Code. Climb. Create.One of the most significant influences on my approach to software architecture is the outdoors. Take a trail for example. It needs to be clear enough to effortlessly bring the hiker to their destination yet subtle enough to never detract from the experience. Likewise, good design will take the user where they need to go as quickly and simply as possible.
Just like a well designed application, the best trails take far more work than the average observer may think. Simplicity does not come easy. That clear path you are walking on may have required hours of planning, dynamite to clear rocks, a foundation hidden under the dirt to keep it stable, and regular maintenance to stop erosion and overgrowing plants.
Likewise, the best applications go through dozens of wireframes, hours of pixel-level design to find just the right amount of drop shadow and the exact roundness to the corners of each button, and require regular maintenance to keep the app up-to-date and fix any bugs that surface. It is a lot of work to make an experience that seems so simple, an experience so seamless that the user never has to "compass-navigate" just to get around your app.
Then there are the trees that line the trails. Each one beautifully designed by nature using one key concept — every single part of a tree has its purpose. The roots absorb water and nutrients from the ground, the bark protects it from the elements, and the leaves photosynthesize food. It all works to create a gestalt of life and beauty.
Software should take the same approach as a tree. Every line of code, package installed, button, image, and color choice should have a purpose.
My name is Kyle Soeltz. I am a front-end software engineer with a background in visual design and experience working across the full-stack. Whether I am writing React, sketching a wireframe, or defining a GraphQL API schema, I love building great experiences for users.
I have built complex data visualization tools to help improve the economies of developing nations, created web-based mapping applications for planning and tracking hikes, defined full front-end design systems for startups, created internal tools for established companies, and once built a website while hiking and living out of a tent for 6-months. No matter the project, I will always strive to bring a clean, efficient, and beautiful user experience. ■
