My web journey started over 20 years ago, when I worked in a college library, and I volunteered to update their intranet pages. This was in the pre-WYSIWYG days, so I taught myself to hand code HTML. I really enjoyed it, so, when the opportunity to manage the whole intranet arose, I grabbed it.
I quickly became responsible for the college’s entire digital output. Along with the intranet, I also managed:
Having been in a team of one at the college, it was great to join the web team of a Russell Group University. I spent nearly five years at the University, starting as a Web Officer and finishing as the Senior Front-end Developer. It was an exciting time to be part of the web team, as we delivered a major digital transformation project. This project improved user journeys for prospective students and researchers. We also undertook a major project to improve the accessibility of the website, which began with an accessibility audit by HeX Productions.
There really isn’t an average day at HeX. I get to work on many websites and on various platforms, using a variety of different frameworks. One day I might be buried in my code editor, crafting code for some new functionality. On another day, I’ll be using a range of methods to assess the accessibility of a website.
The sheer variety of work is constantly throwing up opportunities to learn new things, which is really invigorating. However, I think the most important aspect of any job is the people you are working with. Fortunately, here at HeX, everyone combines being really good at what they do, with being warm and friendly.
There are so many people that I admire for different reasons that it’s hard to single anyone out. Professionally, I have been lucky to work with a few people I quickly came to admire, whether they were an architect, an oracle, an overlord, a queen, or the boss.
I used to present a monthly radio show for an internet radio station. The music that I played, and my presentational style, were inspired by John Peel – the man responsible for broadening my musical horizons. However, my musical curation skills were infinitely better than my presentation skills! I now scratch the same itch by doing a monthly 20-song playlist, based on what I’ve listened to the most that month.
Anything but pineapple.
I don’t get easily annoyed. But, if I do get annoyed, it’s likely to be due to either intolerance or a lack of curiosity.
Somewhere warm by the ocean, with some good tunes being played.
I don’t have a simple maxim which I live by. I just try to be considerate.
Written by Cheryl Swan
The 2024 National Inclusion Week theme is ‘Impact Matters’. So, we are sharing how everyone can play an important part in helping to make an inclusive impact online.
Written by Cheryl Swan
Around the world, millions of deaf people still lack access to their basic human rights when online. Small changes you make to your digital content can give back independence back to your users and allow them to access your information and services.
