Joshua Frechette

Designer & Developer

Skills

Art & Design

  • 2D/3D design, layout & rendering
  • User interface, user interaction and user experience
  • Color theory (perception, matching and profiling)
  • Graphic design & illustration (minimalism, stenciling & grunge)
  • Direct and indirect accessibility focus

Development

  • Community-focused project planning, evaluation and outreach
  • Plain-language documentation
  • Full-stack web developer (html, css, js, php, python & sql)
  • Data structures and APIs (json, xml, rest, etc.)
  • Embedded open hardware, software and electronics (raspberry pi, arduino, etc.)
  • Web and network management (servers, proxies, dns, migration, etc.)
  • Service hosting, integration and management (docker, databases, content management systems, etc.)
  • Cross-platform systems administrator (windows, macos, linux, & mobile)
  • Crowdsourcing and fundraising

Production

  • 2D/3D prototyping, printing and finishing
  • Quality control and specification compliance
  • Commercial and industrial printing technologies
  • Organic and synthetic materials
  • Label and adhesive technologies
  • Sustainability and recyclability focus

Education

  • Curriculum design and lesson planning
  • Educational interactive gamification
  • Qualitative student growth evaluation
  • Collections interpretation

Multimedia

  • Digital interactives and engagement
  • Live and studio audio mixing and mastering
  • Video storyboarding, editing and production

Projects

CLIO

Project Lead

2019 – Present

  • Lead designer, developer, and technical manager for CLIO, an open-source framework for creating digital educational interactives.
  • Directed multiple cross-disciplinary teams for independent host institution development cycles.
  • Researched, planned and drafted iterative proposals for community workshops.
  • Compared and qualified open-source software development libraries for project integration and long-term sustainability.
  • Created functional interpretive technology prototypes based on practical feedback and technical specifications.
  • Evaluated prototypes using established models alongside a team of educational professionals.
  • Completed ethical reviews to consider the implications for the institution, its professionals and the larger community.
  • Collaborated with educators to create educational experiences that utilized digital interactive technologies as an integrated part of traditional interpretation.
  • Adapted common pedagogy techniques into discrete, template-based interactive activities for informal education facilitation.
  • Created comprehensive documentation with related guides for specific institutional roles.
zoom_inview project portfolio

POP

Project Lead

2019 – Present

  • Lead designer, developer, maker and technical manager for POP, a toolkit for creating low-cost, open hardware digital touchscreen kiosks.
  • Researched, planned and drafted iterative proposals related to the kiosk's design and features using established evaluation models.
  • Created functional technology prototypes based on practical feedback and technical specifications.
  • Completed life cycle sustainability evaluations throughout development process.
  • Researched, compared and tested 3D fabrication technologies and materials.
  • Compared and qualified open-source hardware assemblies and software distributions for long-term sustainability.
  • Developed an easy-to-clone operating system image for creating pop-up, web application-based kiosks.
  • Produced touchscreen kiosks assemblies for use in exhibits by local institutions.
  • Created comprehensive documentation with related guides for creating and configuring the kiosk.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Experience

Researcher & Developer

Access Text and Technology @ University of Washington

2023 – Present

  • Researched accessible educational aids for use by blind and low-vision students.
  • Explored the creation of tactile learning aids using consumer 3D printers.
  • Performed filament print quality and substrate compatibility testing with 3D printers.
  • Generated research reports reviewing current literature, integrating test results and proposing further research.
  • Formally proposed project development based on research, testing and stakeholder requirements.
  • Fabricated functional educational aids to establish guidelines and documentation.

Web Manager

Student Chapter of the ALA @ University of Washington

2023 – Present

  • Managed the student organization's intranet portal and social media.
  • Collaborated with student organizations to provide event and organizational support services.
  • Designed and developed a website, blog and event platform.
  • Designed and illustrated marketing and other graphic art assets, as necessary.
  • Created documentation to assist with the transition between student officers.

Technology Intern

Evergreen State College

2021 – 2023

  • Collaborated with the Evergreen Media Loan program to provide students access to open, affordable, and educational technologies through library-circulated Open Development Kits.
  • Designed and maintained technical and research documentation for community-developed and evaluated projects.
  • Secured project funding through crowdsourcing and grants.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Technology Intern

Puget Sound Museum of Natural History

2020 – 2022

  • Created lesson plans for elementary school students that follow Washington State science education guidelines.
  • Designed blog-based educational modules with prerecorded facilitation videos and interactive activities.
  • Developed techniques to lead educational lessons with live facilitators and remotely-accessible interactive activities through video conference software.
  • Completed qualitative evaluation of student reasoning skills and teacher perception about the interactive lessons.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Technology Intern

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

2019 – 2020

  • Designed and developed the open CLIO toolkit.
  • Designed and developed the open POP toolkit.
  • Collaborated with the Education department to implement digital collections content for their BurkeMobile program using the open toolkits, 3D printing and low-cost hardware.
  • Created documentation to ensure continued support of the project.
  • Secured project funding through crowdsourcing and grants.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Exhibit Developer

Roger Williams Natural History Museum

2017 – 2018

  • Utilized grant funding and open NASA resources to create an interactive exhibit about the potentials of extraterrestrial life.
  • Operated as part of a small team to design and develop low-cost, re-usable exhibit kiosks using open-source hardware and software.
  • Designed and produced the collection of educational infographic videos on display.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Media Lab Manager

AstroNova Inc.

2011 – 2019

  • Assisted with the research, development and support of printer and media product portfolios.
  • Defined the Media Lab's protocols and procedures for quality control, product testing and laboratory maintenance.
  • Performed qualitative and quantitative testing using industry-standard methods and test equipment.
  • Prepared reports that informed customer applications and company-wide product decisions.
  • Coordinated with international branches and partners to explore and qualify manufacturer alternatives to create a cohesive international inventory.
  • Developed and maintained a database cataloging product lines' relevant technical specifications, test data and anecdotal information.
  • Developed and curated a product offering intranet portal for use by management, sales, support and marketing personnel.
  • Managed archives of past work orders, requisitions, complaints, test reports and samples.
  • Established lab priorities, managed schedules, organized workloads, and kept management informed about the status of active projects on a daily basis.
  • Managed laboratory network infrastructure and performed troubleshooting of hardware, software or other peripherals.
  • Provided technical product support to support technicians and customers.
  • Ensured product performance in unique and complex customer applications.
  • Trained company personnel regarding new or updated product offerings to ensure smooth customer adoption and continued satisfaction.
  • Developed commercial printer media profiles for optimal print quality and color matching.
  • Inspected incoming raw materials, manufacturing processes, and outgoing final product for quality control.
  • Evaluated defective products to identify root-cause errors and implement procedures to prevent future recurrences.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Designer, Developer & Maker

Freelance

2010 – Present

  • Volunteered websites for local non-profits, such as animal adoption services, theater organizations, museums, libraries or other public institutions.
  • Designed and developed websites and promotional content for local restaurants and organizations.
  • Designed merchandise, promotional material and websites for local bands.
  • Designed portfolio and resume websites for local professionals.
  • Performed live event sound mixing and management.
zoom_inview project portfolio

Artist

Non-Professional

2010 – Present

  • Work is created through Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.
zoom_inview art portfolio

Publications

Designing CLIO

MuseWeb 2020

  • CLIO is an open-source digital interactive toolkit that aims to lower the knowledge ceiling required to implement interactive exhibits by creating a series of activity templates that can be customized by anyone with access to a computer.

Awards

Nancy J. Gershenfeld

Fellowship

  • Awarded by the University of Washington for demonstrating leadership in special librarianship and information entrepreneurship.

President's Equity Fund

Grant

  • Awarded by the Evergreen State College to develop Open Development Kits for circulation within the Media Loan program.

Microsoft Alumni

Scholarship

  • Awarded by the Evergreen Foundation for the creative incorporation of technology into the informal eduction field.

Campus Sustainability

Grant

  • Awarded by the Resilience Lab and University of Washington to develop a sustainable, open toolkit for museum exhibit technology.

Education

University of Washington

Master of Library and Information Science

2026

  • Candidate graduate student for University of Washington's Master of Library and Information Science program.

Evergreen State College

Bachelor of Arts

2023

  • Completed workshops with the Evergreen Natural History Museum, the Daniel J Evans Library, the House of Welcome and the Evergreen Gallery to consider applications of kiosk-integrated exhibits through perspectives of accessibility, equity, sustainability, integration, educational potential, and overall visitor experience.
  • Placed on the President’s List for outstanding academic performance.
  • Provided artwork for student gallery exhibitions.