Danny Connell

University of Salford (2004 - 2007)

BSc(Hons) Professional Sound & Video Technology (2:1)

HND Professional Sound & Video Technology (Distinction)

• Became skilled in XHTML, CSS, ASP.NET 2.0, C#, ASP, VBScript and Flash, scoring Distinction (80%+) and 1st (68.5%+) grades in all web-related modules
• Trained in Visual Studio, Dreamweaver, Flash, Premiere Pro and After Effects software
• Won the School of Computing, Science and Engineering School Prize for 2 years running for outstanding performance (highest average out of several courses and 100's of students)
• Dissertation "A Study of Usable Web Design" formed a successful study of web usability
• Produced several static and database-driven websites including a fully-featured shop website, DVD Bargains, which scored 81%

Eccles College and Moorside High School (1993 - 2000)

• 3 A-Levels (Computing, General Studies, Music)
• 10 GCSEs (C and over)

Creative Theory (2009)

Web Designer/Developer

• Responsible for all aspects of design including logo design and web design to a very professional standard.
• Undertook both front-end and back-end development, including XHTML/CSS/JavaScript coding, CMS implementation (Wordpress, Textpattern and custom CMS), Ecommerce implementation (CS Cart & OpenCart) and database design and implementation.
• On one project, Daiyama, I was responsible for end-to-end design and development: logo design, web design, database design and complete front-end and back-end coding for a catalogue website (using classic ASP and an Access database).

Tailored Web Design (2009)

Senior Web Designer/Developer, Print Designer

• Single-handedly responsible for the web design, development and amendment of all websites (over 80 in 3 months) as the only web designer/developer
• Successfully designed and built 2-3, four page websites per day (and occasional larger websites) for a wide range of clients including Football Leagues, Decorators, Artists, Sign-makers, Print Companies, Fire Safety Equipment, Plumbers and many more

MDB Consulting Limited (2008)

Web Designer, Print Designer, SEO Strategist

• Designed many attractive, usable websites in several styles for various satisfied companies including Pharmaceutical, Transcriptions, Catering, Printers, Car sales and sports clubs
• Successfully built and updated many websites from designs by both hand-coding from scratch and using Kentico and DotNetNuke content management systems
• Search Engine Optimised MDB's website, raising it from a low ranking on Google to a very high ranking for many key search phrases. E.g. the search phrase "mobile development bolton" initially ranked MDB's website at 128, but now places it 4th on the list
• Produced attractive marketing print material for MDB including brochures, case studies and a large "roller" poster which was displayed at conventions
• Redesigned MDB's corporate documents, making them attractive and enhancing their branding

Eidos Rockpool Studio (2007 - 2008)

QA Technician, Web Developer & Designer

• Designed and produced an ASP.NET questionnaire website for online game BattleMail which gathered feedback from 100's of beta testers, storing their answers and user info (browser, system spec etc) into a database. I fed this data into a complex Excel Worksheet that highlighted common issues which were later addressed, massively improving the final product
• Suggested several key design features for BattleMail which were added, significantly improving the game and website's usability for its 1000s of satisfied players
• Assured the strictest quality of 10's of video games for mobile phones, Wii, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PC and the web which involved finding and reporting bugs, maintaining a database and liaising with producers, programmers, designers, artists and audio producers
• Responsible for producing complex Game Test Documents in Excel used by other Technicians to facilitate and improve the testing process and Game Flow Documents in Word which were used by publishers to allow them to navigate and keep up with the development of games
• Supervised and delegated work to a team of five in absence of Lead QA Technician

Static and Dynamic Website development

• Hand-coded many cross-browser compatible, usable websites that validate as XHTML, use 100% valid CSS for presentation (no tables) and conform to W3C accessibility guidelines
• Produced multiple dynamic websites using ASP (hand-coded) and ASP.NET. Features:- shopping basket, search, login, add/edit records, image upload, calendar, form validation
• Utilised JavaScript and jQuery for added functionality including:- style sheet switching, browser optimising, animated image galleries, sliding content, read/write cookies
• Implemented CMS?s and Ecommerce systems (Kentico, DNN, Textpattern, Wordpress, CS Cart, OpenCart)

Website Design

• Produced many website designs using Fireworks and Photoshop with an emphasis on usability, flair, and careful structuring of navigation & content

Print Design

• Designed attractive print material including brochures, case studies and posters

Animation

• Created animations/websites using Flash and complex 3D animations using After Effects - Rubik's Cube 3D Animation scored a very high First at degree level (79%)

Personal Skills

• Sharp eye for quality, detail & errors due to several years quality assuring 100s of games and websites
• Excellent communication/team skills from working in software development teams 4+ years
• Effective time management skills - succeeded in working quickly, meeting deadlines and balancing many simultaneous projects at all companies worked for
• Strong client-facing skills - accustomed to facing clients in a friendly, personable manner and delivering training & presentations

Other Related Skills

• Expert to intermediate user of: Visual Studio, Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• SEO - raised MDB's website to a very high Google ranking for many key search phrases

• Web Design / Build
• Daiyama - complete design & development inc. database design
• DC Access - complete design & development, CMS implementation
• RotorDiscs - complete redesign & redevelopment from existing database
• ThermoKing - design only
• 3 Peaks Cycles - XHTML/CSS & ecommerce development

•  
• Viewpoint 360 - complete design & build
• Bradford LINk - complete design & build
• AVR Transcriptions - design
• Leamington Rugby Club - design
• Interactive CV - design & build

• Print Design
• A4 Case Studies
• MDB Roller Poster
• MDB Brochure
   
• 3D Animation
• Rubik's Cube Animation

Freelance Web Designer and Video Producer (2007 - 2009)

• Produced websites for various small businesses and educational videos for three primary schools. One of which, "Words Move" is currently being displayed at the school.

Other roles

• Uni. of Salford - Promotions Officer (2007)
• Ifone - Mobile phone games QA Technician (2004-2006)
• Fifth Avenue - Bar Tender (2003)
• Various - Farm work in Australia (2002)
• Exchange Bar & Grill - Chef (2000-2001)
• NHS Monton Med. Centre - Administrator (1999)

I am a keen guitar player of 13 years and a writer and director of short films

Ian Harrison - Director / Designer, Creative Theory, 01524 262 832, ian@creativetheory.co.uk

Martin Bell - Managing Director, MDB Consulting, 08704 283 286, mbell@mdbconsulting.co.uk

Dave Eustace - Web Dev. Lecturer, Uni. Salford, 0161 295 5000, d.eustace@salford.ac.uk