Kirk Laughlin

About Me

Front-end developer & web designer focused on accessible interfaces, design systems, & custom applications.

Education

• Western Kentucky University

  B.S. in Computer Information Technology | 2007 - 2011

Awards & Recognition

• CASE KY Awards

  January 2014

  Grand Award in Mobile Applications for iWKU

  December 2016

  Award of Excellence in Total Website Design & Organization for wku.edu

• Professional Marketing Association

  November 2018

  Gold First Place Award in Best Website of the Year for wku.edu/strategicplan

Languages & Skills

• HTML5
• CSS3
• PHP
• SCSS
• Sass
• JavaScript
• jQuery
• PHP
• Drupal
• Web Accessibility
• WCAG AA
• Front-End Architecture
• Modern Campus CMS
• Adobe Creative Suite
• User Interface Design
• User Experience Design
• Design Systems

Experience

• Web Developer I

  Western Kentucky University | January 2013 - Present

  • Front-End Developer & Web Designer

    January 2016 - Current

    • Design and development of the wku.edu website, focusing on interface design and templating while supporting updates, migrations, documentation, and training.
    • Established a centralized front-end template and style system, enabling consistent, accessible, and efficient development across university sites and applications.
    • Develop and support workflow-driven forms and lightweight web applications, converting business processes into accessible, maintainable web solutions.
    • Serve as a web accessibility resource, ensuring WCAG 2.1 AA compliance and contributing to the ADA Advisory Committee.
    • Conduct interface and front-end reviews, ensuring accessibility, consistency, and adherence to established web standards before publication.
    • Member of the Web Standards Committee contributing to shared standards, governance, and inclusive digital practices across campus.

  • Mobile Applications Developer

    January 2013 - December 2015

    • Worked on the iWKU mobile application, supporting a reliable and cohesive experience across student-facing mobile tools.
    • Designed a custom mobile UI and CSS system and modernized the iWKU appinterface creating a seamless mobile experience.
    • Brought critical student services to mobile, designing and developing mobile modules for dining balances, print balances, and grade access.
    • Implemented a single sign-in mobile experience, enabling secure access to multiple student services from mobile devices.
    • Redesigned the campus map visuals and created location-based building tools, improving building discovery and campus navigation on mobile.

• Web Developer

  Hitcents.com | January 2012 - December 2012

  • Developed and maintained client websites using Drupal, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and MySQL.
  • Implemented front-end styling and interactive features in collaboration with designers and developers.
  • Customized CMS templates and components to meet project requirements and content workflows.
  • Provided client support and CMS training to ensure successful adoption and long-term maintainability.