Welcome to the small web presence of Darren Stephenson. This is a platform for me to portray my skills, experience and interests. I have a passion for website and applciation development and I want to share this with you. If you have a project in mind and require my expertise, please get in touch. No project too small.
UX Design
Research Plans / Prototypes / User Testing / Interaction Design / Visual Design
Development
XHTML / HTML5 / CSS3 / PHP / Javascript / Java / Objective C / WordPress
Digital and Printing
Logo Design / Illustration / Business Stationery / Interactive ads / Emailer / Microsites
Team/Project Management
Lead Planning / Ability to Multi-Task / Prioritize projects / Identify Requirements / Co-ordinate Development
Masters in I.T.
NUIG - 2009 - 2011
"The programme is multi-disciplinary covering three main areas: IT, Business, and Human Behaviour."
BS w Information Systems Management
GMIT - 2004 - 2008
"This programme provides you with a broadly-based business education with a speciality in Information Systems."
Hi, I'm Darren Stephenson and I'm a highly motivated individual with a background in business, programming and website development. I have over 7 years experience in web design and web technologies, and have extensive experience Anaylsing Business Processes, Documenting Business Requirements and designing / developing technical solutions that satisfy these requirements.
My craft is the design and development of simple, clean and functional websites, software and mobile applications.
Please take a second to review my work, and get in touch!
FBD Insurance
2013- Current | Product Developer
Working with a great team on the development and adoption of new Software.
taxback.com
2011 - 2013 | Developer / Project Co-ordinator
Solely responsible for the development of internal management software and co-ordinated their adoption in the company.
Freelance Web Developer
2006 - 2011 | Web Designer
Worked closely with various clients helping them to realise their web development requirements.
Founder / Lead Developer
workingholidayincanada.com - Aug 2011
With the help of Kieran Farrell (a digital marketing genius!) I built this popular site to help people travelling / emigrating to Canada.
Best Overall Student
BSSIM - Oct 2008
My commitment to working hard, and working with people, was realised in the final year of undergrad when I recieved this award.
I have a passion for requirements gathering, web development,
application development and developing great software.
Sprintax.com
I worked with a great team on this project. It's a software application that international students use to file their US taxes. A difficult build, using a unique CMS, complicated US tax calculators built in and multilingual. A great piece of software that students use to claim back some money.
I helped with:
PHP / Javascript / HTML / CSS
Live site link:
sprintax.com
Sprintax Blog
I worked with Yonko Yonkov on this project, who is a great guy to work with. He new exactly what he wanted and was happy with the result. From the requirements, I built this blog using a Ravage theme, and the Wordpress CMS. Turn around for this site was 2 weeks.
I worked with:
Design / HTML / CSS / PHP / Wordpress
Live site link:
blog.sprintax.com
taxback.com app
A really enjoyable project, I continually add to it by keeping the tax refund calculators up to date. The most pertinent part of this project was taking what was built already, and building what was requested on top. Difficult, but very rewarding.
I worked with:
Objective-C / XML / PHP / iWebkit
Live site link:
taxback.com app
theanfielspirit.com
A passion of mine is following LFC. Having many friends who share the same passion, I decided to put this site together. What started as a small project, has now turned into a profitable side business. If you have the time, and support LFC, you should check out our shop.
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / PHP / Javascript / Illustrator / Wordpress
Live site link:
theanfieldspirit.com
Working Holiday in Canada
Founder and lead developer of this site. This site is actually built using a very popluar blogging application. Used HTML, CSS, OO PHP, and Illustrator to build up this site. Particular focus went to SEO optimisation aswell. At the time of writing this the site is getting around 4,000 registered users a month
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / OO PHP / Javascript / Illustrator / Photoshop
Live site link:
workingholidayincanada.com
CourseHub.ie
My task was to redesign the Database for this website. This involved redefining new Entity Relationships, Normalizing the data, and then restructing the output of the data so that it fitted well with the site. With 10,000 reviews, and adding new user data capacity, this was a challenging and very rewarding experience.
I worked with:
PHP / SQL
Live site link:
coursehub.ie
yourdsweb.net (1.0)
This was the first version of this very website. With web development being a passion of mine, I built this site from the ground up, using Fireworks to the create the theme design, wireframe, and then using HTML, CSS, PHP to build up the site.
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / PHP / Fireworks / Photoshop
Godadgo.ie
This is the second project that I have worked on with Kieran Farrell.
"GoDadGo.ie is a blog covering my fumblings in the dark, observations and experiences as a father to Diego. It’s a place for me to try and make sense of it all and learn to be a better parent (right now, I’m making most of it up as I go)."
I worked with:
PHP / Javascript / CSS / Wordpress
Live site link:
godago.ie
Briarhill Business Park
Working with a board of clients, this was one of my toughest tasks. Thankfully, everyone is happy with my work, and to hear that foot-fall throughout the park has increased as a result is very rewarding. I completely designed and developed this site, and built a Content Managment System which the board now use to keep the site updated.
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / PHP / Fireworks
Live site link:
briarhillbusinesspark.ie
Forward Schedule Change system
This was the first of 3 internal management software appliations that I built for the company taxback.com. I was solely responsible for it's design and development. It is now used by the 7 businesses under the Taxback Group umbrella.
I worked with:
OO PHP / Javascript / PostgreSQL / HTML / CSS / Fireworks
Web Request System
This was the second of 3 internal management software appliations that I built for the company taxback.com. I was solely responsible for it's design and development. It is now used by the 7 businesses under the Taxback Group umbrella.
I worked with:
OO PHP / Javascript / PostgreSQL / HTML / CSS / Fireworks
Purchase Request System
This was the third of 3 internal management software appliations that I built for the company taxback.com. I was solely responsible for it's design and development. It is now used by the 7 businesses under the Taxback Group umbrella.
I worked with:
OO PHP / Javascript / PostgreSQL / HTML / CSS / Fireworks
PC Repair, Galway
Created this for a good friend of mine. Just an attractive website to publicize his PC Repair business. (Now I get discounts). The theme was purchased, and my task was to customize it and build up the site. We were both happy with the result.
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / Javascipt / PHP / Fireworks
Estimation
This was one of my first "big tough" development projects. I put what I had learnt in PHP and Javascript to great use here, having to build a complete finance management system. This included calculators to calculate cost, a relational DB so that users could track their spend, and a complete reporting facility for both my client, and his customers.
I worked with:
PHP / Javascript / PostgreSQL
no1schoolofmotoring.ie
This was the first website I built from the ground up. I built it using Dreamweaver and Photoshop CS3 at the time. I had an excellent client Jimmy Conlon. A full Content Managment System was required that now enables Jimmy to manage the website, and publish the positive reviews. (If you are learning to Drive, give this man a call. The best Driving Instructor in Galway! He got me through my driving test First Time.)
I worked with:
HTML / CSS / PHP / Dreamweaver / Photoshop
Live site link:
no1schoolofmotoring.ie
Curlews Rest
My first experience with the powerful CMS Wordpress. This was an exciting project for it's a website that protrays the beauty of Louisburgh, Mayo. A special place for me. It's for a very popular summer home that is available to rent. This site is where tourists come to book their stay.
I worked with:
Wordpress / HTML / CSS / PHP
Live site link:
curlews-rest.com
Sprintax.com
taxback.com iPhone app
theanfieldspirit.com
Working Holiday in Canada
Course Hub
yourdsweb.net (1.0)
Forward Schedule Change system
Web Request System
Purchase Request System
PC Repair, Galway
Estimation
Curlews RestEvaluation
One of the most important steps is to identify and evaluate the requirements of the project. Proven technigues are used to identify and document the requirements in a Business Requirements Document.
Design
Once the requirements have been agreed, the business requirements document is then used in the design of the website / application. Here the Functional Specification Document is created.
Development
Once agreed, the project goes into development. Depending on the project, but usually in 3 week cycles, the developments are tested and reviewed. This is throughout the dev lifecycle.
Release
From the clients perpective, this is the best part! This is the release of the website / application. Continous monitoring of the website / application is done and changes are made as required.
Use the below details to tell me about your project goals and needs.
The best way to reach me is via email: developer@yourdsweb.net
Temple Bar, Dublin 2, Dublin, Ireland
