# Max Duval (@mxdvl.com)

Profile: https://sifa.id/p/mxdvl.com
Headline: Web Tech Lead
Location: London, England
Website: https://www.mxdvl.com

## About

Building robust & delightful sites.

Now it’s UK property data visualisation and insights at Hometrack. Previously it was the news at the Guardian. Before that it was more mortar than software.

## Experience

- **Assistant de recherche at UQÀM – École de design** (2010 – 2011)
  Réalisation d'une plateforme web de recherche d’actions et d’évènements urbains. Création d'un tableau dynamique de recherche grâce à Javascript, PHP & MySQL.
- **Assistant de cours at UQÀM – École de design** (2010 – 2010)
  Assistant de cours du DESS en design d'évènement. Réalisation d'un site web pour les finissants.
- **Assistant de recherche at UQÀM – École de design** (2010 – 2010)
  Travail sur une étude d'analyse de l'UQAM en plans et en images: Réalisation d'un livre de plans de l'UQAM à la Nolli. Réalisation d'un pliage de photos de l'UQAM à la Ruscha.
- **Création de modèles AutoCAD at Dawn of War Productions** (2010 – 2010)
  Réalisation d'objets en 3D et d'un motif en 2D pour le film Immortals sorti en 2011.
  
  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1253864/
- **Adjoint administratif at LafontaineLangford, architectes** (2009 – 2009)
  Modélisation 3D, relevés architecturaux et autres tâches.
- **Web Tech Lead at Hometrack** (2024 – present)
  Built a new platform to explore, visualise and gain insights on the UK property market: Data Hub.
  – Brought deployment times down to a few minutes
  – Improved API performance fivefolds when processing geospatial data
  – Launched a Web Guild of frontend engineering excellence
- **Senior Software Engineer at The Guardian** (2021 – 2024)
  Delivering news to millions of readers every day. I have worked in
  several cross-functional teams encompassing design, product, data
  analysis, user support and editorial stakeholder.
  – Reduced digital exclusion by designing for low-performance devices
  – Improved standardisation of tools, code style and documentation.
  Read more on “Standardisation: the merit of consistent patterns”
  – Introduced AVIF images, addressing a major user complain on image
  quality while reducing overall bandwidth by ~6%
  – Rebuilt the internal web analytics tool to enable developers to
  contribute new features. A critical strategic tool for knowing our users
  – Halved deployment times, which increased team cadence, engineering
  confidence and stakeholder satisfaction
- **Software Engineer at The Guardian** (2020 – 2021)
- **Architectural Designer at Florian Busch Architects** (2017 – 2018)
  · Skilfully produced images for a research project offering an alternative to the 2020 Tōkyō Olympic stadium. Published in The Japan Times, Rethink Tokyo and Designboom. · Designed and worked all phases of a house and studio in central Tōkyō with tight spatial and regulatory constraints.
- **Researcher at McGill University – School of Architecture** (2012 – 2015)
  · Learned the philosophical foundations of fabricative knowledge, research-creation and interdisciplinary techniques and received several grants from SSHRC.
  
  · Developed a series of self-sustained prefabricated shacks for the Canadian climate.
  
  http://www.farmmresearch.com/mmot/
- **Architectural Designer / Building Information Modeling Lead at Allies and Morrison** (2018 – 2020)
  At this practice known for its place-making, I deepened my knowledge on projects ranging from conceptual propositions to construction documents. My work is always rigorous and thorough, using the latest technologies best suited for the task at hand.
  
  · Built testing tools for key project metrics using Grasshopper, ranging from sustainability to unit mix. Solar analysis as part of the design process leads to major savings in building envelope performance.
  · Leveraged BIM to deliver project documentation on tight deadlines and trained the team throughout, exceeding all targets.
  · Streamlined internal scheduling systems to reduce typical feedback loop to under a minute.
- **Full Stack Engineer at MXDVL** (2007 – 2020)
  With over 10 years of experience with building for the web, I have offered services ranging from fully managed websites to transitioning away from legacy platforms. For over 5 years, I have implemented a single source of truth by refactoring multiple databases in several projects.
  · Built web-based video games, including multiplayer with Node.js.
  · Rich landing pages using WebGL with Three.js.
  · Integrated online payment with the Stripe platform.
  · Improved Google page speed insight by 40-60 points on average.
  · Developed JSON APIs in PHP to expose data to collaborators.
  · Familiar HTML/CSS, the JAMStack, many PHP CMS, and Node.js.
- **Architectural Designer at Richard Bliah Associates** (2016 – 2017)
  · Developed winning concepts for offices and urban strategies in mainland China and Japan.
  
  · Built complex digital generative and data-driven models, and trained others to do it.
  · Produced and reviewed photo-realistic architectural and urban renderings.
- **Architectural Designer at Provencher_Roy** (2015 – 2016)
  · Honed my model-making skills using rapid prototyping tools like foam, resin casting, 3D printing and laser cutting. Managed the office fabrication lab and training.
  · Curated and designed a successful exhibition of the ongoing projects of the office, with a strong focus on process, iterative and multidisciplinary work.
  · Won a competition for a mixed-use project.

## Education

- **Université du Québec à Montréal** — Baccalauréat (2008 – 2011)
- **Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf** — BI, DEC & DES (2004 – 2008)
- **McGill University** — Master, Architecture (2011 – 2015)

## Skills

- Web Development
- Design
- Data Visualisation
- CSS
- HTML
- JavaScript
- Prototyping
- Spatial Modelling
- PHP
- Nginx
- Linux
- Project Management
- CAD
- 3D
- Sketching
- Microsoft Excel
- React
- Scala

## Projects

- **Data Hub** — https://data.hometrack.com/
- **The Guardian** — https://www.theguardian.com/

## Volunteering

-  at Future Frontiers

## Honors and awards

- Médaille du Lieutenant-gouverneur pour la jeunesse
- Bourse COOP-UQÀM en arts
- Ray Affleck Prize in Design (Honourable Mention)
- Hugh McLennan Memorial Scholarship

## Languages

- Français (native)
- English (native)
- Allemand (elementary)
- Serbe (elementary)
- Espagnol (elementary)
- Japonais (elementary)

## Other profiles

- website: https://www.mxdvl.com
- github: https://github.com/mxdvl