David portrait

David Kirkpatrick

User Experience Designer

Over 25 years of experience creating purposeful, understandable and pleasurable-to-use web applications.

The Cred

I currently hold an active DoD Secret clearance.

I design and implement web-based interfaces, with a focus on applying responsive, or “mobile-friendly” attributes to account for the proliferation of mobile browsing technology. I work with various stakeholders, including client representatives, system users, and fellow developers, gathering their input to help inform my work. I have experience employing user interviews and walkthroughs, and in creating user test scenarios to better come up with interface design solutions that benefit a given web application’s targeted audience. I am skilled in the Adobe Creative suite as well as in the gamut of industry-standard contemporary front-end technologies (HTML5, CSS3, jQuery, Bootstrap, etc.). I am versed in best practices for web accessibility (Section 508) and make that an integral part of my development work.

My experience includes some back-end development, with experience in designing and setting up databases and database scripts, which aids me in understanding the requirements necessary to and limitations placed upon back-end developers, and allows me a more holistic view of a given application and how to improve upon it.

I have a background with painting in oils, acrylics and watercolors, which I enjoy doing in my spare time, and have a background and education in the visual arts and graphic design.

The Work

Here are a number of samples of my work over the course of my career working with the web. Most involve either design/development, or both. In the case of development work, I always took pains to ensure that the code was accessible to users with disabilities. Please have a look!

The Man

David Kirkpatrick portrait

I have been in the world of the interwebs since the days of the Dot Com boom (and bust) and have enjoyed a career that has encompassed every aspect of web design and development. I have performed such duties as project management, client liaison, estimate creation, user interviews, print graphics, graphical mockups, conversion into code, front-end scripting, database design and creation, QA testing, 508 testing, and final product delivery. Whew!

While it was all fascinating, and helped to open my eyes to all the avenues to pursue, I eventually decided to narrow my focus to what the end user sees and experiences, concentrating in front-end design and development. Coming from a background as a painter and general fan of art and artists, this seemed like the best way to immerse myself into the digital realm into the future.

Having mentioned all that, I believe that the scope of my experience in and around web design and development helps to give me a holistic view of all the efforts involved in taking a project from initial idea to finished product, and allows me to think of all those aspects when considering efforts involved throughout the course of a project.

All work and no play would make David a dull boy, so it's a good thing I have outside interests. I enjoy spending my time with my family, especially taking trips around the country and world, and, more locally, enjoying my kids' various sporting events or a visit to any new exhibition on display in one of the many museums in the DC area. I am a huge road racing fan/car guy, so you might catch me enjoying a sports-car or open-wheel race, either on TV or at-track, or ogling the beauties at the local cars-and-coffee event. I aim to stay healthy with both fitness and gravel cycling, with a few long-distance bikepacking trips thrown in for good measure.

The Call

I am interested in working in the DC Metro Area, ideally in either a remote or hybrid position.

dkirkpatrick.pro@gmail.com | 202-306-0348