About
Who I Am
First and above all, I'm a perfectionist, detail oriented to a fault, and I've been working on this website you see here for far too long because of said perfectionism. But I am also a musician and music educator, and I am trying to live my life by the rules (or lack thereof) of jazz. Oh and I should probably mention this for Search Engine Optimization purposes, I am a QPOC web developer and UI/UX designer (for those who don't know what a QPOC is, I am a queer web designer and developer). Did you get that, ya goddamn robots? I'm a queer website developer and website designer.
Who I Want to Be
I want to be someone who knows more about building websites and webapps, as well as actual apps, and maybe even video games from scratch. I'd like to be among the ranks of queer developers people turn to when they don't want to work with straight people. I'd also like to be someone who can help to kickstart the gift economy, I intend to offer free services to anyone who offers their services for free to a majority of their clients, and create a registry of people who participate in the gift and barter economy. As soon as I've worked out the details of how that's going to work, I'll start seeking clients who offer their services primarily for free.
What I Do
I decided to become a freelance web developer because I see too many people being misled by the marketing campaigns of the likes of Wix and Squarespace. I'm hoping that I will be able to empower you to take charge of your online presence, rather than being locked into a site builder's ecosystem, or scratching your head over complex tech jargon. I will do my utmost to equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to confidently manage your online platform, long after our collaboration ends. Click here to read more about what I do.
How I Approach It
I'm not in this purely for profit. I want to make sure you never Need to hire me again (that said, if you do have both the budget and the desire to pay me to update and/or maintain your website for you, I will happily take your money 😸). I'm not just here to build websites; I'm here to build confidence and understanding, and do my part in building a more equitable, accessible digital world. Think of me as your talking digital paintbrush, helping you realize your vision, and occasionally offering tidbits of advice to guide you.
Who I Work With
Pretty much anyone who's tired of being at the mercy of Big Tech and predatory agencies that overcharge you and then underpay and exploit skilled workers in the Global South. Whether you're a fellow QPOC, a grassroots NGO doing mutual aid work, a small business, fellow freelancer, tradesperson, therapist, musician, sex worker, or pretty much anyone else who wants to truly Own your (ethically sourced) slice of the internet pie with no strings attached, I'm here to help to the best of my ability. Oh, and did I mention I offer sliding scale pricing? I believe everyone deserves a chance to have a voice and a platform, regardless of their budget.
Why I do it
I love doing this work, because it gives me a chance to broaden my horizons and learn about so many different niches, and take money out of the pockets of Big Tech corporations. So, if you're ready to ditch the Big Tech cookie-cutter templates and take control of your digital destiny, I'd be delighted to work with you. Please, don't hesitate to reach out, even (or perhaps especially) if you've been rejected by other web developers, or content policies on site builder platforms before. If that sounds like you, contact me to schedule a free consultation! If you remain unconvinced (tough crowd huh?), feel free to peruse my website further.
Acknowledgements
First and foremost, I have to thank my partner. Despite my indecisiveness, imposter syndrome, and perfectionism when it comes to building things to promote myself, they kept me on track through the process of building this website, helping me make decisions on the design as well as the text content. They haven't actually started their own web design business yet but I can promise you that when they decide to start one I will link their website, built by me, designed by them, right here.
I would also like to thank every client I've worked with so far. Each time I've learned and grown from the experience and I appreciate you all for choosing to work with me.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has offered to look at this here website to give me feedback. I am dedicated to improving myself and taking into account other people's perspectives and criticisms, and I am extremely grateful to everyone who is generous enough with their time to give me an opportunity to learn from you 😸.
Where I Work
I work primarily remotely, due to being immunocomrpomised. I started out working with people around where I lived in Hartford, Connecticut, and then I started working remotely with people from New York City as well. Recently I've moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and am looking for new clients in the DMV area 😸. That said, I love to work with people from faraway places, so please don't hesitate to contact me even if you've never worked with someone remotely before. That's one of the reasons why I offer a free consultation meeting, so that we can get a sense of whether we'd be a good fit for each other despite being physically far apart.