Strategy and design engineering, from canvas to code.
I’m a design engineer creating high-performing websites and user interfaces.
I work across strategy, UX, UI, and front-end development, using React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, Framer, and modern AI tooling & workflows to balance visual craft with information architecture, conversion strategy, and site performance.
With 16+ years of experience across client work, embedded teams, and my own ventures, I bring strategic thinking and technical execution to every project.
Tools I’m currently exploring
Ventures
A few things about me
I live with my wife and two daughters (7 and 4) in Cape Town, South Africa. Being a Dad is the best thing in the world.
After school I took a gap year and learnt the value of money the hard way. Since then I’ve started and failed many projects and kept the habit of building things just to see what happens. I think side projects are the best way to stay curious.
I’m a self-taught, aspiring guitarist with a deep love of the blues. JustinGuitar.com is where I started, and I recommend it to anyone picking up the instrument.
A few places that stuck with me: Patagonia has the freshest air I’ve ever breathed (my wife and I hiked Torres del Paine in 2014). I shot on my iPhone.
Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and New York are all must see experiences in the US. I shot on my iPhone.
Sifnos is a Greek island I can’t recommend enough.
Zimbabwe has the friendliest people, and camping wild in Mana Pools is the most exhilarating safari there is.
Amsterdam is my second-favourite city, behind Cape Town.
Two books shaped how I think.
Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance taught me that quality lives in the mindset of the person doing the work, not just the result.
April Dunford’s Obviously Awesome is the one I recommend to anyone and everyone.
Working with Tristan was a game-changer for our website. He didn't just meet expectations on our major overhaul project; he shattered them, combining deep technical skill with a keen design eye to elevate our entire web presence. Tristan is proactive, an excellent communicator, and a true pleasure to collaborate with. He not only delivered exceptional results but also streamlined our internal processes. I cannot recommend him highly enough.
Tristan is the absolute best. I can't imagine working with anyone else. When you're building things, the best partners are the ones that proactively make adjustments and recommendations without you asking, simply because they are committed to producing the best result. Tristan is the best at this I've ever seen! If you need a Framer site built, don't hesitate to work with him.
