NocturnalPixel

About Me

Hi, I'm Rafael Mejia, a Senior Web Developer specializing in multiple web technologies such as HTML, PHP, CSS, and Javascript (jQuery). I've had over 15 years of experience in web development. I also co-founded and was the lead developer of Brands & Things, a design and advertisement agency providing services such as web design/development, print, film, and social media.

Nerd at heart! I'm into graphic novels, adventure video games, puzzles, and social media. Constantly reading technology news. Sucker for great, simple, and clean design. Apple enthusiast. Lego builder. I collect records, pins, and posters. Oh, and I love The Office.

Web Development

HTML5, CSS, SASS, Bootstrap, Javascript, jQuery, Node, React
PHP, including Wordpress, Laravel, MODx, Zend
NoSQL, MySQL, MS SQL, MongoDB
Version control: Git (Github, BitBucket), SVN
Salesforce: Lead management, Lightning Experience (Livechat implementation)
CRM, API, Cloud Solutions: Salesforce, Contentful, Amazon AWS (SQS, S3), Sailthru, Socialflow, DISQUS, Cloudinary, Rackspace, Edgecast, Chartbeat, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, etc.
Project Management Tools: Asana, TargetProcess, JIRA, Redmine, Trello, Redbooth.
MVC Architectural Pattern
Agile environment, Scrum workflow
Flat File CMS: Grav
Other tools: Advanced Custom Fields (Wordpress), Google Web Designer, Adobe CS Suite, Homebrew, Docker, Command Line, Grunt, XAMPP, Vagrant, Ghost
SEO awareness
Clean and simple design

Team Lead and Project Management

Team Lead for the WebCore Team at Complex Media
Remote management of a small development team from Argentina (ElPixel)
Agile methodologies, Sprint and daily scrum meetings

Other skills & interests

Commonly used tools: SublimeText, Sketch, Google Web Designer, Adobe CS Suite, Slack
Past experience with: C++, MS-SQL, Processing, AppleScript, Paypal API
Past experience: After Effects, Processing, xcode
Game Design
Toy Design
Fully bilingual: Spanish/English

Stuff I've worked on

Higher Education / Red Ventures (2018 - Current)

Point University - Online Campus Site

2018 - Current
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, DIVI, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API. Form integration with Salesforce. Contentful implementation.
University of Iowa - College of Education Online Site

2018 - Current
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API. Form integration with Salesforce.
Drake University - Online Campus Site

2018 - Current
Design and Development. Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API. Form integration with Salesforce.
Xavier University - Online Campus Site

2018 - Current
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API. Form integration with Salesforce.
Loyola University New Orleans - Online Campus Site

2018 - Current
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API. Form integration with Salesforce.
Cincinnati Christian University - Online Campus Site

2018 - 2019
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance (HTML, CSS, jQuery, DIVI, ACF plugin). In-house cache system, program data retrieval through a custom built API.

Starmark (2017 - 2018)

NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (Page launching soon)

2018
Developed front-end pages on HTML, CSS (SASS), and jQuery. Incorporated into NSU's CMS (Cascade CMS).
Marine Research Hub

2017
Alliance of marine research universities. Single page development using HTML, CSS, and jQuery.
Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

2017-2018
HTML banner ads using Google Web Developer and Adobe XD. HTML monthly email campaigns
Azul Beach Resorts

2017
Developed front-end pages on HTML, CSS (SASS), and jQuery. Incorporated into Starmark's in-house CMS.
NSU Huizenga College of Business and NSU Fischler College of Education

2017
Developed front-end pages on HTML, CSS (SASS), and jQuery. Incorporated into NSU's CMS (Cascade CMS).

Complex (2010 - 2016)

collider.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
firstwefeast.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
fourpins.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
greenlabel.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
pigeonsandplanes.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
solecollector.com

2014 - 2016
Wordpress backend & frontend development and maintenance.
Complex

2014
Team Lead, supervising both frontend and backend developments for the 2014 complex.com redesign. Minor programming involvement using AngularJS.
Complex Hackaton

2014
Participated on Complex's Hackaton 2014, a creative competition to conceptualize and develop a project based on assigned topics. Group Awards: 1st Place and People's Choice. Site Decommissioned.
Complex

2010-2016
Frontend and backend web development. Assumed various roles throughout the years, including Team Lead, Project Manager, and Sr. Web Producer. Main programming done in PHP, MySQL, HTML5/CSS, jQuery, and AngularJS. Wordpress and MODx were also big internal components at the time. Around 2010, I was also in charge of developing an internal CMS for the editorial team to manage articles and other tasks.
McDonald's Flavorbattle Campaign

2011 - 2012
Collaborated on McDonald's Flavorbattle campaign in 2011 and 2012 by helping with the backend development. For more information, check out Flavorbattle

Brands+Things (2009 - 2018)

Just A Hammer

2018
Main developer for Just A Hammer, a handyman hiring service, servicing the local Gainesville, FL area. Website built on Wordpress.
Kuadroo

TBD
Curated art gallery service. Built using ExpressJS, AngularJS/NodeJS and PostgreSQL. Project is currently being redesigned.
Fulcro Insurance

2013
Developed Fulcro Insurance's website during 2013 using Wordpress and jQuery.
Asociacion de Hospitales de PR

2011
Wordpress website for Puerto Rico's Hospital Association, built in 2011.
The Pearl Affair

2011
Assisted in the creation and functionality of a friend's wedding RSVP website during 2011. Built using HTML/jQuery. Site Decommissioned.
Sunrise Healing Arts

2011
Website for Sunrise Healing Arts, an organization focused on offering health and alternative medicine services. Custom made CMS for administration purposes, built using PHP.
SRS Corporation

2010
Informative website for SRS Corporation during 2010. Built using jQuery. Site Decommissioned.
ICOM Agencies

2010
Website redesign in collaboration with the popular agency Arteaga & Arteaga. Wordpress integration with customized functionalities, such as image banners, Twitter feed, and a customized CMS, allowing multiple ICOM agencies to manage their profiles, media, and additional information.
Amy Nieto Photography

2010
Portfolio website with the capability to manage photos and albums, including features such as search filtering and categories. Built using PHP. Site decommissioned.
Bobby Pulis Industrial Sales

2009
Bobby Pulis Industrial Sales informative website. Custom built CMS (PHP) for managing news and administrative features.

Oddcast / Sitepal (2007 - 2008)

Oddcast

2007 - 2009
Worked for two years at Oddcast, an agency devoted to the development of avanced avatar technologies. Main programming languages: PHP, MySQL, MS-SQL, XML, JS, CSS, XHTML.
Sitepal

2007-2009
Backend development for the Sitepal Character Editor. Main programming languages: PHP, MySQL, MS-SQL, XML, JS, CSS, XHTML.

Other Projects

nightowlpins.com

2016
Enamel Pin Store hosted on bigcartel.com.
NocturnalPixel

2009
Former version of this very same website. Programmed in PHP.
evester: designer for hire (decommissioned)

2012
Personal portfolio website for @evestr.
El Rompecabezas Thesis Installation

May 31 - June 9, 2007
El Rompecabezas Thesis Installation consists of a tabletop interactive video puzzle that plays with the ideas of reflection and reconstruction of self. Programmed using Javascript, Max/MSP. Exhibited at The Chelsea Art Museum, New York (May 31 - June 9, 2007). Download Thesis Documentation
The Mobile Game Mosh by Parsons School of Design

March 11, 2005
Parsons School of Design 24 hour game jam competition to design and create a fully working video game intended for mobile phones. 11 teams competing. Lots of stress, food, and Red Bulls. Team Name: Oh My Mosh! Team Position: Programmer (Game Maker). Award: Best Visual Design. For more info Gamasutra: Another 24 Hours? The Mobile Game Mosh
Making Wireless Toys (Parsons School of Design)

2006
Class dedicated to Making Wireless Toys. Designed and created multiple electronic plush toys. Used technologies such as magnetic switches, RFID chips, and wireless transmitters. The photo displays 2 pac-man ghosts whose eyes glow when a magnetic switch is in close range. Physical computing equipment, magnetics switches, wireless circuits, fabrics, cottom, sewing equipment. For more info go to The Art and Craft of Toy Design
Abstract Clock Project (Parsons School of Design)

2005
Built an abstract clock by using Processing, "an open source programming language and environment for people who want to create images, animations, and interactions". The rows represent hours, minutes, and seconds (top to bottom). Download Standalone App (Mac)
Robot in New York (Parsons School of Design)

November 8, 2005
Parson's School of Design project aimed at exploring and disrupting surrounding spaces. My team decided to create a robot character that would wonder, walk, and even dance around the financial district. The result was a beautiful video consisting of multiple reactions ranging from indifference and apathy to compassion, good will, and love. Filmed in the Financial District, New York. Edited using After Effects.
Project SIUL

2005
Star Wars fanfiction clip. Assisted in the process of animating the lightsabers using rotoscoping and masking techniques. Note: This video contains elements from the Star Wars movies and soundtracks. The owners and creators of this video do not intend to commercialize it in any way, and it is merely for entertainment purposes. Edited in After Effects.
Tecnetico.com

2004
Worked on Tecnetico.com's Wordpress platform by coding and customizing the search page.

Education

Master of Fine Arts in Communication Design and Technology

Parsons School of Design - New York, NY

Graduation: May 2007

Awards
Best Visual Design - Mobile Game Mosh Competition 2006.

Team Name: Oh My Mosh!

Position: Programmer.

Software: Game Maker.
Exhibitions
Parsons The New School for Design 10th Annual Thesis Exhibition.

Location: The Chelsea Art Museum, New York.

Project Title: El Rompecabezas: An Interactive Puzzle Installation.
Bachelor's Degree in Computer Sciences

Universidad de Puerto Rico - Bayamon, PR

Graduation: 2004