It’s been a wild August so far here at Digital Media Team. We’ve been in and out of our office so much we need a revolving door – thanks pingdemic! However, we’re still welcoming newbies to the gang as well as welcoming back past staff members (oldbies?) to the team. Today we’re reintroducing ourselves to a past dmt legend, web developer Mat aka Frenchy, who’s joining us once again to help us out with building our clients’ sites!
The Work Stuff 📈
Tell us a little bit about your role of web developer here at dmt.
I’ve been brought on to head up the web dev team – as a front-end developer with a design background I work with both techy and design-related issues on websites. It differs greatly from day to day; from helping out team members with clients who are having technical difficulties, analysing and fixing UX and conversion issues, adding and tweaking our own website, to full website builds.
Tell us about your background. What led you to this career/industry?
I’ve always been a creative type. There was a dodgy copy of Photoshop and Illustrator installed on my first PC when I was ten so I played around on those from a young age. I managed to get myself a junior artworker job straight out of college, and have pretty much done it since. Web development was a fairly natural evolution of my role – I’d built a few small personal websites for fun when I was younger, and over time I got asked to help with larger and larger website projects until it eventually overtook the design work.
What is something unique that you think you bring to the role?
I have a bit of an unusually wide skillset because I’ve been in a few roles where I’ve done a bit of everything, I think that versatility is probably why I was wanted back here at dmt. I like to think I’m a pretty friendly guy (post-coffee), so hopefully I add to the friendly atmosphere in the office too.
What’s something you want your colleagues to know about you?
Free food is always welcome – especially pizza.
The Personal Stuff 👨💻
What three words would your friends use to describe you?
Kind, funny, and maybe a bit grumpy.
What’s your favourite cultural moment of this past year and why?
I’m a big Orwell fan, so the whole year has been pretty cool in a way…
What’s your hobby or passion project outside of work?
I love to hike, spend time with my friends, eat pizza, and am getting pretty into ping-pong since being back in the office. Love computer games, and would be a decent harry potter trivia quizmate.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Pizza.
What causes are you supportive of, and why?
I probably don’t participate in as many charities as I should, but I really believe in causes that are against cruelty to animals. I’m also an advocate for giving blood.
The Fun Stuff 🥂
Give us your best Northern Quarter bar recommendation.
Hold Fast is hands downs the best bar in Manchester – Gamma Ray on tap, board games, games consoles, and some decent cocktails. Or Whiskey Jar if it’s a Tuesday night – best not-really-open-open-mic-night in town.
If you were a social media platform, which one would you be and why?
I would be Myspace, because I’m not really on social media these days.
Who would be your five dream dinner party guests, dead or alive?
Hell of a question! Hmm… maybe Hemingway, Tesla, Picasso, Dali, and Zelda Fitzgerald.
Quickfire Qs 🎯
What are you watching?
My Hero Academia.
What are you reading?
Poverty Safari by Darren McGarvey.
What are you listening to?
The Smiths – always The Smiths.
Who are you ignoring?
Most of the politically outspoken people I know from high school.
Who are you following?
Most of the social media browsing I do these days is Pinterest: looking through design inspo pins and historical/vintage photography pins.
We’re so happy to have Frenchy back with us on the team. If we’ve learned anything about him today, it’s that he really loves pizza. Can’t wait to see his Crazy Pedro pizza choices.
Does your business’s website need a fresh lick of paint from Frenchy? Or maybe you need one of the other fantastic services we offer…
DMT is a digital marketing team based in the heart of Manchester. If you’re interested in seeing how we can help your business succeed online, get in touch, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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