Résumé
Nathan Smith
Dallas, Texas
Objective
In Business
I seek to work alongside members of a team in which everyone has something to bring to the table. I would prefer to work in a tight-knit group in which open communication is encouraged and creativity is valued. My biggest strengths are in design aesthetics and writing efficient client-side code.
In Ministry
I seek to glorify the name of Jesus Christ through the use of the gifts and talents that God has given me. I want to work alongside others that share a similar vision, and are living their lives for the sake of the gospel. I would prefer an area of ministry that involves the use of web technologies.
Experience
2008-Present • Viewzi • Dallas, TX
Senior Front-End Developer
- I was responsible for much of the front-end work, including writing XHTML, CSS and JavaScript. I also occasionally wrote PHP for templating and did visual mockups as needed. I helped to plan and build new DHTML search result views, as well as maintain and enhance existing views and the core platform. I built rapid prototypes of ideas around possible extensions of Viewzi for client implementations. I wrote our internal code standards documentation for front-end development, which included guidelines for contractors and in-house team members.
Created 960.gs
- While not directly related to Viewzi, in 2008 I also created the 960 Grid System in an effort to streamline IA sketching, designing and coding of grid based page layouts. It arose from my own personal need to have a solid starting point when doing freelance and professional work. Realizing it might benefit others too, I released it for free usage, and it has since been used by numerous web developers in their own projects.
Conferences
- In the latter part of ’08 I had the opportunity to speak at various conferences and local events, including: Echo Conference, Webmaster Jam Session, Refresh Dallas and Adobe MAX. Topics ranged from the gospel and accessibility, pragmatism in front-end development, and using Fireworks to design sites to be built using Web Standards — HTML, CSS, JS.
.Net Magazine
- I was asked to write an article about religious web design, for issue 176 of the UK based publication .Net Magazine. I was privileged to be one of three designers to participate in a “build-off,” crafting a hypothetical home page for a real or fictitious place of worship. I used the 12-column grid from 960.gs to create the design, and annotated my thought process throughout. To see the finished article, as it appeared in print — click here.
2006-2008 • EMC • Dallas, TX
Information Architect + Interface Designer
- I worked with EMC client Amerisource Bergen Specialty Group. I was part of an integrated team, focused on rebuilding their e-commerce site. We worked in an iterative process using the scrum project management methodology. I handled IA tasks and coded HTML, CSS + JavaScript.
- I worked as an IA for EMC client Hotels.com as part of their User Experience team, improving interaction in their iterative redesign. I built rapid prototypes for user testing using JavaScript. To lighten the load on their developers, I occasionally coded XHTML and CSS for production.
- Designed a visual presentation for EMC client Nokia. This consisted of user interaction wireframes presented in a Keynote slideshow format.
- Designed visual concepts and wireframes for various clients: AAFES, Turner Construction, Puget Sound Energy and Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Met with clients during pre-sales discussions, to help facilitate project scoping. For example: Dickies, Horizon Health and Rodman Companies.
- Coded the Geniant blog – XHTML, CSS and Textpattern configuration. It was architected by Garrett Dimon and designed by Jared Christensen.
Speaker, BibleTech 2008
Logos Bible Software invited publishers, programmers, tagging experts, library scientists, technologists, thought leaders, design gurus, information architects, webmasters, and mash-up creators to lead conference sessions and roundtable discussions at BibleTech. Christian Bradford and I presented the topic – Web Standards: Speaking Today’s Vernacular.
Columnist, Digital Web Magazine
- I was asked to be a columnist at Digital Web Magazine. I wrote an article entitled The Village Stew, and continue to pen more as time allows.
Co-author, Textpattern Solutions
- I had the privilege of co-authoring Textpattern Solutions (ISBN: 1590598326), a book on the elegant content management system Textpattern. It was published by Friends of ED, a subsidiary of Apress.
2005-2006 • Albertson’s Inc. • Boise, ID
Web User Interface Designer + Developer
- Integral in the creation of our internal coding standards and design patterns. We modeled the idea after the Yahoo Design Pattern Library. I also wrote much of our XHTML, CSS and JavaScript quality guidelines.
- I was originally hired on primarily as a designer, but after proving myself proficient at writing code, was given a slight lateral promotion to the position of developer. In this position, I was afforded the opportunity to not only design interfaces but also have control over how the code was handled. I mainly wrote XHTML, CSS and occasionally did JavaScript.
- Designed user interfaces for intranet sites. It should be noted that the company does not allow for public display of corporate intranet projects. Please contact me directly if you wish to see a sampling of this work.
- In January of 2006, was recognized along with the other members of our Design Services team for excellence in the APEX 6.0 web application. It allows for tracking and overview of Albertson’s business project workflow. It was the company’s first project to make use of Ajax + Web Standards.
- Suggested and assisted in the reorganization of our internal network’s storage drive, to better facilitate linking and collaboration of group efforts. It involved a new file naming schema and directory structure. This avoided data loss due to overwriting and enabled us to better track our projects.
- Periodically required to double check the quality level of our back-end developers’ code, who had a tendency to re-work our front-end CSS templates into nested tables, due to unfamiliarity with web standards.
Speaker, Gospelcon 2006
- Gospel Communications hosts an annual Internet ministry conference, dubbed Gospelcon. In 2006, I was invited to speak about web accessibility as it pertains to facilitating Christianity online. Essentially, if we really believe the good news, we should care about the delivery.
Founder, Godbit Project
- After getting settled in Boise, I began to meet and network with other Christian web designers and developers. Through a shared concern for how the Church at large fails to use the web to its full potential, we decided to start Godbit.com, to raise awareness about the benefits of web standards.
CSS Beauty, Contributor
- I was invited by Alex Giron of CSS Beauty to be a regular contributor to the site, helping aggregate news that pertains to development with the use of CSS and other established web standards. I consider it an honor to be working with the other talented people who contribute to the site.
Judge, TXP Competition
- I was asked by Tom Fadial of Textplates to be a judge in the template design competition for the Textpattern content management system. I helped sift through and sort the good from the bad, scoring each entry and offering critiques. Overall, it was a good turnout.
2002-2005 • Asbury Theological Seminary • Wilmore, KY
Web-Developer + Graphic Artist
- Worked briefly as a computer lab assistant in the campus library, and then was promoted to doing graphics and web-design for the seminary.
- Responsible for creating various class curriculum webpage designs, as well as CD + DVD covers. Also did routine PC troubleshooting and periodically covered VIS, our remote audio + video system.
- Played an integral role in re-designing the AsburySeminary.edu website. I handled some of the CSS layout, print/text sizing, and search capabilities.
- Worked on annual campus-wide computer re-allocation and upgrade process, handling hardware and software troubleshooting.
- Teaching assistant to Dr. Groeling, in IT605: Web & Internet in Ministry.
- Did camera work for Asbury Info Tech, both in studio and on location.
Freelance Web-Developer + Video Production
- Responsible for creating RockUMC.com, the homepage of The Rock/La Roca United Methodist Church in Lexington, KY.
- Did camera work for The Rock/La Roca, taping church services.
2000-2002 • AIA Insurance • Pullman, WA
Network Administrator + Webmaster
- Was responsible for maintaining the Associated Independent Agencies company network, consisting of multiple offices.
- Handled routine updates and additions to the company website.
- Also handled some purchasing of computer hardware and software.
1999-2000 • Washington State University • Pullman, WA
Research Assistant + Computer Technician
- Worked for the Social & Economic Sciences Research Center at WSU.
- Did various phone interviews regarding population demographics.
- Maintained computer network, and assisted in compilation of statistics.
1997-1999 • Easter Seals + YMCA • Minot, ND
Lifeguard + Swim Instructor
- Worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at two indoor pools, for Easter Seals and Minot Family YMCA.
- Taught Red Cross swim lessons, levels 1-6.
Pre 1997:
In high school, I worked a variety of food-service and grocery store jobs. I would be glad to talk at length about it, if anyone wants to know more. I also held a volunteer System Operator job for Microsoft’s MSN Gaming Zone.
Education
2002-2005 • Asbury Theological Seminary • Wilmore, KY
Master of Divinity – senior
- Helped to facilitate Celebrate Recovery at The Rock/La Roca UMC, counseling those trying to recover from drug and alcohol addictions.
- Student Leadership Team, Middler Class President for 2004-05.
- Student Body Council, Communications Director for 2003-04.
- Student Body Council, Junior Class Vice President for 2002-03.
1999-2002 • Washington State University • Pullman, WA
Bachelor of Arts, Social Sciences
- Was involved in Campus Christian Fellowship.
- Co-led a campus Bible study for two dorms.
- Played trumpet for worship services, and appeared in six dramatic stage productions.
- Also served as an evangelism intern, training other students in peer outreach.
1997-1999 • Minot State University • Minot, ND
Transfer Student
- Started college at MSU, and then transferred to WSU when my family moved to Fairchild AFB due to military relocation.
- Began studies in architecture and computer science, and then switched to social sciences upon feeling called to go to seminary.
- Served as a volunteer with the chapel youth group at Minot Air Force Base.
Other Skills
I consider myself to be pretty well rounded. I have an appreciation for much of the diversity in life. I have played the trumpet since 1987. I have dabbled in the following foreign languages: Japanese, Spanish, Greek, and Hebrew. I am currently trying to learn Russian, as this is my wife’s family origin. Suffice it to say, I am flexible and teachable.
As far as computer expertise goes, I have made numerous award-winning video game levels. I was formerly in a group called Wired Lamp Studios, several members of which have gone on to work for Nintendo, Raven and UbiSoft. I am familiar with a variety of technological aspects – including hardware, software and web languages. Below is a more extensive list.
Software
3D + Game Design
- 3D Studio Max, AutoCAD, Blender, Brice, GTK Radiant, JED, Maya, MilkShape, Swift 3D, Terragen, UnrealEd.
Graphics + Code
- Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash, Microangelo, Notepad++, OmniGraffle, Paint Shop Pro, Photoshop, Visio, TextMate.
Office Productivity
- Adobe Acrobat, Apple Keynote, Microsoft Office, NeoOffice, OpenOffice.
Video + Sound Editing
- Final Cut Pro, GarageBand, Goldwave, iMovie, Real Audio, Quicktime.
Web Languages
- CSS, JavaScript, MySQL, PHP, XHTML, XML.
References available upon request.
