CV

A designer of apps and web-based software, with over 25 years’ experience of making technology work for people, based in Leeds, UK. A specialist in UI design, with a strong background in UX design. Working closely with businesses, designing simple and usable digital products that their users have loved. Bringing a human-centred design approach, with creativity, interpersonal skills, technical understanding, and a track record of versatility. Designs have led to increased sales, trust, and reputation, as demonstrated in working as a Senior Creative Designer at KPMG.

FREELANCE UI/UX DESIGNER, Leeds
Jan 2024 - Present

Setting up a business to design apps and websites. Volunteer UX design with local schools. Creating art for sale.

SENIOR CREATIVE DESIGNER (UI/UX designer) - KPMG, Leeds
Apr 2016 - Dec 2023 (Redundancy)

UI/UX product designer and visual designer of dashboards, surveys, mobile prototypes, policy apps, AI chat, product ordering and HR systems, sold successfully to well-known national and international brands. The role included:

• Designing high fidelity mock-ups: Creating prototypes, using brand guidelines with Figma, Adobe CC, Sketch.
• Graphic design skills: Expertise in web typography, layout, colour, hierarchy, icons, and creative problem solving.
• UI and interaction design: A passion for meeting user needs, with intuitive, user-centred, interface designs.
• Design system creation: Including component and pattern library design, for individual apps and for KPMG UK.
• User-centred design deliverables: With low fidelity wireframe design, user profiling, information architecture, user journey mapping, task flow, and white boarding layouts. Working with CX colleagues to get customer feedback.
• Human-centred approach: Creating designs with empathy, ethics, simplicity, accessibility and usability.
• Accessibility and usability: Incorporated into all design work, conforming to WCAG and the Equalities Act.
• Collaborating with developers: Cross-functional Agile teamwork, seamless handing over designs to developers.
• Communication and presentation skills: Presenting to clients. Great people skills, working well in diverse teams.
• Project prioritisation: Stakeholder engagement, time and deadline management, supervisor of junior colleagues.
• Research activities: Using data, leading workshops, scoping, user research, sketching, ideation, brainstorming.
• User testing: Usability testing designs with users, iterating from user feedback. Working with user researchers.
• Logo and icon design: Branding for software products, with additional design of branded PDF training manuals.
• Technical understanding: Knowledge of the software development life cycle, and development processes.
• Attention to detail and best practice: Proof reading, quality control, checking, diligent mobile first content.
• Responsive design: Mobile and desktop implementation of designs, with occasional building in HTML and CSS.
• Curiosity and learning: Keeping up to date with the latest UI trends and technology, with knowledge sharing.

FREELANCE UI/UX WEB DESIGNER - Leeds
Sep 2014 - Apr 2016

Designing e-commerce websites and interfaces for digital agencies. The role included:

• Creation of high-fidelity mock-ups, low fidelity wireframes, responsive design, HTML and CSS builds, UX prototypes, Shopify and Wordpress builds.

FREELANCE EMAIL DESIGNER - Farnell, Leeds
Jan 2013 - Sep 2014

Contractor designing and developing responsive, dynamic HTML email templates.

DIGITAL PROJECT MANAGER - Twentysix Digital, Leeds
Sep 2012 - Jan 2013

Project Manager for the design of corporate scale, CMS driven websites.

SENIOR DIGITAL OFFICER - Leeds Metropolitan University
Dec 2005 - Sep 2012

Senior website build team member, with UX design and project management experience. The role included:

• HTML and CSS template building in the corporate CMS, with user admin, support, and training.

E-CONTENT OFFICER - Derbyshire County Council
Oct 2004 - Dec 2005

Creating front end HTML templates, designing banners and graphical content in the new CMS.

WEB DESIGNER - Peak Net, Derbyshire
Jun 2001 - Oct 2004

Designing extremely high quality, professional websites for large businesses across the UK.

WEB DESIGNER - Textile and Clothing Network, Leeds University Textiles Department
May 2000 - Jun 2001

IT HELPDESK - Leeds University Information Systems Services
Apr 1998 - May 2000

IT TRAINING CONSULTANT - LINK Multimedia Learning Centres, Leeds and Wakefield
Feb 1997 - Apr 1998

Software: Figma, Sketch, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Adobe XD, Miro, Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, Affinity Publisher, Balsamiq, InVision, Sublime Text, Dreamweaver CC, InDesign CC.

UI Design: Component design, design system design, responsive web design, mock-ups, layout, mark-up, accessibility.

Visual / Graphic Design: Image and banner design, applying branding, grids, colour, typography, logo, and icon design.

UX Design: Wire-framing, sketching, prototyping, IA, site maps, stakeholder engagement, workshops, user centred design methodologies, persona creation, user journey improvement, survey creation, usability, document writing.

Communication: Training, presentations, copywriting, social media, soft people skills, cross-functional collaboration.

Project Leadership: A design leader in Agile/Scrum teams, collaborating on large software product builds. PRINCE2, Achieved the ILM Level 3 First Line Management qualification. Functional specification writing. Business budgeting.

Code: HTML, CSS, SEO, browser testing.

Content Management Systems: Front end template building and admin of CMSs such as WordPress, Shopify, RedDot and Tridion, with content auditing and advice.

Event Management and Marketing: Digital marketing, print design, advertising, and staff management; having previously run and promoted a successful club night spare time business.

1993-1996: BA (Hons) Degree Sociology and Public Media (Grade: II i).
Trinity and All Saints, a College of the University of Leeds.

1991-1993: Brighton University Certificate in Foundation studies Art (pre BA).
Hastings College of Art and Technology.

1991: A-LEVELS; Sociology (A), Art (C), Politics (C).
William Parker School, Hastings.

Video gaming, seeing bands, hobby art and design projects. A Sci-Fi and Fantasy fan.