Ideal

I call myself a Multimedia Designer/Developer, yet I have skills and passions in many areas of IT and Multimedia. My major interests are the internet, programming, design, usability, and functional interface Design. I would say my skill sets are best suited for the Web and interactive media environments.

Starting with a technical side to life in Information Technology, I found that I also really enjoyed graphic and functional design, more specifically interface design, and that my IT background helped me to understand the functional requirements of interface development.

Looking for a way to tie my qualifications in IT and my interests in programming and design together, I enrolled into a Multimedia Degree. To the amazement of my boss at the time who had just offered me a full time position, after finishing my Traineeship, on the same salary as the guys who had been doing IT Network support for years. I can still remember the look on his face when I turned him down and told him my plans.

Anyway, so I enrolled in multimedia and I clicked immediately... I found my ideal environment. I got many credits in the IT related subjects which enabled me to study some subjects of interest and I used the free electives to acquire as many skills in interactive programming as I could.

All along the way, since 1999 I have been picking up freelance and contract work, extra curricula and "Moonlighting" I guess you could say. At first it was through tender, but then I was getting enough work through word of mouth to keep me occupied, while not studying or working. Each project with its own little "new" thing to learn made it a challenge to be able to accomplish the brief. Some projects have been a lot of fun and I have had some interesting and fun clients.

So after graduating from university and moving to Melbourne, and deciding not to be a full time freelancer (with the help and a few nudges of my friends and family), and after 6 months of arriving in Melbourne and doing almost nothing, except a few freelance jobs, I got my act together and went to a design agency. Within a few weeks I had an interview and ultimately a job offer from Oxford University Press, where I am currently Electronic Project Coordinator.

The last few years working for Oxford have been good fun, with many challenges, and a great place to continue to learn and further myself in the Multimedia world, due to having to adapt to new projects within short timelines, and being the only Multimedia person in the building. From my education and on the job at oxford, I have found that I have an ability to quickly adapt to new projects, such as learning a new programming language, or developing specifications based on discussions with the stake holders.

I feel that I have a great skill at designing systems (functional specs), and being able to develop myself or manage the project, and as such am ideally looking forward to progressing in my career in development through to management and ultimately someday own or run my own multimedia empire.

Education

• Bachelors Degree in Multi Media, Mgr Marketing,     Southern Cross University


• Information Technology Specialization,     Wollongbar TAFE


• Certificate IV Information Technology,     Wollongbar TAFE


• Trade: Information Technology Network Support and Diagnostics,     Northern Rivers Group Training


• Certificate II Information Technology,     Northern Rivers Group Training


• Certificate II Information Technology,     Vet Southern Cross High School


• NSW HSC,     Southern Cross High School

Programming Languages:
• PHP
• Javascript
• ActionScript2
• ActionScript3
• Lingo
• XHTML
• CSS
• mySQL and SQL

Applications:
• Photoshop CS, CS2, CS3
• Illustrator CS, CS2, CS3
• inDesign CS, CS2, CS3
• Flash 5 - CS3
• Dreamweaver 2 - CS3
• MS Visual Web Dev
• MS Office package
• MS Project
• mySQL & SQL Database

Server Exposure
• NT Server: File server
• NT Server: IIS Web server
• NT Server: SQL 2000 Database
• Win 2000 Server: Files Server
• Win 2000 Server: IIS Web Server
• Win 2000 Server: SQL 2005 Database
• Win 2000 Server: Proxy Server
• Linux Red Hat: Apache Web Server
• Linux Red Hat: mySQL Database

Operating System Exposure
• Windows 95 - Vista
• Mac: OS9, OSX (Tiger, Leopard)
• Linux:
  • Mandrake
  • Red Hat
  • Knoppix
  • Ubuntu
• Preferred OS: Win XP & Mac OSX

Experience

Current Employment:

• 2005 - Today     Oxford University Press, Australia & New Zealand      Melbourn, Vic
• Electronic Project Coordinator
• Coordinate the design and successful development of all electronic projects. Electronic projects include CD-ROMs, Websites, Microsite content management, Interactive Media for web, touch screen, projection and monitor display, Database design, development and integration. Many of my duties include both system functional design specification and graphic interface design and functional development, development/programming, coordination of outsource resources, project management, Application and Systems testing and diagnosis, and IP&T and interactive media research.


• 1999 - 2008     Aaron Sempf Design      NSW & Vic
• Sole trader/ Contractor – Multimedia Designer/ Developer
• Work as a sole trader and contractor designing websites, databasess, CD-ROMs, Coorperate logo’s & stationary, pamphlets, and custom graphics, as well as maintaining existing websites..



Previous Employment

• 2004 - 2005     EB Games      Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Sales Assistant
• Worked in a casual capacity selling computer games, consols and accessories. Duties also included unpacking stock, cleaning, and over the phone customer support.


• 2003     BMD Computers      Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Technical Assistant Manager
• Worked in a part time capacity for 4 months over the busiest time of the year, managing a computer workshop, fixing computers, as well as hardware diagnostics and repairs.


• 2003-2004      Extreme Team Training Centre      Karangi, NSW
• Instructor
• Worked on weekends as an instructor for extreme sports, such as Skirmish, abseiling, military style obstacle. Other activities include Boot camps, survival weekends, and corporate challenges.


• 2003      We Are Computers      Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Sales assistant, & Multimedia
• Worked on a casual roster basis, selling computers, accessories, and computer repairs.
• Multimedia duties included, building websites, brochures, CD Covers, advertising posters, and designing decals for a Van.


• 2002      Southern Cross University      Coffs Harbour, NSW
• Helpdesk support officer
• Worked week on week off, on a 6 month contract basis, as a helpdesk support officer. Duties include fixing technical problems over the phone, over the counter support, and assigning jobs through a database to other sections of the information technology department.


• 1999-2001      Mobsoft      Ballina, NSW
• Technical Director, & Partner
• I was partner of a small computer design, wholesale and retail business. Supplying to other small retailers and resellers within the area as well as retailing to the local community. Duties include Account management, shipping in and out, building computers, assisting in design of custom software, and developing websites for local small businesses and home users.


• 2000-2001      Sothern Cross University      Lismore, NSW
• Trainee Client Support Officer
• Worked in a part time capacity whilst completing school and full time after completing, in the ITD department of Southern Cross University, servicing approximately 1000 computers with hardware and software support, testing and diagnostics, imaging and re-imaging, project roll outs, networking, and problem solving.


• 2000      Ballina Shire Council      Ballina, NSW
• Trainee IT Support
• Worked in a part time capacity as a trainee in the Information Technology department. Duties include servicing the computers within the chambers as well as onsite at the town dump, Information Centre, Town Library, Council depots, and Council Training facilities, with Imaging and re-imaging, project roll outs, networking, and problem solving.

Awards

• Information Technology Specialization Certificate of Completion
• Awarded in 2001


• Trainee of the Month in Information Technology
• Awarded in 2001


• Year Advisors award for Major implementation towards Fundraising
• Awarded 2001


• Pear Leadership award
• Awarded 2001


• Certificate of achievement for student doing the most good for the school
• Awarded 2001


• Third place in Open Slather Regional Short Film Festival
• Awarded in 2001


• Trainee of the Month in Information Technology
• Awarded in 2000


• Clean Green Usable and Blue award for Community Leadership
• Awarded in 2000


• Certificate of Achievement in VET Information Technology - 1st place
• Awarded in 2000


• Certificate of Achievement in Info Processes and Technology - 1st place
• Awarded in 2000

Personal Interest

When it comes to my personal interests, its hard to write them all down. I guess I can say, I like learning, about anything.
Especialy Tech related topics... Robotics, programming AI, electronics, theoretical physics. And I think I'm one of those lucky people who gets to work in what I enjoy. If I'm not at work doing it, I'm at home doing it.
So I guess this is a list of my major intersts:

• Computers (everything)
• Computer & consol games
• programming... web, games, AI(logic)
• Everything interactive Multi Media
• Robotics and electronics: I'm mostly interested in automation, not remote control
• Web design
• Graphic design
• Drawing
• Film and Video production
• Music: Anything except country and western (with some exceptions)
• Self Defence: Have been training since I was 7 years old
• Soccer: Started playing for my local team so that my brother could join the team, and ended up loving it
• Sailing: Learned to sail during the Christmas holidays one year, then started crewing for a year
• Cooking, when my Fiancée lets me
• Reading: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Cultural
• Anything hands on learning

For everything else, check out my bookmarks: HERE