A Spark of Inspiration

My journey began with a motivation to create unique, fun, informative, and helpful interactive websites.

My journey took me from GeoCities and MySpace through through now-nostalgic Flash playgrounds of Newgrounds and Kongregate to modern CMS like WordPress, Wix, and SquareSpace.

Before social media and massive online storefronts existed, I built marketing sites and online shopping catalogs to promote various companies and ideas.

If something useful didn’t exist or if it wasn’t easily accessible, I would create it himself. This desire to construct and innovate led me to the field of web development, where I discovered the perfect playground for my creativity and technical prowess.

Career Milestones

I began my professional career in 2012 when I launched my first professional website for a local tax preparation office. In 2013, I played a pivotal role as Treasurer of the Cleveland State University student chapter of AIGA, showcasing my leadership and organizational skills. My formal education culminated in a Bachelor of Arts degree from Cleveland State University in 2014.

The following year, I immersed myself in the industry by interviewing leading designers and professionals in a short-lived blog series called “Let’s Talk”. This experiential knowledge formed the foundation for my freelance career—marked by ongoing client relationships that began in 2015.

My career trajectory took a leap in 2018 with the launch of Community.Vet, a website for a startup veterinary clinic, followed by significant freelance growth. My expertise led me to take on the roll of Web Chair within AIGA Cleveland in 2020.

My impact was profound at Trakstar, where in 2022 I led an overhaul of the corporate website, contributing to a lucrative company sale. The story continues into 2023, with my current position as Independent Web Developer as Shawn Gray Design.

Expertise and Skills

My technical arsenal includes HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, React, Lit, Bootstrap, and WordPress, among other languages and frameworks. My unique design strategies, along with my skills in illustration and a customer-centric approach, position me as a versatile developer who thrives on solving complex coding challenges and enhancing user experience.

Notable Projects and Achievements

The revamp of Trakstar’s corporate website stands out as a career highlight, where I demonstrated my adeptness in user interface design, SEO, and content creation. My diverse project portfolio, including the Community.Vet website and Living In Coherence website, reflects his adaptability across sectors such as e-commerce, startups, and healthcare.

Design Philosophy

My approach to web design embodies simple yet powerful principles: Plan. Design. Build. Guided by a user-first approach and responsive design, I champion performance optimization and accessibility. A great website seamlessly marries functionality with storytelling, ensuring an effortless user journey regardless what the user’s device may be.

Motivation and Creativity

I believe in the power of persistence, working through creative blocks to birth ideas into existence. My mantra is straightforward: Keep it simple, a philosophy that resonates throughout my work, ensuring complete, accessible, and user-friendly web experiences.