Dean Holland

Professional Projects

Highlight Games website preview

Software Engineer (.NET, Razor Pages, CSS)

Highlight Games

Frontend-focused engineer on a virtual sports betting platform, building reusable Razor UI components and translating JSON-driven data into clean, client-accurate interfaces.

As a Software Engineer at Highlight Games, I focus primarily on frontend development for a virtual sports betting platform. I build dynamic, data-driven user interfaces that closely align with client expectations, combining strong attention to detail with scalable and maintainable implementation.

Key Contributions and Responsibilities:

  • Frontend Development & Dynamic Components: Reusable, dynamic UI components using .NET and Razor Pages.
  • Data Integration & Display: Work with JSON responses and transform fields into clear UI displays.
  • Detail-Oriented UI Implementation: Pixel-accurate, responsive recreation of client layouts.
  • Advanced CSS & Theming: CSS variables powering a flexible theming engine.
  • Collaborative Workflow: PR workflow in Bitbucket, code reviews, and PM collaboration.

Stack: .NET, Razor Pages, CSS, version control, structured PR workflow.

Go to Website
Distinctive Games website preview

Unity C# Developer

Distinctive Games

Unity/C# developer contributing across multiple game projects in a hybrid team environment. Delivered features through stand-ups and iteration.

As a Graduate Programmer, I contributed to multiple projects using C# and Unity, collaborating in a hybrid environment and regularly delivering features through stand-ups.

Highlights:

  • Hands-on coding and problem-solving across varied projects
  • Comfortable switching between remote and in-office collaboration
  • Proactive about taking on new challenges and iterating quickly
Go to Website

Personal Projects

Expense Tracker

.NET 9, ASP.NET MVC (Razor), SQL Server, EF Core, ASP.NET Identity, JS, Chart.js, Azure

Full-stack expense tracking app with secure accounts, CRUD transactions, and a live-updating chart dashboard deployed to Azure.

Expense Tracker is a full-stack web application built with .NET 9.0 and ASP.NET MVC, designed to help users record and manage spending. The dashboard provides a monthly breakdown using Chart.js and updates dynamically without full-page refresh.

Key features:

  • Secure authentication with ASP.NET Identity
  • Full CRUD for expenses with validation
  • Monthly charts + average category chart (Chart.js)
  • Dynamic UI updates for fast UX
  • Optional demo data regeneration logic
Source Code Live on Azure

Employee Performance Management System

ASP.NET, Razor, SQL Server, T-SQL, EF Core, JavaScript

HR-focused system for employee records and performance reviews with dashboards and clear visualisation. Supports employee/admin views and performance history.

ASP.NET Core MVC application to manage employee records and performance evaluations. Uses SQL Server + EF Core and presents trends with graphs for both teams and individuals.

  • Employee records management (CRUD)
  • Performance reviews + history
  • Visual dashboards (bar + line graphs)
  • Admin and employee views
Source Code Design Doc

Library Booking System

.NET 7, .NET Core, Razor Pages

Role-based booking platform with search/filtering, availability checks, user reservations, and admin inventory management.

  • Search and filters across multiple media types
  • Real-time availability + user bookings
  • Admin: inventory CRUD + booking oversight + return confirmation
  • Designed for future cloud deployment
Source Code Design Doc

Live Weather and Map App

.NET 6, ASP.NET MVC, unit testing, Azure

Weather + map app combining current conditions and multi-day forecasts with interactive mapping. Integrates external APIs and includes unit tests.

Integrates OpenWeatherMap and OpenStreetMap to provide real-time weather plus forecast summaries and mapping in one interface.

  • Current weather: temperature, humidity, conditions
  • Forecast processing: averages/high/low per day
  • Unit test project validating core logic
Source Code Go to Website Design Doc

Earth and Moon

Three.js, HTML, CSS

3D Earth–Moon visualisation with orbit simulation, raycasting hover interactions, and modular design to support adding more planets.

  • Rotations + orbit simulation
  • Raycasting hover UI info
  • Selectable planet camera-lock logic
  • Modular, extensible codebase
Source Code

Generic Online Shop

HTML, CSS, JavaScript

Responsive ecommerce-style site with product listing, cart management, and checkout flows. Built to showcase HTML/CSS fundamentals and interactive JS behaviour.

  • Store catalogue browsing
  • Add/remove cart items
  • Responsive layout for multiple screen sizes
Source Code Load Website

Face Recognition Game — 93% Mark

Python, OpenCV

Mini-games using face and colour tracking as controls. Built with Python + OpenCV for an education-focused assignment.

  • Face tracking control inside an AR/VR-style interaction model
  • Colour tracking markers for question challenges
  • Assignment graded at 93%
Source Code Watch Demo
Project Outbreak preview

Project Outbreak — Co-Owner, AI Lead

Unity, C#

Vertical slice featuring modular enemy AI with squad-style coordination for a top-down roguelike prototype.

Built modular AI behaviours that supported dynamic enemy selection during procedural generation, while keeping encounters readable and fair.

Presented at Transfuzer 2020 and participated in events via Game Republic.

Play the Vertical Slice Go to Website
Bind and Banish logo

Bind and Banish

Unity, C#

Team-built first-person ghost capturing game featuring state-driven ghost behaviour and custom avoidance.

I implemented AI behaviours and a custom avoidance system. The ghost behaviour used a finite state machine.

  • Zigzag flight patterns for ambient movement
  • Hiding in objects and manipulating lights
  • Aggressive “revealed” state: throws objects, taunts player
  • Group gathering and wandering using NavMesh + custom movement

Awarded Best Team at The Game Republic Student Showcase 2021.

Watch the Demo

DTH & The Mad Escape — Programming Competition Submissions (2020–2021)

Unity, C#

Competition entries developed by analysing and extending existing Unity codebases. Implemented new features, improved system structure, optimised performance, and refined functionality within strict time and technical constraints.

Achieved joint 4th place and received the “One to Look Out For” recognition in 2020, followed by a 13th place finish out of 54 participants in 2021. Focused on understanding legacy code, designing scalable improvements, and delivering robust, high-quality software under competition conditions.

DTH - Judges Feedback Mad Escape Judges Feedback