How I Work

Principal-led work, end to end.

I take ownership of the system from definition to rollout. No project managers, no handoffs, no junior team between strategy and implementation.

Ownership and limits

I work with a maximum of three active clients at any given time. This cap is intentional and non-negotiable so I stay directly involved in architecture, technical decisions, and execution.

Visual and interaction design is handled by Katharina, a partner I've worked with for three years. I remain accountable for system architecture, integration design, and delivery outcomes end to end.

Engagement phases

System definition

What information exists, where it lives, who needs it, what should be automated, and where AI adds leverage versus risk.

Architecture and design

Taxonomy, content modeling, AI interaction model, and interaction design. Website projects include low-fidelity wireframes before high-fidelity design and build.

Build

Frontend, backend, AI, automation, and workflow implementation. Built on architecture, not improvised around it.

Rollout and stabilization

Migration, launch, integration testing, and handover. The system is live, working, and owned by the business.

After the first engagement

The next step depends on system maturity and business needs, not a preset retainer model.

A second build phase to extend the system
Incremental iteration and expansion as the business evolves
Transition into a lighter advisory or system-oversight role

Advisory for in-house teams

If your team is already implementing with Next.js and Payload CMS, I also offer a technical advisory path: architecture direction, tradeoff guidance, and risk review while your team executes.

This is advisory, not staff augmentation. See advisory details.

Communication

The goal is clarity and momentum, not meetings for their own sake.

Day-to-day communication happens asynchronously — Slack, chat, email, or Teams.
For major decisions, system inflection points, or alignment moments, we use scheduled calls.

Pricing entry points

Payload CMS Websites

Start at $15K+

Higher starting point because these projects often include public surface, content architecture, and migration complexity.

Bespoke AI Applications

Start at $5K+

Narrower first intervention, with deeper internal system builds extending beyond the entry scope.

Final pricing depends on scope, complexity, and system depth defined during the initial phase.

Scope

This is for you if

You are a founder, owner, or senior decision-maker feeling real friction from scattered systems.
You want one senior expert who thinks with you and takes full accountability.
You care about long-term system correctness over quick feature delivery.
You value direct access, clear thinking, and end-to-end ownership.

Not a fit if

You are looking for an agency with parallel workstreams and larger delivery teams.
You need ticket-based execution, staff augmentation, or task outsourcing.
You want AI features without addressing underlying system issues.
You are optimizing for lowest initial price over long-term impact.

How to start

Two steps before any engagement begins. The first is free. The second is a working session that produces a written output — and the fee applies toward the project if we move forward.

Step 1

Discovery Call

Free · 25 minutes

A short call to see if there’s a fit. You tell me what’s not working with your website or digital infrastructure. I ask a few direct questions. We both decide whether it makes sense to go deeper. No pitch, no presentation.

Book a discovery call

Step 2

System Mapping Session

$500 · 60 minutes

A focused working session before any engagement begins. We map where your current website and digital infrastructure are leaking commercial opportunity — visibility gaps, operational drag, disconnected systems. You walk away with a written summary of the findings and a clear recommendation on what to build first. The $500 applies toward your project if we move forward together.

Book a system mapping session

Book a free discovery call.