Engineering × Cinematic Storytelling
I build interfaces with product-grade engineering and cinematic polish.
Full-stack software engineer, web designer, and video producer — bridging resilient systems with visuals that feel intentional.
From React and TypeScript to lenses and color grades, I handle the span from architecture and UI to how it looks and feels in motion.
Hi, I'm Alden
Glad to meet you.
I bridge product-grade engineering with cinematic storytelling — code, design, camera, and color.
I'm a full-stack software engineer and web designer, and a video producer / photographer focused on cinematic, intentional visuals.
On the engineering side, I care about reliability, clarity, and systems. On the cinematic side, it's framing, pacing, and color.
Core roles
Two primary lenses. One cohesive point of view.
Whether I’m building systems or shaping visuals, the standard stays the same — clarity, intention, and polish.
Product-grade engineering
Building production-ready web experiences with React, Next.js, TypeScript, and thoughtful system design.
- Design systems and component libraries
- Robust data flows and API integration
- Accessibility, performance, and reliability
Cinematic storytelling
Planning, shooting, and editing visual narratives that support products, brands, and people.
- Direction, storyboarding, and shot planning
- Camera operation, lighting, and framing
- Edit, color, and delivery for web & film
What I do
How I move between code, design, and camera.
I work across architecture, UI, pacing, and color — shaping both how things function and how they feel to use.
Video Production & Photography
Concepting, planning, and shooting projects that support products, brands, and people with cinematic clarity.
- Pre-production, storyboarding, and planning
- Direction, camera, and on-set decisions
- Edit, color, and finishing for delivery
Design Systems & Motion
Defining systems, tokens, and motion patterns that keep teams shipping fast without losing coherence.
- Token-based color and typography scales
- Interaction and motion patterns
- Documentation and UI inventories
Selected work
Products and visuals built for clarity and reliability.
From consumer DNA activation to content-heavy search, here are a few projects where craft mattered end-to-end.
Consumer DNA · Ancestry
EngineeringDNA kit activation flow
Full-stack React + Node flow for activating DNA kits, built for millions of daily users with rock-solid reliability.
Property search
ProductTimeshare search & rentals
High-clarity search and booking flows for a content-dense timeshare platform, tuned for trust and conversion.
Narrative & visual systems
CinematicEditorial & branded video pieces
Concept, shoot, and edit for pieces that marry product clarity with cinematic framing, pacing, and color.
Notes & process
Writing on engineering, design, and cinematic craft.
Short pieces on resilient systems, motion, design language, and the intersection of code and camera.
Working with ChatGPT: Golden Rules for Generative AI Copilot Interaction [Part 3]
Today we dig into the schizophrenic nature of AI and how to tackle it with attention, attention, attention, language contracts, addressing errors immediately whenever they happen, and relating to your copilot.
Read articleWorking with ChatGPT: Golden Rules for Generative AI Copilot Interaction [Part 2]
AI is a wonderful tool but can be a hidden menace if not understood well. The next two rules (3 and 4) in this series are about understanding AI's prompt structure and exercising control.
Working with ChatGPT: Golden Rules for Generative AI Copilot Interaction [Part 1]
In this series, I present what I believe are some golden rules for interaction with generative AI and copilot agents. Part 1 includes my first two rules, about authority and specificity.
Best Practices: Naming Conventions in React Code Development
Consistency in variable types. Consistency in variable names. Consistency in methodology. Here is the React naming conventions guide I've developed over the years.
Say Hello to Shadowcat Pictures, my video channel on YouTube!
Let me introduce you to my video media company, Shadowcat Pictures. Over the past two years, I have developed rich video content for distribution on YouTube. Today, I announce my project to you all.
Next steps
Let’s build something great together!
Whether you need end-to-end engineering and cinematic storytelling or just a specific slice, I’m ready to help you make it happen.
I work well on product teams, in close collaboration with designers, or directly with founders and producers. Tell me what you’re trying to make and where you’re trying to go.
Ready to get started? Reach out with an opportunity or for a free consultation.