Karen Smallwood

Karen is a web developer using a Drupal interface, and she is also an instructor at our sister school, Q College, teaching the Drupal Open Source Development course. Karen, herself, is a graduate of Q College's (formerly VSBT) Web Designer course and the Open Source Development course!

Karen’s role as web developer for northStudio means that she helps build Drupal websites for clients. Her contribution to a project involves information architecture and figuring out how the back end of a website will be structured. Karen’s tasks also include fine-tuning a site’s details, such as customizing features and theming.

What invigorates Karen is the investigative process that is a part of web development. Karen’s natural inquisitiveness and love of experimentation make her amazing at implementing new modules. Her sensitivity to the user experience also helps her find ways to make website functions easier and clearer to navigate. What Karen loves most about her job is that it provides the context for her to experiment and learn new things (or learn different ways to do the same thing!). She additionally enjoys the diversity of northStudio’s team members.

In her off time, Karen loves snowboarding, canoeing, cuddling her pup, and sitting shotgun on the flights her husband pilots.

“Working with Karen is a pleasure because she has a great sense of humor and cheery disposition. Plus I love bugging her with my ‘rubbish’ British accent.” –Danielle Hobbs

Quick Facts Questions

What lunchroom item is unmistakeably yours?

Sushi or Mini Eggs mmmm Mini Eggs.

If you could be any movie or TV character, who would you be?

A female Jeremy Clarkson - genius!

What three things could you not live without?

My husband, my dog and my iPhone - I know - sad!

What was the eight year old version of you like?

A pain in the arse - bit like the grown up version.

Growing up, what did you always get in trouble for?

Climbing trees.

What’s the best advice you were ever given?

Follow your heart.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.

I won the European Mogul Challenge in 1996 on a snowboard (competitive? Me?)