Pat’s Point of View

This is the curriculum vitae of Patrick Kennedy, ‘user experience architect’: web designer, information architect, web technologist and consultant. My work revolves around user-centred design, involving several core skill-sets, including:

• needs analysis research,
• solutions design,
• prototyping,
• usability testing
• and accessible, standards-based implementation.

My best assets are my broad experience and my ability to integrate many aspects of solution: business, marketing, creative, technology, as well as usability. Much of my career has been spent in a ‘solutions architect’ role, making use of my cross-disciplinary skills to assess feasibility and offer a holistic perspective.

I have a solid 10 years industry experience, ranging from software engineering and technical web development, through to marketing and advertising, and then in more recent years information architecture and user centred design, on which I now focus exclusively.

My experience also spans many industry sectors, including:

IT&T, electronics and manufacturing, automotive, not-for-profit and charitable, banking and finance, government,
FMCG and tourism/travel. I have worked in a variety of environments: freelance and consultant; small teams and big teams; ‘agencyland’ and the corporate world.

This varied experience is invaluable as a user-centred design practitioner and consultant, better equipping me for architecting well rounded end-to-end solutions, and enables me to be effective at any stage of a project.

I have a thirst for knowledge and enjoy learning new things or indeed more about old things. My career goal is to find a challenging and exciting role that allows me to utilise my extensive experience whilst continuing to expand my knowledge through working with talented and interesting people and undertaking new projects and ventures.

My ideal work environment is within a team of enthusiastic and passionate individuals, who take care in providing the right solution to a problem and an interest in improving themselves. I am able to work equally well independently or as part of a team. I get along very well with my team-mates, and I am known and respected by all as a hard-working and reliable person. I have often played the role of intermediary between disciplines.

Work history

• Senior Experience Architect – News Digital Media, Sydney (2008–present)
• User Experience Specialist — Step Two Designs, Sydney (2006–2008)
• Web experience designer — Freelance, Sydney and London (1994–present)
• Head of Technology and IA — CMW Interactive, London (2002–2005)
• Head of Technical — Leo Burnett Digital, Sydney (1999–2002)

Education

• Bachelor of Computer Systems Engineering – University of Technology, Sydney (1999)
• Diploma of Engineering Practice – University of Technology, Sydney (1999)
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment TAA49194 – CTI Australia (2007)

Training and short courses

• “SharePoint: An independent business and technical analysis” – Michael Sampson (April 2008)
• “Narrative techniques for business” – Anecdote (July 2007)
• “Taxonomy and metadata strategies for effective content management” – Joseph Busch (June 2007)
• “Taming the content beast” – Bob Boiko (March 2007)
• “Leading successful web and software projects” – Scott Berkun (September 2006)
• “Web accessibility workshop” – Vision Australia (May 2006)
• “Writing for publication” – Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (UTS) (2006)

A list of testimonials, referees and written references is also available.

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