Colin Calnan, front-end developer
Colin’s broad experience means that he is skilled in all aspects of web design and development. His development skills include PHP, ColdFusion, SQL, JavaScript, HTML and CSS. He is also a strong designer, using Photoshop and Flash to produce stunning, clean, and effective websites.
His degree in Computer Science from the University of Limerick ensures he has a solid grounding in all aspects of software development. That combined with a Masters in Design and Digital Media from the University of Edinburgh means Colin can easily traverse the boundaries between design and development, thus creating effective websites that meet both clients’ aesthetic and technical needs. He has a particular passion for web standards and for learning how adhering to them can ensure that clients’ websites are easy to find, navigate, and understand. Colin’s other skills include training in web and newsletter usability, project management, team management, and web advertising.
Prior to arriving in Vancouver, Colin lived and worked in Edinburgh, Scotland, having moved there from his native Ireland in 2000. While there, he toured with a successful rock band as a bassist. Music plays a large part in his life, having been surrounded by music, singing and storytelling from an early age. His great-grandfather is the famous Irish poet J.J Callanan. Colin can be found strumming his guitar and singing at various open mics around Vancouver, or in his apartment on those wet Vancouver afternoons.
An atypical nerd, Colin is extremely outgoing, sociable and a great listener, which in turn makes him a great communicator. He truly does have the ‘gift of the gab’. He believes that communication is the key to any successful project, be that a website or signing with a record label. He can lead technical discussions/design meetings and then deliver this information in a format that is easily understood by everyone. A caring person with a strong belief in work/life balance, he is dedicated to achieving great things in his career, yet also greatly values the time he’s not at work. This allows him to spend some well-deserved time with his wonderful wife Ruth, exploring beautiful British Columbia, as well as volunteering his time at the Vancouver Animal Shelter.
Colin was drawn to Raised Eyebrow because of their philosophy, their honest and friendly nature, as well as their determination to take on projects that they feel strongly about and which can help make a difference in people’s lives.