Every project runs the same eight phases. No shortcuts, no skipped steps. The phases are fixed so you know what you're getting — the timeline flexes to fit your actual problem.
Eight phases. No skipping.
What actually happens.
We spend the first week mapping the problem space together. Structured workshops, review of any existing research, and a competitive landscape sweep. The goal is to understand what you're actually solving — not what you think you're solving. Most projects change shape in this phase. That's the point.
- Problem framing doc
- Workshop notes
- Opportunity map
- Stakeholder alignment summary
Now we know the problem. This week we decide how to solve it, and just as importantly, what not to build. Scope definition, MVP shape, success metrics, and a realistic timeline. This is where expensive mistakes get caught. A week of strategy prevents months of rework.
- Scope document
- Success metrics
- Build / no-build decisions
- Timeline estimate
Requirements become real. We write the functional spec, map every user flow, and build the prioritized backlog that guides every decision in Build. No ambiguity left. Each ticket is clear enough that I could hand it to any engineer and get the same result.
- Functional specification
- User flow diagrams
- Prioritized backlog
- Edge case register
High-fidelity screens, not wireframes. A working design system in Figma that maps directly to Tailwind tokens — every component designed with implementation in mind. No handoff debt because there's no handoff: the person designing is the person building.
- Figma file with all screens
- Design system & token set
- Component inventory
- Responsive breakpoint specs
Production code. Next.js, TypeScript, Postgres — typed end to end, tested as it goes. AI accelerates the scaffolding and repetitive work; every architectural decision is deliberate and reviewed. Weekly demo calls so you see progress, not promises.
- Production codebase on GitHub
- Weekly demo recordings
- Documented PR history
- README and setup docs
E2E tests, accessibility audits, and performance budgets run throughout Build — not as a separate phase bolted on at the end. Real device testing on mobile and desktop. Lighthouse scores tracked per deploy. Bugs caught in CI never reach you.
- E2E test suite (Playwright)
- Accessibility audit report
- Lighthouse scores per route
- Known issues register
CI/CD pipeline, environment variables locked down, error tracking wired, analytics live, and monitoring configured. Production launch is a non-event — it's been running on staging for weeks. DNS cut-over, smoke test, done.
- Live production URL
- CI/CD pipeline (GitHub Actions)
- Sentry error tracking configured
- PostHog analytics live
Two paths after launch: a monthly retainer for ongoing iterations, analytics review, and feature work — or a clean handoff with full documentation, recorded walkthroughs, and architecture notes so your engineering hires can step in without rewriting anything.
- Monthly iteration sprints (retainer)
- Analytics reports
- Handoff documentation package
- Architecture decision records
A typical 8-week project.
The rules that
don't bend.
These apply to every project. No exceptions, no negotiating them away.
The same person who runs your kickoff writes your migrations. Nothing is lost in translation, because there's no translation.
Each phase has a fixed price and a fixed timeline. You know what you're getting and when. No open-ended retainers on ambiguous work.
Loom over Zoom. Docs over meetings. Your time is valuable. I'll only ask for a live call when async genuinely won't cut it.
The codebase is yours. Typed, documented, and structured so your next engineer can open it without calling me.