LAWRIE CAPE
Interactive Developer
Hi! I'm Lawrie, an interactive developer from Leeds.
I like making things. Thinking up an idea, working out the steps needed to bring it to reality and then making it happen! I've been making web content for over ten years, with projects ranging from interactive training lessons and data driven websites to iPad applications and games with millions of users all around the world.
I currently specialise in Actionscript 3 development, including Air for desktop, iPad and Android, but also code HTML, CSS, Javascript (including jQuery), WebGL, PHP and more. I take a keen interest in UI, UX, illustration, typography, creative ideas and innovative uses of technology. I'm proactive and an enthusiastic learner, always on the lookout for challenging projects and eager to learn new languages and expand my skillset.
I love technology, design, music and great ideas.
Think
I'm a creative thinker who keeps a close eye on the cutting edge of web technology and creative development.
Plan
I know the importance of a good plan and with a wealth of varied experience, I know what needs to be taken into account.
Build
I write clean, logical, well structured code to bring ideas to life.
Work
I'm currently a Senior Application Developer at twentysix - an industry leading digital marketing agency in Leeds, England. I work across many areas, but currently specialise in producing high quality, cross platform educational tools for worldwide brands, such as Wella and Sassoon. I help plan, produce and deploy large multi-language applications to users worldwide, both online, and through desktop and iPad applications.
I've had the pleasure of working with numerous high profile clients on a variety of exciting projects. Here's a brief selection of some recent ones -
N3D
Salon Professional's N3D tool is a CMS driven interactive presentation and training application, built in Adobe Air to allow rich content to be shared across numerous platforms, including desktops, touchscreens and iPads.
As part of the development team, I worked on all areas of the production of the N3D tool, from technical research and planning, to tool development and testing, all the way through to creating custom content, testing the CMS and converting presentation to iPad applications.
“Your team was great at taking a complicated project and bringing it to life in a digestible and simple way”P&G Project head
Online Education
P&G Salon Professional provide interactive e-Learning seminars for hair stylists and salon owners. I have worked with them to produce numerous large scale projects, delivering complex yet easy to use training materials for for high profile P&G brands such as Wella, Sassoon and Nioxin.
Within the development team, I was named Education Lead, and led production on content provided in up to 30 languages and available both online and in custom iPad applications.
Twisted Metal
I worked with Sony PlayStation on a Facebook app to build anticipation for their latest release, Twisted Metal 4.
The Facebook application allowed users to "Sweet Tooth" their profile picture. Once installed the app directed users to choose one of their Facebook photos and apply the iconic mask of the games leading character - Sweet Tooth. This new image could then be set as their Facebook profile picture allowing the Twisted Metal message to spread across Facebook.
Fixodent DSA
Fixodent came to us requesting a digital sales aid, to help their representatives demonstrate the benefits of Fixodent to pharmacists. I led development of the tool, an Air application which made use of animation, video and interactive segments to illustrate the product's key features.
The tool proved popular and useful, so much so that we were asked to translate it into two further languages and produce a companion iPad application.
P&G iBinder
I produced a number of whitelabel HTML5 templates for P&G to show the potential for rich interactive features without the use of Flash.
Interactive games, graphs, galleries and 3D packshots were produced, using libraries such as jQuery, three JS and hammer JS and advanced animated CSS3 3D transformations.
Mo's Wanted
To document twentysix's Movember progress, I developed a Flash microsite, complete with donation updates, daily mustache progress photos and even a facial-recognition based mustache applying photobooth.
The site was nominated for a FWA, reached #1 in the Design Charts and won two Cream Yorkshire awards, including the coveted Chairman's Award, as well as helping raise £3000 for Movember.
Other clients I have worked with include:
Side Projects
Whether it's as a training exercise with a new language or framework, a creative idea bursting to get out, or just for the fun of it, I relish getting stuck into a new personal project. Here are a selection of my favourites -
Gigfi
Gigfi is a web app for listening to the bands who will soon be playing in your city, no matter where in the world you are.
I planned the core concept and wrote the backend functionality, and worked with Will Jones and Adam Hodgson for the design and front end build.
The site has garnered high praise, receiving 50,000 visits within 24 hours of launch. It has also reached the front page of Reddit and been featured on Fast Company, BuzzFeed and BBC News.
“A simple, powerful mashup is the best thing to happen to music on the internet in a little while.”Matt Buchanan of BuzzFeed
Cellular Auto Midi
To explore the idea of music and generative systems, I developed Cellular AutoMidi, an audio application, which creates music based on a modified Cellular Automata algorithm.
Designed to be enigmatic but playful, Cellular AutoMidi was released as an open source project and was featured on the influential music production blog Create Digital Music
Games
Over the years, I've worked on a large number of games, both in and out of work. At Sense Internet I produced an interactive board game to inform children about climate change for the Yorkshire Dales National Parks Authority, a 3d pacman style game for Rizla and an agency Christmas game centered around bodily functions.
Outside of work, I have produced and released a number of esoteric puzzle games. Puzzbox, a simple Simon style memory game, was sponsored by a large games portal; Blockade, a number based navigation game, received praise from NewGrounds founder Tom Fulp; And Super Letter Game, a maddeningly frustrating mouse reactions game, has been played over 2 million times, wasted upwards of 1 year in man-hours and been featured on highly regarded games site Rock Paper Shotgun
R&D
I think experimentation is hugely important. It's a great way to get to grips with new technologies and lets you see what's possible. Also, it's great fun; Putting together working demos and proof of concept applications can flesh out ideas or even lead in new directions.
Be it WebGL, Three JS, 3D CSS, Pixi JS, Easel JS, Arduino, Processing, Midi, Kinect or most recently Leap Motion, I like to get stuck in and get building.
inParticular
inParticular is a real time 3d pattern generator and was my first investigation into webGL using threeJS. It places a number of points within a sphere and links them with coloured lines. By using some mathematical functions and altering the variables fed to them, some amazing structures can be formed.
I have also added support for webGL pixel shaders, allowing even more outlandish and stylish effects
Try it here (Currently Chrome only)
Pressing "r" randomises the pattern layout, and "s" randomises the shader effects.
Flash Midi Server
Attempting to draw together my passion for music and programming, I developed Flash Midi Server, a Processing application and Flash library to allow AS3 applications to both send and receive midi signals.
This allows generative audio applications (such as Cellular AutoMidi above) to be created and then used to play software or hardware audio equipment. It also allows hardware midi controllers to be used as input devices for Flash applications.
Misc
New software, input devices and interfaces are constantly opening up new possibilities for creative expression. Ideas that previously would have taken thousands of pounds worth of high-end equipment are now possible with open source projects and cheap hardware. I like to experiment with these new tools, to familiarise myself with their potential.
A "time-scanning" glitch effect camera app for iPhone and Android, a depth based particle simulation for Kinect, a 2d physics based space simulation and a Midi guitar pedal using an Arduino, Processing and a sewing machine pedal are just some of the R&D projects I've worked on.
Contact
Do you have an amazing idea for an app? A question about generative music systems? Or just looking for someone to hang out with at next mathrock gig? Don't hesitate to get in touch; Drop me an email or a tweet, or have a look over my profile on LastFM or GimmieBar.
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