Justin Rent, Developer & Designer

Professional Background

I am a Developer & Designer with an MBA who is inspired by big ideas, meaningful projects, meticulous user-centered design, and the collaborative nature of diverse, inclusive, open source focused development teams.

My professional career is rooted in design with a constant curiosity for technology and an interest in improving business. As a developer, I've found a sweet spot where I'm well equipped to collaborate closely with strategists and designers to ensure that their work is accurately translated to the browser and results in engaging user experiences. Day-to-day, modern development tools and the development team workflow are where I find myself most engaged.

Technical Abilities:

React, Javascript, jQuery, Sass/CSS/CSS-in-JS/BEM/SMACSS, HTML/JSX/MDX, Twig, GraphQL, Gulp, Node, Drupal, decoupled architecture, Gatsby, Next.js, Storybook, Pattern Lab, KSS Node, Jest, Git, DDEV/LAMP, PHP, WordPress, VS Code, Adobe Creative Cloud apps, Sketch, InVision, Abstract

Experience:

Mediacurrent

Positions:

  • Front-end Developer, current

Focus on front-end technologies and development of enterprise web projects for a variety of clients in different verticals. I collaborate with an agile full-service team of designers, strategists, developers, project managers, and product owners to create websites and applications to help clients solve problems and improve their business.

Responsibilities include:

  • authoring of maintainable, modern, accessible HTML, CSS, and Javascript
  • traditional component-based theming for Drupal 7 & 8
  • React-based decoupled development with GraphQL and Drupal 8
  • design system setup, maintenance, and integration with Pattern Lab and Storybook
  • accessibility, responsive, and cross-browser testing and bug remediation
  • project leadership
  • code review and collaboration
  • project planning and estimation
  • UI/UX Designer, 2017—2019

Strategic user experience and interface design for a variety of clients. As part of a collaborative, cross-functional team I worked to establish user flows, personas, development specifications, and project requirements from discovery to launch.

Responsibilities included:

  • user journeys and workflows
  • wireframing
  • prototyping
  • high-fidelity interface design
  • project leadership, client presentation and relationship building
  • project estimation
  • documentation and development specifications
  • process improvement
  • sales pitch and materials support

Keene State College

Positions:

  • Adjunct Professor

Taught and developed curriculum for the following web fundamentals courses:

  • ART 264 Web Design, Spring 2019 & Fall 2017
  • ART 355 Web-based Media II, Spring 2015

Taste for Life

Positions:

  • Director of Front-End Design & Marketing, 2016—2017
  • Director of Creative & Interactive, 2014—2016
  • Art Director, 2013—2014

Taste for Life produces educational, marketing-driven print and digital products that help natural product retailers and manufacturers grow their business while also partnering with natural product manufacturers to market their products. Taste for Life, remedies and a variety of custom healthy lifestyle magazines that are sold to and distributed by natural product retailers are produced monthly. Their web properties include www.tasteforlife.com and www.remedies-and-recipes.com – both focused on educating consumers about a healthy way of living – and www.tflmag.com – a custom website solution for independent natural products retailers.

Responsibilities included:

  • design, management, and progressive development of www.tasteforlife.com, www.tflmag.com, www.remedies-and-recipes.com, and all associated web pages
  • art direction, prototyping, wireframing, storyboarding, and production of digital projects
  • content strategy and social media planning
  • creation of company sales and marketing materials – both print and online
  • hiring and management of digital team members (full-time, part-time, freelance, and interns)
  • collaboration with senior leadership in strategic planning and decision making

Georgia Tech Institute Communications

Positions:

  • Senior Graphic Designer, 2010—2013
  • Graphic Designer, 2007—2010

Georgia Tech Institute Communications is the Georgia Institute of Technology’s on-campus marketing, communications, and public relations agency. My role involved consulting and collaborating with a variety of campus clients and colleagues to produce collateral and campaigns that achieved their desired outcomes and supported the strategic vision of the Institute.

Responsibilities included:

  • conceptualization and ideation of communication strategies and tactics for a variety of clients
  • art direction and production of print projects including design, layout, prepress preparation, proof review, and press checks
  • art direction and production of web and interactive projects including wireframing, prototyping, testing, and maintenance
  • application and maintenance of brand guidelines across all types of media
  • photographic art direction and selection
  • illustration and infographic creation
  • web content creation including graphics, video, and copy
  • recruitment CRM system implementation
  • project management duties including budget estimation, scheduling, and production timeliness
  • project specification writing, proposal solicitation, and vendor relations
  • client relationship building
  • mentorship of junior staff members

Fashion Victim

Positions:

  • Lead Designer, 2005—2007

Fashion Victim produced licensed merchandise and sold to retailers around the globe. As lead designer, my responsibilities included: management and creation of apparel graphics; development and production of company marketing materials (catalogs, fliers, etc.); accurate color matching, separations and film output; and organization of department files and supplies. The company’s list of clients included Hot Topic, Macy’s, Journeys, VitaminWater, Hooters Restaurants, and several other national brands.