled by another designer, whom I worked hand-in-hand with while developing the generic e-commerce Actionscript API.
We devised a testing and implementation strategy that allowed us to produce Flash-based shopping sites for Topman and Miss Selfridge simultaneously, while I was still developing the API.
Responsible for: overseeing application of the Flash ecommerce API, implementing feature requests.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Arcadia E-Commerce Flash API
Development of an Actionscript API to integrate with the e-commerce system used extensively on the busy Arcadia shopping sites.
The aim was to produce an easy-to-implement solution to allow Flash front-ends to be created quickly, without specialist knowledge of the underlying engine.
To enable rapid testing, the engine was applied on Topman and Miss Selfridge while development was still underway.
Responsible for: structural design, concepts, coding (Flash 5 compatible, object-oriented MX Actionscript), overseeing implementation and testing.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Topman 2004 Redesign
Full design update within existing site structure. Key motivation was to freshen the look, increase the graphic impact and move away from the previous grid structure. Another major requirement was using Flash to produce a more flexible and appealing e-commerce front-end. The client chose to change their product photography for a high-impact relaunch.
Result was a design with few page boundaries and flexible and responsive navigation, which has since been carried forward successfully through many updates. This project also prompted the development of an Actionscript API to the exisitng e-commerce engine.
Responsible for: full concept and design, including navigation and e-commerce sections, site structure, Flash build, e-commerce API.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
UK Online Olympic Flash Game
Development of a Flash game for UK Online's Olympic Channel for the Sydney games. Work was split between an illustrator and myself.
Responsible for: initial planning, overseeing storyboarding and illustration, some design work, game concepts, game programming.
A copy of the game is hosted at my site with permission.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Topman Denim Room
A new 'Denim' shopping area for the Topman site. Key requirements where to improve product detail and images on display, while still being easy to update on a weekly basis.
Data-drive template design, draggable product preview, integrated with e-commerce back-end for product images.
Responsible for: concept, full design, Flash build.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd.
Topman Site Redesign
A full site redesign with extensive use of Flash - in order to bring the website in line with existing branding, technological advances and to provide a more flexible homepage with increased promotional space. The design introduced a four-column layout that was carried through throughout the site.
Responsible for: Full design, Flash/HTML build of key sections, XML-driven navigation, design of e-commerce sections, overseeing other build areas.
Carried out whilst working for Easynet Ltd. Site has since been redesigned (see above).