About

The Person Behind the Pixels & The Philosophy Behind the Code

Explore my journey from professional cycling to frontend engineering, and discover the thoughtful approach behind building tools that actually get used.

Julian Kyer - Senior Frontend Engineer and former professional cyclist
I spent a decade as a professional cyclist before transitioning into software. After graduating from the Turing School of Software and Design, I built rapid prototypes at Cognizant Accelerator and served as engineer-in-residence for a private equity firm.
Now I help startups like Pico AI ship elegant UIs fast. I specialize in React/Next.js ecosystems and have a track record of delivering production-ready applications in 2-5 week sprints.

Why founders choose me:

  • •Athlete mindset = disciplined execution & meeting deadlines
  • •Startup experience = understanding MVP vs. perfect
  • •Consultancy background = clear communication & documentation

When I'm not coding, you can find me in the Colorado mountains with my wife and dog, running on the bike path, or tinkering with side projects that push the boundaries of what's possible on the web.

Features

A living demonstration of purposeful development. Each feature in this app solves a real problem while showcasing different technical capabilities. Some features are complete, while others are planned for future development.

Fluid Typography System

Typography • Design System
Complete

Custom semantic typography components with CSS clamp() for perfect scaling across devices. Set once, works everywhere—no more font sizing headaches.

  • Semantic component architecture
  • Automatic mobile-to-desktop scaling
  • Consistent vertical rhythm
ReactTypeScriptCSS clamp()Responsive Design

Dark/Light Theme Toggle

UI/UX • Accessibility
Complete

Persistent theme switching with system preference detection. Clean transitions and consistent Nord color palette across both modes.

  • System preference detection
  • Persistent user preference
  • Smooth visual transitions
localStorageCSS Custom PropertiesNord ThemeSystem Detection

Minimal UI Design System

Design • Architecture
Complete

Documented design philosophy with reusable components. Calm, focused interface that prioritizes content and reduces cognitive load.

  • Documented design philosophy
  • Reusable component library
  • Focus-driven user experience
Design SystemComponent LibraryCLAUDE.mdAccessibility

Internationalization (i18n)

i18n • UX • Accessibility
Complete

Full bilingual support with Spanish translations. Professional-grade localization with persistent language preferences and seamless switching.

  • Complete Spanish translation dictionary
  • Integrated language switcher in navigation
  • Persistent language preference storage
i18nextreact-i18nextLocalizationSpanishlocalStorage

Aurora Background Animation

CSS • Visual Effects • Performance
Complete

Custom CSS-only aurora borealis animation with smooth gradients and zero JavaScript overhead. Creates an immersive Nordic atmosphere while maintaining optimal performance.

  • Pure CSS keyframe animations
  • Hardware-accelerated transformations
  • Responsive viewport-based scaling
CSS AnimationsCSS KeyframesNord ThemePerformanceZero JS

Google OAuth Authentication

NextAuth.js • Security • OAuth
Complete

Production-ready authentication system with Google OAuth integration and email whitelist security. Demonstrates modern auth patterns with JWT sessions and secure user management.

  • Google OAuth 2.0 integration
  • JWT session management with NextAuth.js v5
  • Email whitelist security for access control
NextAuth.jsGoogle OAuthJWT SessionsSecurityEmail Whitelist

Neon Postgres Database

Database • Drizzle ORM • SQL
Complete

Serverless PostgreSQL database with Drizzle ORM for type-safe queries. Supports user data, settings, and widget storage with efficient connection pooling and edge-ready performance.

  • Serverless Neon PostgreSQL with connection pooling
  • Type-safe database queries with Drizzle ORM
  • User data, settings, and widget schema management
Neon PostgreSQLDrizzle ORMConnection PoolingType SafetyServerless

SEO & Local Search Optimization

SEO • Local Search • Structured Data
Complete

Comprehensive SEO implementation targeting both local Denver searches and national remote opportunities. Features rich metadata, structured data, and bilingual optimization for maximum discoverability.

  • Local + national keyword targeting for broader reach
  • JSON-LD structured data for rich search results
  • Dynamic sitemap generation and robots.txt optimization
Local SEOSchema.orgOpenGraphSitemapMeta TagsJSON-LD