[Resume online at: http://www.lowkemedia.com/resume.php]
Mailing Address: 24 Roy St, Box #202, Seattle, WA 98109-4018
Website: http://www.lowkemedia.com/
Email: russ@lowkemedia.com
Software/Interactive Media Development, UX Design, Prototyper, Technical Producer.
Russell has been developing interactive multimedia since 1991, with numerous award-winning games, interactive training, and educational titles under his belt that have been distributed by companies such as Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, Spin Master, Discus, Shomega, PBS Kids Television, Harvard University Division of Continuing Education, KD Learning, Commonwealth Bank, Toshiba Australia, Intel, Motorola, Volkswagen, and Applied Learning, to name a few.
Recently he has been contributing to client-side interfaces for Flash MMO projects such as the ZooKazoo online world for kids, UpperDeck University, and Bakugan Dimensions online, particularly the battle game in Bakugan Dimensions.
Russell's primary focus is "front end" UI-programming and prototyping of quality interactives, games, and educational software. He brings two decades of experience in developing interactives and emphasizes usability and consistency in software design. Russell is strongest when developing UX and "feel" of a product, and is most effective early in the development cycle when prototyping with the aid of a talented graphic artist and a producer who knows the product's target audience. When working in development teams he usually serves best as a bridge between the designers and development.
Russell has a Masters in Information Technology (ALM in IT) with a concentration in Software Engineering from Harvard University Extension.
2010: Bakugan Dimensions [online Battle game] by Spin Master. Russell played a significant role programming and prototyping the UI for the core battlegame in Spin Master's Bakugan Dimensions Flash based MMO. In its first month Bakugan Dimensions had an average of 45,000 battle games played a day, with upwards of 120,000 active users and a growth rate of 10,000 registrations a day, quickly developing a strong following. Spin Master acknowledges that the Bakugan Dimensions site boosted Bakugan toy sales at least ten percent, resulting in significant profit for Spin Master's toy division. Bakugan Dimensions was launched May 2010 in the US and April 2011 in Europe. The US site was taken down in June 2011 (soon after it was launched in Europe), to the dissapointment of many kids.
2007: Timeliner XE by Scholastic. Russell prototyped Scholastic's educational product Timeliner XE, which has done well in the marketplace, proving itself with the awards Children's Technology Editor's Choice for Excellence in Design, 2008 and Teacher's Pick, Best of 2009.
2006: Graduated June 2006, Degree of Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology (ALM in IT, GPA 3.86, Dean’s List) with a concentration in Software Engineering, from Harvard University Extension.
2004: Graduated March 2004 Degree of Bachelor of Liberal Arts Cum Laude (ALB, GPA 3.62, Dean’s List) with a field of Computer Science, from Harvard University Extension.
1998: Spelling Spree! by Houghton Mifflin. Russell was Lead Architect and Programmer for Houghton Mifflin’s Spelling Spree!, a commercial and school distributed CD-ROM title for teaching spelling for grades K-6. Spelling Spree! was a 1998 MIMIC Award Finalist in the category of K-12 Educational Multimedia Title, and was used extensively by schools in Texas. Spelling Spree! was unusual in that it was distributed by Houghton Mifflin into both the commercial and school CD-ROM markets. Packaging and specific content differed between the commercial and school versions.
1995: Jewels of the Oracle by Discus. Russell was Interface & Lead Programmer of the hit CD-ROM computer game Jewels of the Oracle, which won international recognition with Best of Show at MacWorld Expo San Francisco 1995. In 1996 a Japanese translation version of Jewels of the Oracle was released for the Sega Saturn platform by Sunsoft Japan.
1991: Commonwealth Bank 4QL by Commonwealth Bank. Russell was the designer and principal programmer of the Commonwelath Bank’s Four Quadrant Leadership (4QL) computer based training project, an international, groundbreaking, and highly acclaimed project which stands as a very early example of interactive live action video from laser disk used in computer based training.
1990: ColorAccess and QuickScan by Barneyscan. Russell was an interface designer and support C programmer for Barneyscan's Color Access and QuickScan software. Color Access was a finalist in the Seybold Awards 1991. Barneyscan was an early computer scanner manufacturer and the first company to endorse and bundle Photoshop with their scanners, though they were famed more for their software than for their scanners.
1988-91: Galactic Frontiers by Human Media. Russell designed and produced the strategic computer game Galactic Frontiers for Macintosh computers. Galactic Frontiers was developed as a hobby and marketed through Soft Stream International. Later, Galactic Frontiers became an established Mac shareware title, and was included on the compilation Best of Inside Mac Games 1993 to 1996.
Prototyping, Programming [ActionScript 3 & 2, HTML5 Canvas with JavaScript and JQuery, Lua, Flex Framework, C++, C, Lingo, Java, UNIX], Human Computer Interface Design, Software Architecture, Game Development, Testing, Usability Testing, One-to-one and group training, Directing, and Video Editing.
Russell was an Adobe Certified Instructor (ACI) 2006-2009
Russell is an Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) in Flash Professional 8.
Adept In: Flex Builder 3 [ActionScript 3], Flash CS5/CS3* [ActionScript 3 & 2], Director MX 2004* [Lingo/Shockwave]
Capable In: Final Cut, Photoshop*, InDesign, Catalyst, Maya 6, Dreamweaver
* packages I have conducted training in.
Currently contracting for Disney Interactive Media Group (DIMG) in Redmond.
Dec 2008-May 2011 contracting for Flying Lab Software, Seattle and occasionally for Universal Head, Sydney.
Flying Lab Software: Kaiju, AS 3 game/UI programmer, © Flying Lab Software 2011
Flying Lab Software: Bakugan Dimensions [battle game], UI Prototyping and AS 3 game/UI programmer, © Spin Master 2010
Flying Lab Software: upperdecku.com, an AS 3 programmer, game integration, © Upper Deck 2009
Russell's contribution at Flying Lab is towards prototyping and UI-programming of client-side interfaces for Flash games and MMOs such as UpperDeck University, Kaiju, and Bakugan Dimensions, particularly the online battle game in Bakugan Dimensions.
Universal Head: Outback Mobs, AS 3 programmer, © Savannas Mgmt., Darwin University (Australia) 2011
Universal Head: Burning Issues, AS 2 programmer, © Savannas Mgmt., Darwin University (Australia) 2008
From November 2007 to November 2008 Russell worked full time as a senior Flash Actionscript 3 (AS3) programmer for KD Learning on their ZooKazoo social networking environment for kids. ZooKazoo was managed in Palo Alto, with programmers in Seattle, and a main office in Burbank, Los Angeles, where the bulk of the animation was created.
Some of Russell’s achievements at Zookazoo, in chronological order:
Tom Snyder Productions: TimeLiner XE, Flex2 (AS3) UI programming, © Scholastic 2007
Tom Snyder Productions: TimeLiner XE Prototype, UX Prototyping, Flex2 (AS3) programming, © Scholastic 2007
American Well: Client video conferencing component for medical website, Flex2 (AS3) programming, © American Well 2007
Smashing Ideas, Inc: SuperWhy Alpha Bricks game, Flash 9 (AS3) programmer, © PBS Kids Television Network 2007
Harvard Div. of Continuing Ed.: Flex2 UI programming consultant for Distance Ed. video website, © Harvard University 2007
Tamara Bonn Photography: Tamara Bonn Photography website, Flex2 programming and design, © Tamara Bonn 2007
Custom Learning Designs, Inc.: Wyeth Oncology Learning, Flash 7 (AS2) programmer, © Wyeth Pharmaceuticals 2006
Lowke Media, Inc.: Chevalier, game design and Flash 8 (AS2) programming, © Lowke Media, Inc. 2006
Universal Head: Savanna Walkabout, Flash 8 (AS2) programmer, © Savannas Mgmt., Darwin University (Australia) 2006
Lowke Media, Inc.: Asteroids, Game design and programming, AS3, AS2, Windows C++, © Lowke Media, Inc. 2005
Occasionally taught Adobe Flash and Adobe Director for Future Media Concepts (FMC) in Orlando and Boston.
Also occasionally taught Flash for Softeach, Inc.
Graduated June 2006, Degree of Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology (ALM in IT, GPA 3.86, Dean’s List) with a concentration in Software Engineering, from Harvard University Extension. Also, graduated March 2004 Degree of Bachelor of Liberal Arts Cum Laude (ALB, GPA 3.62, Dean’s List) with a field of Computer Science, from Harvard University Extension, while working part time at the Harvard University Division of Continuing Education Computer Lab and occasionally teaching Director and Flash for Future Media Concepts (FMC) in Orlando and Boston.
1999 Russell commenced his Undergraduate degree part time at Harvard University Extension while contracting and performing as a Teaching Fellow for the class Understanding & Developing Multimedia (1998/99), also at Harvard University Extension.
MARS: Upstage, presentation software, lingo programmer, © MARS 2001
Arnold: Volkswagen site, support Flash ActionScripting, © Volkswagen 2000
Point of View: Condor phone, shockwave programmer, © Motorola 2000
360Kid: Sticker Story online game for "Dragon Tails" site, shockwave programmer, © PBS Kids Television Network 2000
360Kid: Treasure Hunt online game for "Dragon Tails" site, shockwave programmer, © PBS Kids Television Network 2000
360Kid: Apply! CD-ROM, programmer, © The Princeton Review 2000
Planet Interactive: Where is Matt? CD-ROM, lead programmer, © NERI 2000. 2000 MIMIC Award Finalist in the category of General Education.
Harvard Extension: Developing Multimedia Website, Dreamweaver, © Harvard University 1999
360Kid: Government & Citizen Resources CD-ROM, programmer, © Prentice Hall 1999
Houghton Mifflin Interactive: Galaxy Writer, Prototyper, © Houghton Mifflin 1998
Electramedia: SHL Word Search game, programmer, © Lowke Media 1998
Six Red Marbles: Spelling Spree CD-ROM, lead architect and lingo programmer, © Houghton Mifflin 1998. Lead Architect and Programmer on Spelling Spree!, a commercial Mac and Windows CD-ROM distributed by Houghton Mifflin Interactive. It was a 1998 MIMIC Award Finalist in the category of K-12 Educational Multimedia Title, and was used extensively by schools in Texas.
Extro Design: Intel Sales Presenter, principal programmer, © Intel 1997
Lowke Media: Crusades Prototype, producer & programmer, © Lowke Media 1997
Universal Head: HeadCase disk, © Universal Head 1997
Brilliant Interactive Ideas: Plates are People too games, © Brilliant Interactive Ideas 1997
Brilliant Interactive Ideas: Little Engine games, © Brilliant Interactive Ideas 1997
Brilliant Interactive Ideas: Dinosaurs games, © Brilliant Interactive Ideas 1997
Brilliant Interactive Ideas: Monsters games, © Brilliant Interactive Ideas 1997
Interactive Digital Options: The Mega Mall Home Shopping/Internet Hybrid CD-ROM, © Interactive Digital Options 1996
Interactive Digital Options: PowerShop Interactive Magazine, © Interactive Digital Options 1995
Unlimited Energy: Crocadoo, prototyping & lingo programming, © Unlimited Energy 1995
Shomega: Mythical Mazes Prototype, prototyping & programming, © Shomega 1995
Voom Advertising: Bobby No Good, design & programming, © Lowke Media 1995
Lowke Media: Hex Puzzle, design & lingo programmer, © Lowke Media 1995
ACRIL: Enware Taps Database, lingo programmer, © ACIRL 1995
Eloi Productions: Jewels of the Oracle, interface & lead programmer, © Discis 1995
Interface & Lead Programmer on the hit computer game Jewels of the Oracle, a CD-ROM game distributed by DISCUS in March of 1995. This game has won international recognition with Best of Show at MacWorld Expo San Francisco 1995, and Product of the Year, CD-ROM Professional Magazine. Jewels of the Oracle was programmed entirely in Director 4.1 for Mac and PC on a hybrid CD-ROM. In 1996 a Japanese translation version was released for the Sega Saturn platform by Sunsoft Japan.
Electramedia: Jewels of the Oracle, prototyper & lingo programmer, © Electramedia 1994
Electramedia: Cott Group Database, programmer, © The Cott Group 1994
Electramedia: Global Strategy Sales Presenter, a programmer, © Global Strategy 1994
Applied Learning: Can I, programmer, © Applied Learning © 1993
ACIRL: Coal Sampling Tutorial, designer & lingo programmer, © ACIRL 1993
Toshiba Australia: Toshiba DVI Video Presenter, programmer, © Toshiba Australia 1993
Wavelength: NSW Lotteries Kiosk, lingo programmer, © NSW Lotteries © 1993
Aeriel Interactive: Aeriel Interactive CDI, designer, © Aeriel Interactive 1993
Aeriel Interactive: Scots Prospectus on disk, designer & principal programmer, © Scots 1993
Aeriel Interactive: Collagen Sales Presenter, programmer, © Aeriel Interactive 1993
Aeriel Interactive: MCQ Testing on disk, designer & programmer, © Aeriel Interactive 1992
Applied Learning: Workplace Literacy Course, programmer, © Applied Learning 1992
Dr Sendal: Sendals Books, programmer, © Dr Sendal 1992
Invited to work on the advanced Authorware training manual being developed by Adelaide TAFE as the national course (Australia) in that platform.
Full time author of computer based training for Learnware, owned by Authorware, Inc.
Learnware/Authorware: Commonwealth Bank 4QL, design & principal programmer, © Commonwealth Bank 1991
Designer and principal programmer of the Commonwelath Bank’s Four Quadrant Leadership (4QL) project, an international,
groundbreaking, highly acclaimed computer based training product involving live action video from laser disk.
Learnware/Authorware - Woodside Offshore Induction, principal programmer, © Woodside 1991
Learnware/Authorware - CSIRO Foyer system kiosk, designer & principal programmer, © CSIRO 1991
Bit Magic: New Zealand Telecom Kiosk, programmer, © Bit Magic 1990
Barneyscan: ColorAccess, interface designer & support C programmer, © Barneyscan Corporation, 1990. Color Access was a finalist in the Seybold Awards 1991
Barneyscan: QuickScan, interface designer, © Barneyscan Corporation 1990
Human Media: Galactic Frontiers, designer & producer, © Soft Stream, 1991 - 93, © Human Media, 1994. Designed and produced the strategic computer game Galactic Frontiers for Macintosh computers. Galactic Frontiers was developed between 1988 to 1991 as a hobby. It was programmed in Pascal by Arthur Street and marketed in the U.S. through Soft Stream International. Later, Galactic Frontiers became an established Mac shareware title, and was included on the Best of Inside Mac Games 1993 to 1996. Effectively now an antique, it still runs under Mac O/S 9.2 and may be downloaded from: http://www.humanmedia.com.au/products.html
A magnetic field mechanism for the origin of planetary motion"
Lowke J J and Lowke R J, 28th Inter Conf. Phenomena in Ionized Gases, Prague, July 2007, pages 1873-1876, paper 5P07-03. Russell was responsible for the graphic visualization of data for this paper, making it possible to interpret that data, and enabling a demonstration of the possibility of magnetic fields as being a force to produce regular features of solar systems.
2006 Degree of Master of Liberal Arts in Information Technology (ALM in IT, GPA 3.86, Dean’s List) with a concentration in Software Engineering, from Harvard University Extension.
2004 Degree of Bachelor of Liberal Arts Cum Laude (ALB, GPA 3.62, Dean’s List) with a field of Computer Science, from Harvard University Extension.
1998 & 1999 Teaching Fellow for Understanding & Developing Multimedia at Harvard University Extension.
1989 High School Certificate from Sydney Church of England Co-Educational Grammar School Redlands.
In his spare time Russell is a videographer documenting live bands and creating experimental movies. Russell also plays drums in a Seattle band known as The Undersounds. Development of interactives often involves timing and sequencing issues, and video is often a component, so such pastimes are complementary to his work. He has an avid interest in history and music, and has been playing drums for many years.
Ken Post - Manager, Engineering, Disney Interactive Media Group, 425 974 5891
Brandon Thorne - Senior Software Engineer, Disney Interactive Media Group, 425 686 5759
Jeff Close - Software Development Lead, Flying Lab Software. 206 227 1100
Cindy Ball - Producer, Flying Lab Software. 206 650 5778
Andrew Lippert - Chief Technology Officer, Zookazoo. 206 579 9815
Eric Hilfer - Director of Software Engineering, Scholastic (Boston). 617 600 2284
Marc Hughes - Manager of Software Engineering, Scholastic (Boston). 617 600 2287
William B. Robinson - Architect & Research Advisor, Div. of Continuing Ed. Harvard University. 617 496 9736
Scott Traylor - President, 360KID. 617 964 1111
[Email addresses provided on request]