Nooshu.com is a blog written by me, Matt Hobbs. I’m a Web Developer based in Oxfordshire, UK. I specialise in Frontend web production which involves usability, cross-browser testing, accessibility and search engine optimisation among many (many!) other things.

I am very passionate about the way a user sees the internet. It forms the basis of my blog, findings and research. I have many years experience building User Interfaces for a wide range of clients and their varying needs.

Although I don’t specialise in server-side code directly, I find the technology extremely engaging. I have integrated code into many different frameworks & languages: WordPress, MODx, Symfony, Smarty, ASP, PHP, .NET, Java to name a few.

A true geek at heart, I enjoy reading (non-fiction), classical music, photography, mathematics, physics, history and learning to play the violin.

Most recent work experience

Head of Frontend Development, Lead Developer - Government Digital Service (London)

August 2017 - Present

  • Mentor junior technologists in best practices across a range of expertise.
  • Encourage positive and constructive communication both within the team and when communicating with other GDS teams.
  • Ensure the team has right processes in place to deliver quality solutions and are able to address problems at source.
  • Work with Technical Architects, Product Managers and Senior Management to identify and address technical, cultural and delivery issues.
  • Facilitate daily stand-ups, team meetings, sizing and planning meetings, and incident retrospectives.
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships with other development teams within GDS and across government.

Lead Interface Developer - DigitasLBi (London)

September 2013 - August 2017

  • Lead, line and performance manage the Frontend team within the portfolio, ensuring skills within the team remain current and relevant to client needs, and fostering a culture that rewards results, learning and delivering client value.
  • Ensure development approaches remain contemporary and aligned with the broader development community.
  • Establish and maintain conventions and standards for internal and client reference.
  • Perform the Frontend lead role on individual projects, and provide an oversight role on projects where not providing direct leadership.
  • Contribute to project statements of work from a Frontend perspective.
  • Contribute to achievable technical project plans, and deliver and protect estimates. Highlight technical issues and risks on an ongoing basis.
  • Work with technical and non-technical teams at all levels, from strategy and design, through to development, testing and application support.
  • Represent work and capabilities to clients, and participate in a supporting role as a technology domain expert in client pitch situations.

Frontend Team Lead - Isobar (Sydney)

June 2012 - July 2013

  • Coding for both long and short term projects using responsive, reusable CSS and HTML templated code.
  • Project scoping, planning, quotes and resourcing.
  • Researching new technologies and how they can be utilised to improve in-house processes.
  • Promoting quality across Frontend team deliverables.
  • Evaluating and recruiting developers to expand the team.
  • Leading a team of developers, helping them progress and learn with regular team code reviews.
  • Striving to improve in-house Frontend processes to achieve seamless work-flow and team integration.
  • Client-facing technical consultation including offshore project liaison.
  • Providing feedback to project management, internal creative, UX and the client regarding user experience best practices and accessibility guidelines.
  • Experienced in managing multiple projects running concurrently.

For more information around my work experience and skillset see my LinkedIn profile.