Gary Ferguson's CV
( Download as a PDF)I am a multi-discipline designer, experienced in team working and independent creativity. I have:
• Strong graphic design skills, applicable to corporate identity projects, marketing and advertising, and information delivery. Ability to output designs and concepts to both screen and print, and to co-ordinate integrated projects with a consistent identity across both.
• In-depth understanding and knowledge of website design and development. Strong technical background in, among others, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, .NET and PHP. Experienced in the application of usability and accessibility criteria to public information delivery on the web, but also of producing vibrant visuals-led solutions when required.
• Proven skills in project management and client liaison, guiding clients through the development process from ideas and market research to budgets and timescales.
• Experience of working within a complex and diverse organisation, developing relationships with groups, projects and individuals at all levels. Adapted my role as circumstances required and developed new skills as needed.
• Specialist understanding of usability and accessibility issues in interfaces and navigation for touch screen applications, for screen menus and for websites.
• Experience creating both still and motion graphics for TV and video output, of incorporating graphics into broadcast projects, of video editing at broadcast quality and of exporting video appropriately for web use.
• Ability to produce diverse content for websites, from streaming video to interactive animations. Skilled and experienced in writing original text content for websites. Ability to create content management systems, and to train others in their use.
I can work on a project-by-project basis or, as in my recent employment, I can work within a company providing comprehensive and co-ordinated design and development across a variety of media.
Experience
Data Explorers
Designer / Developer May 2010 – November 2010
Design and development role at Data Explorers, 41, Thistle Street Lane SW, Edinburgh. Working with a team of software developers and data managers, I produced user interface design, created data display components such as branded charts and worked on development projects from initial concepts through to build.
Data Explorers maintains databases of global securities lending daily transactions with data supplied by almost all of the main lenders and borrowers in this field, and publish this information for use by their subscribers. They also create software which their clients use to access, analyse and compare the huge quantity of data they publish. The Edinburgh office is the development and content branch of the business, with sales and support offices in London, New York and Hong Kong.
MNE TV (Media nan Eilean / MNE Media)
Designer / Developer Dec 2007 – Oct 2009
In-house multimedia designer at mneTV, 36 Washington Street, Glasgow. Core work in development and content creation for mneTV's suite of websites, working in .NET, PHP and Flash. Produced print graphics, on-screen graphics for TV programmes and edited video for the web.
MNE is a television production company, with a particular focus on developing and producing programmes for the Gaelic TV audience. Consequently, after 20 years successfully establishing their reputation with quaity output for the Gaelic programming on both BBC and STV, they have recently become a major player in the new Gaelic channel, BBC ALBA, and are producing many successful series for the channel, mainly in sport and entertainment. My initial role with the company was the short-term development of a stand-alone sports hub and forum, aimed initially at the shinty community. My role later expanded to cover all elements of design and development within the company, from websites supporting individual TV programmes to branded print output and advertising, and also included contributing both static and motion graphics to their TV programmes.
Metro Press Euro Ltd
Designer / Developer Jan 2005– July 2006
Metro is primarily a print design company which has, in recent years, diversified into websites and other screen-based design. Working predominantly on screen-based projects, I contributed design and development work to a range of Metro projects, including PHP and MySQL development for the web, website design and implementation. My main role was work on visuals and components for bank ATM screens and programs, interface and navigation development for these applications and the design, layout and content of associated technical manuals.
Metro combines a press production facility with an in-house design studio. They design publications, reports and other visual material for clients and print both their own design work and jobs submitted by other agencies. I worked on a variety of print projects for Metro's diverse range of clients, including their high-profile accounts such as the National Trust for Scotland and NHS Scotland. Tasks included originating design artwork, collaborating with other designers on ongoing briefs and press-preparing both internal work and documents received from outside.
Gary Ferguson Design
Freelance Design Business Feb 2004 – Present
I work for clients using my established skills in graphic and web design, managing projects and producing design output . I target areas where I have a market knowledge and insight into client need. I continue to work on a sub-contract basis for Metro Press Ltd (see above) and other regular clients.
Digital Design Scotland
Designer / Developer August 2001 – January 2004
In my employment with Digital Design Scotland (DDS), I gained two and a half years' experience designing and developing websites and print graphics for a range of clients. My main responsibilities were:
• To design, build and launch websites for a variety of clients
• To produce print-ready graphic designs for output as posters, leaflets, publications, business stationery and as content for magazines and periodicals
• To co-ordinate projects with integrated website and print graphics requirements
• To manage my own projects in liaison with individual clients, including: analysis of needs and intentions; producing quotations; setting budgets and timescales; arranging hosting and domain names; developing content; testing at several stages of production
• To develop strategies with clients to ensure that work will meet their end-users' expectations
• To produce graphic images, illustrations and diagrams, Flash animations and other visual content for web or print
• To produce and/or edit photographic and text content appropriately for use in either websites or print documents
• To develop any necessary scripting to achieve the desired functionality of a given site
• To design and build databases, when necessary, in Microsoft Access or SQL Server and to create dynamic pages to deliver site content from database sources
• To build content management systems for website administration and to train clients in their use
• To produce high-resolution digital artworks for a print-on-demand art production service
• To operate in-house wide format digital printing facilities and maintain network standards for print quality
• To work with other members of the team on collaborative projects and business development
Education
1999 – 2001 Edinburgh's Telford College - HND in Graphic and Digital Design
This course combined a traditional graphics element, working predominantly in Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark, with a significant new media programme, working in Dreamweaver, Flash and Director. I chose to specialise in new media for my second year, while still completing weekly graphics briefs.
1987 – 1988 Edinburgh College of Art - Post-Graduate Diploma in Drawing and Painting
This one-year post-graduate course concentrated on studio professionalism and techniques for operating in the art market. It generated practises which I used to set up and maintain my studio and to work as an artist for ten years before choosing to train in design.
1983 – 1987 Edinburgh College of Art - BA (Hons) in Drawing and Painting (2:1)
Course included foundation training across a range of disciplines, lectures in art history, practical artwork and techniques and self-development towards a final exhibition. This training furnished me with core visual skills such as page layout, leading the eye and control of colour themes that I was later able to bring to my design work.
Programmes and Languages
Photoshop / Image Ready
Dreamweaver, Visual Studio, Flash, Fireworks, Director
After Effects, Motion, Final Cut Pro
Illustrator, Freehand
Quark XPress / InDesign
Mac OS 9 and X, Windows XP & Vista
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, .NET, PHP
MSSQL and MySQL databases
Personal Details
My main interest outside digital work remains painting, and I work whenever possible from a studio in the wasps building in Albion Road, Edinburgh. A selection of paintings can be viewed here.
I also take photographs, partly as an end in itself, but also as a resource for my paintings and as a contribution to design projects. A major theme in my work is developing tiny details of discarded photographs or found images, so I have an ever-expanding collection of those, too.
As a necessary relief from all this visual stuff, I like to swim and cycle - both good for clearing the head. I've recently returned to playing football - a more sociable way to be active.