About

I build Web applications and RIAs, usually with tools like Flash, Flex and AIR. I also develop dynamic, accessible and standards-compliant Web sites with XHTML, CSS, AJAX — the usual stuff you'd expect.

I'm an open standards and data portability enthusiast. I work with a variety of server-side technologies too — the likes of PHP, MySQL, SQLite, Flash Media Server and Red 5. I have plenty of experience with many open source CMS solutions, including Wordpress, Joomla! and Drupal.

I started out primarily as a Flash platform developer, but like many developers my beginnings were with the traditional front-end stack — good old HTML and CSS. Lately their resurgence in popularity has allowed me to bring my those skills back to an equal footing. Whilst many pit one against the other, I strive to take on projects of both — refusing to believe that the future of the Web only has room for one.

Now that's not to say that the likes of HTML5 even need live up to the hype — you can create brilliant websites with clean, semantic markup and a good kick of Javascript using “HTML4”(and I do). Whatever the reason informing these choices though, it's great that everyone's remembering how powerful these tools can be — and that there's always a challenge.

Having worked in small development teams, I've never been afraid to get my hands dirty with new technology, that's how I started working with server-side programming. Now well versed in PHP, I'm as happy to create object-oriented server-side applications as I am on the client-side — whether from scratch or using a framework.

Working on both the client-side and back-end I've become aware of some nifty tricks concerning website optimisation, tips and tricks in serving pages; caching, some boilerplate performance tweaks. When it comes to project deployment and Web server management, I've more experience with Apache than Windows IIS, I prefer UNIX-based systems and using SSH. I'm not afraid to make the odd tweak with the command-line rather than opening an FTP client. I'm pretty proud of my VIM skills.

I have in depth knowledge of object-oriented programming, design patterns and best practices when it comes to writing, testing and documenting code. Clean code at author-time helps everyone, means efficient debugging, easy problem solving and leads to a better quality product. Likewise knowing how to write strong team communications and how to write for clients.

I like Web standards, open standards and semantics. I keep up to date with online community developments and resources, also often attend meetup groups and conferences around London across a number of topics. I also tend to play about with code a lot in my own time. Dabbling with platforms and APIs such as Facebook's Open Graph, Twitter, Flickr — or any one of the ton of other Web 2.0 startup offerings.

On top of my development skills, I've become familiar with software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and Fireworks — it's much easier for me to make a quick tweak myself rather than request a round of amends that might take hours. Likewise I've familiarity with image optimisation as well as audio and video compression.

I think a developer has to be more than a just programmer, that's why I've strived to gain a wide cross-section of skills during my work and I will continue to embrace even more. You can never stop learning.

Skillset

Primary Languages:

Libraries and Frameworks:

Web Formats:

Technologies

Platforms:

Applications and APIs:

Practices:

Software

Fluency:

Proficiency:

Education

I graduated from Bournemouth University's Media School and Centre for Excellence, with BA (Hons) Interactive Media Production — first class.

The course gave us the opportunity to study a huge range of interactive platforms; websites, browser and desktop-based games, projects for mobile and small-screen devices, “traditional” e-commerce sites and (the then brand new!) social networking sites. We experimented with innovative ideas; user-generated narratives, non-linear storytelling and interactive television and film concepts.

The course helped develop a strong understanding of the contexts of interactive media, the changing role of technology and it's effect on society. Importantly, it nurtured an aesthetic appreciation of interactive media products.

The three years were production-heavy, offering a wealth of introductory options during the first two years across multiple disciplines — video, sound, graphics and animation, etc. — allowing students to specialise in their third year.

My final year project, entitled “Talkboards”, was a real-time collaborative communication platform — part chat-room, part social network, part art canvas — which created virtual online spaces where users could interact via webcams, post images and videos and hold conversations in a synchronous non-linear environment.

Borrowing ideas from long-standing communication applications, it was a highly interactive hybrid, built using Flash Media Server to facilitate instantaneous updates, developed with a highly visual Flash interface. It was based on the idea of forming a non-linar communicative platform between multiple recipients, where participants could see updates and responses in real-time, as-you-type.. pre-dating Google Wave by three years. :)

Here are some screenshots:

Talkboards screenshot 1 Talkboards screenshot 2 Talkboards screenshot 3 Talkboards screenshot 4

Talkboards achieved the following merits:

  • Rhizome Artist Commission, 2007 — Finalist
  • Adobe Design Achievement Awards, 2007 — Semi-finalist

Nominated for the following:

  • Europrix Multimedia Top Talent Award, 2007
  • British Interactive Media Award, 2007
  • BEA Festival Interactive Multi-Media Award, 2007

Exhibited at:

  • D&AD New Blood, Old Billingsgate, London
  • iheartplay (graduate show), Dray Walk Gallery, Brick Lane, London

Featured in:

  • Computer Arts Graduate Showcase, 2007
  • Web Designer Magazine's New Blood, June 2007

Recommendations

A few words from others:

Marc has exceptional adaptability as a developer, being a master of all client-side technologies whilst also possessing solid understanding of the server-side and database requirements of any given application. Add to this both an academic and practical appreciation for the Semantic Web and all things web standards, and he quickly becomes a highly valued member of any technical team. Of his manifold talents however, it would be wrong not to single out that which Marc is most passionate for; viz., Flash/Flex/AIR, with which as an architect-capable developer he is par excellence.

Marc is incredibly reliable both as an individual and developer, and is an exemplar of integrity and excellent work ethic, demonstrated on countless occasions throughout his continuing tenure at Collective. He is a communicator able to effectively transmit technical concepts to [non-]technical persons alike, an active blogger at marchibbins.com and advocate of social media, and an excellent consultant for both myself and the rest of the team/agency in his noted areas of expertise.

Omar Malik — Technical Director, Collective London

Marc has an outstanding ability to adapt and learn new technologies quickly and to an expert level. His professional work ethics, friendly team player skills and his ability to think out of the box for efficient problem solving solutions make him a valuable asset across both development and planning. I highly recommend Marc.

Trent Williams — Senior Developer, Illumina Digital

Marc is a sharp, innovative web designer and developer. He worked on a number of our bigger projects with demanding clients which he delivered on time and to specification. He is easy to work with, his work is to a high standard and I would have no hesitation in recommending Marc.

Davie McGirr — Director of Design and Development, Illumina Digital

Marc was a brilliant addition to the Illumina Development team. He applied himself very well, was a great team player, very personable, and was equally adept at developing run-of-the-mill applications and cutting edge solutions.

I'd recommend Marc to any development team.

Damien Hampton — Head of Technology, Illumina Digital

View all my recommendation on LinkedIn

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