About Jim
I'm well and truly back in the UK, having spent the last few years living in South America. Quite simply, we wanted to have one last hurrah of an adventure, before too many of life's responsibilities took hold!
But, all travelled out, now we are finally keen for some responsibilities - mortgage and sprogs, hopefully, here we come! We've begun a four legged family already, having rescued our 2 cats, Stan and Oliver, and Molly our mutt, from the mean streets of Brazil and Argentina...
So with new returns, I thought a new more personal website was due. This is here to act as new CV site for myself, with the aim of resuming some freelancing roles back in London again.
As you'll see, I have a well rounded skillset from design to development, while of course running my own business has encompassed far more...
Work
Here's a few projects I last worked on, covering London agency contracts, as well as my own clients. A PDF of my CV can be downloaded here...
Gordon Murray Design Ltd
Prof. Gordon Murray is a renowned designer of Formula One race cars and the McLaren F1 road car. Gordon Murray Design Ltd is an innovator in developing new methods of design and production for ultra-ecomonic petrol and electric city cars.
When this new company was set up, I was asked design and manage all web media. I'd previously spent a year working full time for McLaren, producing design work for their McLaren SLR road car.
Tesco Greener living
Working for the design and branding agency EHS Brann, this was my last London agency contract before moving to South America.
I spent 7 months on this project, covering the latter part of design proof work, through to launch, and then update and maintenance.
Always happy to be diverse, I also worked on a number of other client projects for EHS Brann whenever needed.
Yes Job
A job posting and trades review website I designed and developed while living in Argentina. The brief was to create a directory site with reviews, where users posted jobs, while suppliers answered with quotes. The challenge lay in producing this to a minimal budget!
The site uses open source platforms (Joomla & Amember), and I developed a job posting and assignment database system to integrate with these (php & mysql). Site also replicated for Australia...
Fiat
I spent 5 months working for the design and branding agency AKQA.
Originally contracted to produce Flash banners for a Nike, upon completion I was quickly retained to work on the new Fiat website.
I typically created Photoshop layouts continuing the site concept design, attending project meetings and working to briefs. As is fairly usual, I worked on other AKQA client projects whereever needed...
Perfect Integration
A straightforward information website. Designed, developed and integrated with the CMS Made Simple, content management system.
Client has full control for easy edit/creation of pages. The defined editable areas cover site header images, and the main content area. Menu structure's self-populate from new content. The flash menu has a non-flash alternative to keep mobile friendly and accessible. Font replacement is handled using the Cufon method...
Reputation By Design
A boutique design and branding company. I've been been providing Reputation By Design with web development and consultative support, spanning my time living Argentina, Spain and now the UK!
In addition to working on their client websites, I built their main website at the end of 2010. This required a bit of a crash course in jQuery and Spry to create the various animations. A particular favorite of mine being the 'Say Hello' form! Over the past year, I've continued to learn, develop and utilise my jQuery skills further...
Mercedes Benz - Print Retouching
The last agency role I worked at purely in a retouching role was for the iconic German advertising agency Springer Jacoby, producing an accessories brochure for Mercedes Benz.
Although this contract was quite some time ago now, my photoshop retouching skills aren't something I've ever lost, and so I wanted to represent this work here still.
I'm not actively pursuing retouching work right now, but I do have an old CV website (BC - Before CSS!) that continues to gain me projects.
Advertising Banners
I've really enjoyed working on advertising banners. Fun mini-projects combining design, animation, code and invention. I found myself working on these jobs more and more before I left for South America.
Below are some examples, working for various agencies, such as Agency.com, AKQA, EHS Brann, Publicis Modem and Dare.
BA - Caribbean
BT - Vision
BT - Digital Vault
BT - Contact One
HP - Deals
Nike - Run
Expandable
on pulses
Tesco - Greener Living
At the time of launch the site cms didn't support flash banners, so these are a series 'old school' gif banners I created as an alternative.
Veet - Wax & Cream
Vodafone - Curve
Skills
Seventeen years ago, I started an old-fashioned apprenticeship with a London prepress company. Trained in the art of drum scanning, colour correction/retouching, and prepress cmyk to proof, film and print.
A freelance career followed in retouching, visualisation and artworking. Happily, my skills soon translated well to the web, and I've found a natural affinity for both the creative and the technical.
Web work is now my predominant focus (going back some 12 years!), and my multi-skills in design have expanded further into development. See bar chart right..!
Work through my own business also encompasses marketing, sales, consultation, project and team management, strategy, hosting and continued support... I have to say, I really like the variety!
Excuse the pun, but I suppose I'm a bit of a 'Jim of all trades'!
Contact
Your postcard message has been sent - Thanks..!
Jim On Earth Ltd
55 Croft Avenue
West Wickham
Kent, BR4 0QH
T: 020 3239 3239
E: me@jimonearth.co.uk
Gallery
'Who on Earth is Jim?' Glimpses below..! Hmm, well this is really a shameless excuse for jQuery fun - Flick my pics to other pages to redecorate!
