Phil McKenzie
Photographer, Producer, Social Media Manager · Stoke Much Skate Magazine
Boulder, CO
In My Own Words
I am a versatile creative with the imagination to push your dreams to new heights and the technical expertise to bring them into reality. Although I just graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in Technology Arts and Media in May of 2018 I have been working professionally as a Web Developer, Designer, Photographer, Instructor and Photo Editor since the summer of 2016. Although my primary focus has always been on UX, Design, and Development it is of paramount importance to me to be well rounded so when faced with a unique challenge I don’t fall flat.
I was born in Denver Colorado and spent the majority of my teenage years on my skateboard or with camera in hand always searching for the next session. This obsession lead me to a nomadic stint in my 1993 minivan along the west coast doing photography work in the summer of 2018 after graduating from CU. At the end of my journey, I settled in San Francisco for a gig at DLXSF and to live and play in skateboarding’s mecca.
In the tail end of 2018 sales tapered at DLXSF I was laid off. I am currently looking for new work with passionate individuals looking to leverage my creative talent to make magic.
Work Experience
Photo Editor
Stoke Much Skate Magazine2018 – Present
Identify and satisfy the photographic needs of the magazine by assigning projects to photographers. Maintain clear channels of communication between all editors to ensure content is received and deadlines are met. Critically review and curate incoming photographic submissions to ensure brand consistency and image quality. Offer feedback to photographers to help improve future submissions and allow the publication to improve in a grassroots manner.
Professional Photographer
Phil McKenzie Photography2014 – Present
Create photographic content to be used for social media, marketing, advertising and editorial use in the worlds of skateboarding, snowboarding, and live music. Shoot intentionally to tell a person's story through the interactions of their environment and the details of that environment. Consider all final applications of my photos while shooting to ensure maximum usability. Edit and optimize content for all possible uses in both the digital and physical spaces.
Layout Designer
DLXSF2018 – 2018
Create, develop, design and layout artwork and photos in a variety of styles including web banners, social media assets, print ads, catalogs, etc. Have a deep knowledge of design and digital media tools. Take specific direction from Marketing Managers, Brand Managers, and Art Directors along with bringing creative work and ideas of their own. Work in a timely manner to ensure all seasonal artwork is prepared and submitted to meet all calendar deadlines.
Teaching Assistant - Web
University of Colorado, Boulder2017 – 2018
Lead lab exercises that teach students the fundamentals HTML/CSS/JS. Grade labs and projects. Maintain communication with students and instructor to ensure everyone stays in the loop. Help students when they struggle without giving away answers.
UX/UI Developer
University of Colorado, Boulder2017 – 2018
Translate stakeholders needs to a robust design through the use of wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes. Delicately balance the needs of many stakeholders at once while maintaining the brand identity of the University. Ensure all designs are mobile friendly and accessible. Use site metrics to identify and resolve user experience issues.
Front End Web Developer
University of Colorado, Boulder2016 – 2017
Bring static designs from a UX/UI designer to life through fully interactive, responsive and accessible web pages made with HTML 5, SASS, and JS in the Drupal CMS. Scale desktop designs to tablet and mobile friendly versions without the aid of a mockup from a designer while maintaining brand identity. Display often problematically long or short blocks of text and images with abstract aspect ratios on a page in as beautiful of a manner as possible in a way that scales and looks good at all sizes. Optimize all content on the site for page load times.
Web Developer/Designer
ZEAL Optics2016 – 2016
See the development of a web page from a marketing concept to a fully functioning piece of code. Maintain brand identity through all content choices and layout decisions with minimal outside direction needed. Ensure the entire website works on all viewport widths and browsers and passes all accessibility requirements. Work with back end developers to minimize page load times.
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