Though he’s been with us for a little while now, we’re very excited to have had the chance to sit down with our Lead Web Developer Barry Bloye to talk about the evolution of development and his career to date.
Barry joined us in October 2023 and has helped propel our web design and development forward over the last 9 months.
Bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to our development team, Barry was kind enough to chat with us about his journey into web development, his thoughts on the industry, and what he enjoys when he’s not coding.
Welcome to Tomango, Barry! How have your first few months been?
Barry: It’s been incredibly varied. I’ve slotted in well with the team, and the role has given me a lot of freedom to work in a way that draws on my past experiences and knowledge.
The team’s skills at Tomango complement each other really well, and we’re always learning a lot from other departments, making quite a formidable team for our clients and projects.
How have you found the return from freelancing?
Barry: I’m enjoying being part of a team again, especially such an active and lively one. It’s great to have a platform to bounce ideas off each other and figure out how to best solve problems. Plus, working with lots of new and interesting clients has been fantastic.
And what’s been the biggest challenge so far?
Barry: Helping so many clients has been a new challenge. It’s been quite the task to deal with such a busy inbox while ensuring I’m helping clients as effectively as possible.
How did you get into development?
Barry: By accident! When I was at university, I learned some basic HTML to build a website for my band, Serene. About a month into my first full-time job, someone said, “you like computers, don’t you?”, and convinced me to apply for an internal e-marketing assistant job. From there, it became my career.
So you’ve been doing this for a while; how do you think web development has evolved over the years?
Barry: Yes, I’ve been in the field for 21 years now, so it’s changed enormously. The way people and businesses use the web has matured a lot. When I started, only a minority of people and companies took it seriously until the .com bubble burst.
More recently, I’m glad there is much more of a drive towards accessibility and inclusion on the Web.
The variety of places and people I’ve worked with, from freelance to in-house, big agencies to small, and clients of all sizes, has taught me so much. I’m excited to bring all that experience to Tomango and see what we can achieve together.
That nicely brings me to my next question: In your view, what are the key trends shaping web development today?
Barry: The culture of the web is constantly maturing, with more awareness of the responsibilities that come with being a provider of high-quality web services, particularly around sustainability, inclusion, and social responsibility.
Over 20% of people within the UK have some form of access need that impacts their web use, so I’m glad the best organisations are taking this more seriously.
What do you believe sets a great website apart from a good one?
Barry: A great website is one that is entirely user-focused. The designer must put themselves in the shoes of their visitors and be obsessed with making their customers’ lives as straightforward as possible.
How do you ensure that the websites you develop are user-friendly and accessible to a diverse audience?
Barry: It’s important to get the experiences and perspectives of a range of stakeholders to avoid personal preferences that might not consider the challenges others face.
By testing with a diverse group of users, you can gain valuable insights, avoid alienating potential customers, increase brand trust, and ultimately make it easier for a wider group of people to engage with you and do business with you.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Barry: I enjoy cycling, playing football and cricket, and occasionally making music.
Travelling and exploring are also big passions of mine. I recently visited Madeira, which was surprisingly interesting with some amazing hiking and open-swimming opportunities. The green, mountainous terrain was beautiful, though I wouldn’t want to cycle around the mountains
If your house was on fire and you could only save one possession, what would it be?
Barry: One of my guitars, but I’m not sure which one. If I’m forced to choose, probably my ebony Epiphone Les Paul
What advice would you give to someone just starting their career in web development?
Barry: Learn the basics; don’t try to run before you can walk. Learn about user experience and understand the ‘why’ behind certain practices. Be willing to set aside your assumptions about how people use the web. It’s an exciting and ever-evolving medium, so don’t worry about understanding it all at once.
Sage advice from Barry to wrap up a fascinating chat with our new Lead Web Developer.
We’re thrilled to have Barry as part of the Tomango team and can’t wait to see more of the innovative solutions he’ll bring to our clients.