Drew
Full-Stack Engineer & Designer
White
Drew
Full-Stack Engineer & Designer
White
I build fast, thoughtful digital products with a deep focus on UX, performance, and emotional impact.
Currently building AI-powered journaling app
Experience
5 rolesAuraNote
Jan 2024 – Present
Co-Founder & Principal Engineer
- Building an AI-powered journaling platform focused on emotional clarity, personal growth, and expressive reflection.
- Designed and implemented the product end-to-end using modern web technologies (Next.js, Tailwind, PostgreSQL, OpenAI, S3).
- Developed core features like mood-based image generation, streaming AI reflections, encrypted journal entries, and multi-image support.
- Architected a clean, performant codebase with server actions, minimal client state, and zero-dependency markdown rendering.
- Driving product vision, UX, engineering, branding, and go-to-market strategy as a co-founder.
Craftwork
Jul 2023 – Present
UX/UI Designer & Full-Stack Engineer
- Lead design and front-end architecture for multiple client applications, improving user engagement and performance across mobile and web.
- Spearheaded internal tools and workflows to accelerate delivery and reduce design-dev handoff friction.
- Built robust full-stack features using React, Next.js, and PostgreSQL, with an emphasis on speed and clean UX.
- Act as a bridge between design, engineering, and leadership, helping drive product vision and quality.
Stashpad
Jan 2022 – Jul 2023
Design Engineer
- Owned the UI design system and component library, improving developer velocity and visual consistency.
- Collaborated directly with founders to shape product direction and deliver polished, performant features in a fast-moving startup environment.
- Led the effort to redesign the app's core UX, contributing to a measurable increase in user retention and satisfaction.
Hyak Co.
Jan 2020 – Aug 2021 (Acquired)
Founder
- Built and scaled a boutique creative agency focused on branding, web design, and early-stage product development.
- Led all client work, from discovery to deployment, delivering 30+ successful design systems, brand packages, and web applications.
- Managed a small team of contractors and freelancers, overseeing creative direction, client relations, and business operations.
- Successfully exited via acquisition in 2021.
Dunstone Company
Feb 2013 – Jul 2021
Marketing Director
- Directed all branding and marketing efforts, including web, print, and digital strategy, for a global manufacturing company.
- Rebuilt the company's digital presence, leading to a 3x increase in inbound interest and modernized brand perception.
- Collaborated with leadership to align marketing strategy with business goals, improving operational efficiency and customer outreach.
Projects
Selected workAuraNote
Co-Founder / Principal Engineer & Designer
- An AI-powered journaling app designed to help users reflect deeply, visually, and emotionally through writing, AI feedback, and creative prompts.
- Built from scratch with a clean full-stack architecture (Next.js, PostgreSQL, S3, OpenAI, Tailwind), with zero client-side dependencies for rendering Markdown.
Craftwork OS
Full-Stack Engineer & UX Designer
- Internal platform to streamline project workflows, sales handoff, and delivery management for a fast-moving design/dev agency.
- Designed and engineered core modules, including stage-based progress tracking, internal estimators, and workflow automation.
Stashpad
Design Engineer
- Lightweight, local-first notes app built for developers who think fast and write faster.
- Contributed to the product's visual system and core UX patterns, built UI components in React, and helped establish a cohesive brand experience.
Skills
Technical
- Full-Stack Development (JavaScript, TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js)
- Backend & APIs (PostgreSQL, REST, Server Actions, Supabase, Prisma)
- DevOps & Infra (Vercel, AWS S3, CI/CD, Docker basics)
- Markdown Rendering, Image Processing, Client-Side Encryption
Design & UX
- UX/UI Design, Design Systems, Interaction Design
- Branding & Visual Identity
- Prototyping & Wireframing (Figma, Framer)
- Design-Dev Handoff & Implementation
Product & Strategy
- Product Development & Vision
- Founding & Startup Leadership
- AI/LLM Integration (OpenAI API, embeddings, prompt design)
- Team Collaboration & Cross-Functional Communication
Tools & Tech Stack
- Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Notion, Linear, VS Code, Git
- Cursor, Tauri, Tailwind CSS, shadcn/ui
Education
Self-Taught Engineer & Designer
- Dropped out of high school and built my career from the ground up through relentless self-education, hands-on experience, and a deep obsession with craft.
- Taught myself design, UX, and full-stack development by launching real products, working across startups, and learning from every project I touched.
- Continuously study systems architecture, interface design, and emerging technologies to stay sharp and intentional in my work.
- I believe the best education is doing — and I've spent over a decade proving that by building things that matter.
Communication
From:Your Name <your@email.com>
To:drew@drucial.dev
Subject:New Project Inquiry
Hi Drucial,
I'd like to discuss a potential project with you...
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best,
___
I'll respond within 24 hours. For urgent inquiries, reach out directly at drew@drucial.dev