Curriculum Vitae of Harry Roberts

Personal Details

Harry Roberts—owner of CSS Wizardry, author of Web Design+, Type Tips and Quick Tips, creator of Typogridphy.
Keywords:XHTML, CSS, HTML5, CSS3, iPhone, Progressive Enhancement, Typography, PHP, Accessibility, Usability, Semantics, Web Standards, Grids, UX, UI.

Harry Roberts

My personal details are available on request. Please contact me via the following:

Email address

harry@csswizardry.com

Website

http://csswizardry.com/

Phone

Available on request

Skills & Personal Qualities

Technical abilities

• A web professional with unparalleled CSS and XHTML knowledge, and a skillset covering semantics, accessibility, usability, sensible development and more…
• A keen designer with a great eye for detail, covering many skillsets including design, front-end development, web standards, accessibility and usability.
• A strong passion for typography and grid design, for both web and print.
• Consistently motivated to expand knowledge of front-end development, recently including HTML5, CSS3 and progressive enhancement.
• Ability to design and develop websites for the iPhone, as well as offline content.
• Unofficial accessibility and security advisor to the Labour Party.

Qualities

• A motivated and motivating worker, with a dedication to learning by embracing new tasks and roles.
• Author of the industry recognised web standards document Web Design+.
• Very strong problem-solving, organisational, and both written and verbal communication skills.
• Adept at combining design theory with design practice to create the perfect hybrid.
• Owner of CSS Wizardry—Alexa top 100,000 ranked portfolio and blog site.
• Web Designer of the Year 2008 on Estetica Design Forum—International web and graphic design forum.
• Featured in .net magazine in February 2008.

Employment History

Jan. 2010–Present: Venturelab Ltd, West Yorkshire.

xHTML, CSS, Web Standards, Accessibility, Typography, Grids, Front-end, Semantics, UX, UI, Usability, iPhone

After an amazing time at Sense, an opportunity came up that I couldn’t refuse… I had the chance to work with some old friends and ex-colleagues in an exciting new Leeds based start-up called Venturelab. It is at Venturelab that I am in charge of the development of websites for a vide variety of entreprenurial start-up businesses. I was responsible for introducing new working methods to the company, whereby we design in the browser and use CSS3/progressive enhancement as standard on all builds. This makes development more efficient, impacting favourably on project turnaround and budgets

Venturelab is still in its early stages, so for the full story please contact me.

Jul. 2008–Jan. 2010: Sense Internet Ltd, West Yorkshire.

xHTML, CSS, Web Standards, Accessibility, Typography, Grids, Front-end, Semantics, UX, UI, Usability

Working for Sense Internet for the last year and a half, I have led front-end development for a wide range of clients including those from the retail, financial, trade, and leisure sectors. I have been responsible for the design and build of large scale websites, where accessibility and sensible, maintainable code are paramount as well as developing key skills in working under pressure, responding to tight deadlines and delivering within specified budgets. I also further extended my communication skills, liaising with different teams including project managers, programmers and clients.

Travelodge

Responsible for maintaining, developing and supporting the front-end side of Travelodge’s consumer facing website. Heavy traffic levels and a varied user base meant optimisation and cross-browser compatibility were essential during development, with thorough testing before any go-lives.

Car Care Plan

Developing a front-end templating system for a white-label insurance selling website. Sharable, maintainable, sensible and semantic code meant that the same markup could be shared across the sites of clients like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Renault, Black Horse and more. I was also wholly responsible for designing the client facing side of the aforementioned.

Rizla

Involved in the redesign of this FMCG brand’s website, including typographic, and front-end work. The site achieved a 38% rise in unique visitors in the first month post-launch, and has been nominated for a DADI award.

GHD

Joint lead on the front-end development of a viral prize draw competition. Following core brand guidelines to develop an accessible and semantic experience for the site’s users.

Imperial Tobacco

Working on maintaining the website of the UK’s largest tobacco company.

South Tyneside College

Design and CSS development for the college’s online presence. The client needed a well designed but neutral website to remain in keeping with any print material they may have produced.

Reference available on request.

Jan. 2008–Jul. 2008: Keyclicks UK Ltd, West Yorkshire.

xHTML, CSS, Web Standards, Accessibility, Front-end, Semantics, UX, UI, Usability

During my time at Copy Concept (see below) I began to venture into web design, to a point where I was handling freelance web projects as well as small maintenance projects. Keyclicks came across my online portfolio and contacted me offering me employment as a contract web developer. I worked with Keyclicks for six months and held leading knowledge on web standards and front-end development within the company. Responsible for:

• Designing UIs
• Leading web standards and accessibility knowledge
• Client liaison
• Development and build

Reference available on request.

Jul. 2005–Dec. 2007: Copy Concept, West Yorkshire.

Design, Print, Stationery, Flyers, Literature

Initially placed here on work experience, I was subsequently employed part-time after proving my abilities in both the design and management of projects. Responsible for:

• Overseeing key clients’ design work and other large scale jobs (conference delegate packs for clients such as GlaxoSmithKline, Chanel and more).
• Managing projects from enquiry stage through to completion, including pricing and quoting, processing the design and print, and dispatching the project.
• Communicating with a variety of people, including print teams, outsourcers, suppliers and new and existing clients.

Reference available on request.

Education

Education covering High School and 6th Form

2004–2006: Whitcliffe Mount Business & Enterprise College.

I hold 13 A–C grade GCSE qualifications in the following subjects:

• English Lit.—A
• English Lang.—A
• Maths—B
• History—B
• Science Double Award—B/B
• I.T.—Merit (Equiv 4 Bs)
• Product Design—A
• German—C
• PSE/Citizenship—C

2006–2008: Whitcliffe Mount Business & Enterprise College 6^th form.

Studying Media Studies, Product Design, Business Studies. Grades as yet unknown.

Other

After considering various web design and development courses at several universities, I decided to take the direct route into the industry as my work was already of a much higher standard than any educational body could offer me. I applied and attained a job working for Sense Internet Ltd, one of Yorkshire’s leading web agencies.

Incidentally, after declining a place on Newcastle University’s web development course, I later found they were using my Web Design+ document as a teaching aid for their students.

Hobbies & Interests

Web Design/Development

My work is my hobby

Obviously for any designer it is more a way of life than merely a career. I have worked on industry recognised personal projects in my spare time such as Typogridphy, and Web Design+. I also have a keen interest in typography and various other aspects of design.

I also participate in several online communitues, helping and offering advice to up and coming developers, leading to me being awarded Most Helpful Member 2008 on Estetica Design Forum.

Trials biking

Not just a geek

When not coding up websites I head out on rides on my trials bike. This physical outlet is a great way to burn off energy and stay in shape, allowing for refreshing starts to the week after a weekend’s ride.

Being outdoors

Not an indoors kind of guy

I also enjoy being outdoors, walking, seeing sights, and experiencing nature first hand. I often venture out on a weekend with my girlfriend for walks and we recently spent a few days in the Lake District where we climbed England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike.

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