ALEX PLAYER / THE FIELD NOTES
Digital direction. Websites that work. AI that’s useful. I connect the big picture with the hands-on work that makes it happen.
I’m Managing Director of SJH Studios and Head of Digital Development at St James’s House / SJH Group. Before that? Teaching, newsrooms, a move across continents, and a lot of building.
Alex. Usually making something.01 / SELECTED WORK
A few projects that show how my skills work together.
A GLOBAL DIGITAL PRESENCE
Digital strategy · Design · Development
I created World Engineering Day’s digital online presence, in cooperation with UNESCO and WFEO. The aim was to connect its stories, events and resources in one useful destination.
The work brought together content structure, web design and development, so visitors could understand the initiative and find ways to take part.
Explore the website ↗FROM PRODUCT IDEA TO RELEASE
Product design · Full-stack development · Automation
I designed, coded, released and sold NexDirectory, a WordPress events plugin. Its companion Chrome scanner turns event information into editable listing drafts.
The Chrome scanner gathers information from an event page. Less copying and pasting, more time for useful work.
03 / TEACHING AT THE FRONTIER
Before ChatGPT was available, I created Prompt News on YouTube to teach coders how to use GPT. Free education brought together my experience in teaching, video and code.
Later, I connected ChatGPT to Alexa and turned the experiment into a step-by-step tutorial. The goal was practical: help people understand the technology well enough to try it themselves.
Watch Prompt News ↗
▶The Alexa experiment Watch on YouTube ↗
04 / DIGITAL LEADERSHIPHead of Digital Development at St James’s House / SJH Group since 2023. Managing Director of SJH Studios since 2024. Two distinct roles, connecting platforms, people and digital strategy.
Meet the studio ↗
05 / DIGITAL PUBLISHINGI launched the Daily Mirror’s iPad application, carrying my newsroom experience into a touch-first product. Editorial judgement met a new way for people to read.
Visit this chapter in 3D ↗
06 / AGENCY & CLIENT WORKI work with We Are Hype and designed the agency’s website. My independent website work now lives at Nexus Websites, combining design, development and local SEO.
Explore the client work ↗See We Are Hype ↗02 / THE INGREDIENTS
The interesting things happen where skills meet. Pick an ingredient to see what it brings.
I led English-language video at RIA Novosti, Russia’s state news agency. Today, I use that editorial judgement to make complicated subjects clear, whether the output is a film, a website or an AI tutorial.
See the newsroom chapter ↗MY INDEPENDENT STUDIO / ALONGSIDE SJH
After joining SJH Group, I started Nexus Websites as my independent side venture. It is where I now bring my web design, development and SEO experience to trades and local-service businesses.
The job is more than making a good-looking page: explain the service, help people find it, and make the next enquiry easier.
Meet Nexus Websites ↗
Windows & doors
Help customers find the right windows and doors, then make an enquiry.
Website design, specialist service pages and location-aware search journeys for a London manufacturer and installer.
Service structure · Local SEO · Enquiry journeys
Project previews from Nexus Websites. Live sites open in a new tab and may have changed since the project was completed.
BEFORE THE WEBSITES, THE NEWSROOMS.
Teaching, video and publishing shaped the way I work with digital products today.
c. 2006-2013 / English-language video
After two years teaching English in Russia, I spent seven years at RIA Novosti, Russia’s state news agency. I led English-language video content and production workflows for the news agency.
Daily deadlines meant making complicated stories understandable, organising production and getting the work out. That combination of clarity and delivery still runs through my projects.
Enter the robot newsroom ↗HAYMARKET MEDIA
I managed digital content and social media across Marketing Magazine and Campaign Magazine. The work connected professional marketing audiences with relevant journalism.
It added B2B publishing and social distribution to my toolkit, alongside the consumer publishing experience of the Mirror’s iPad launch.
Visit the publishing floor ↗HOW I APPROACH THE WORK
Strategy and making are connected. Choose a step to see how my experience fits into the process.
I start with the audience, the problem and the team who will run the finished thing. My teaching and newsroom background helps me ask questions and turn complicated answers into a clear brief.
A clear problem and a useful brief.
Alex + SvetaMarried in Russia. Ash the cat joins us.
And then, Max.London, 2015. A new little passenger.
Meet Chelsea.2025. Our dog joins the adventure.A PERSON, NOT JUST A LIST OF ROLES.
I studied Advanced IT at Farnborough Tech before spending nine years in Russia: two teaching at Education First and seven at RIA Novosti. I married Sveta in Russia and we also adopted Ash, our cat, there.
I returned to London around 2013. Max arrived in 2015, and our dog Chelsea joined us in 2025. In the 3D version, you can see our little robot family grow as the journey unfolds.
Meet the travelling family ↗03 / THE HUMAN BIT
From studying Advanced IT in the UK to teaching in Russia, working in media and building digital products.
Some roles and projects overlap. This is a story of work and life, not a strict employment timeline.
Explore this part in 3D ↗
ON THIS PAGEStudying Advanced IT2001 · UK / Farnborough Tech
Advanced IT student
I’m Alex Player. I studied Advanced IT at Farnborough Tech in the UK, before building a career across teaching, video, websites and AI.
Studied: IT foundationsStep into this chapter
c. 2004-2006 · Russia / Education First
English Teacher
I flew to Russia and taught English with Education First through TEFL. Teaching helped me explain ideas clearly to people with different backgrounds.
Developed: teaching & communicationStep into this chapterc. 2006-2013 · Russia / RIA Novosti
Head of English Video Content / News Reader
I led English-language video content and production workflows at RIA Novosti, Russia’s state news agency. The work combined video production, editorial storytelling and daily news deadlines.
Developed: video & editorial storytellingStep into this chapterRussia / Family
Sveta and I got married in Russia, where I also adopted Ash, our cat. Both join the ride here.
Life milestone: Sveta & Ash, our catStep into this chapter2009 · Egghead Designs / Founded 2009
Founder, SEO Specialist & Web Developer
I founded Egghead Designs in 2009. Alongside my other roles, I have designed and built websites and worked as an SEO specialist.
Built: web consultancy · Applied: SEOStep into this chapter
c. 2013 · Russia → London
I returned to London and took my newsroom experience into consumer publishing, including work with the Daily Mirror and 3AM.
Career move: Russia → LondonStep into this chapterLondon / The Daily Mirror
Senior Content Manager / Digital App Editor
I launched the Daily Mirror’s iPad application, bringing its journalism to a touch-first reading experience and connecting editorial work with digital product delivery.
Applied: digital publishing & product launchStep into this chapter2015 · London / 2015
In London in 2015, Sveta and I welcomed Max. We became a family of three, with Ash the cat coming along too.
Life milestone: Max, 2015Step into this chapter
2016 · freeCodeCamp / 2016
Full-stack development student
In 2016, I studied full-stack development at freeCodeCamp. I deepened my coding skills so I could design websites and build the systems behind them.
Deepened: full-stack coding & web designStep into this chapter
Haymarket Media / Marketing & Campaign
Digital Content / Social Media Manager
I managed digital content and social media across Marketing Magazine and Campaign Magazine, connecting professional marketing audiences with useful journalism.
Developed: B2B publishing & social mediaStep into this chapter
2021-2023 · role · Emoji Games / Digital Content Manager / 2021-2023
Digital Content Manager
At Emoji Games, our team launched Pok Coin on Stellar. I handled content, SEO and social distribution.
Applied: launch content, SEO & socialStep into this chapter
Before ChatGPT · Prompt News / Before ChatGPT
Creator & Educator
Before ChatGPT was available, I created Prompt News on YouTube. I shared free tutorials showing coders how to use GPT, making the technology easier to understand and work with.
Applied: GPT, coding & free educationStep into this chapter
Alexa / ChatGPT / YouTube
Creator & Developer
I connected ChatGPT with Alexa, then showed how on YouTube. The project combines voice-AI integration, video production and teaching.
Built: voice AI · Applied: video educationStep into this chapter
2023 · St James’s House / SJH Group / 2023
Head of Digital Development
I became Head of Digital Development in 2023, leading web platforms, digital projects and cross-team delivery at St James’s House / SJH Group.
Applied: digital transformation & deliveryStep into this chapter
In cooperation with UNESCO & WFEO
Digital strategy, design & development
I created World Engineering Day’s digital presence, in cooperation with UNESCO and WFEO, bringing its stories, events and resources into one connected website.
Applied: web design & digital strategyStep into this chapter
NexDirectory / WordPress events plugin
Creator & Developer
I designed, coded, released and sold NexDirectory, a WordPress events plugin. I also built its companion Chrome scanner.
Applied: product development & automationStep into this chapter2025 · Family / 2025
Our dog Chelsea joined Alex, Sveta, Max and Ash the cat in 2025.
Life milestone: Chelsea the dog, 2025Step into this chapter2024 · SJH Studios / Managing Director / 2024
Managing Director
I became Managing Director of SJH Studios in 2024, shaping its digital direction through websites, technology and practical AI.
Applied: digital strategy & AI workflowsStep into this chapter
