A Little About Me
Designer. Developer. Problem Solver.
I spend my time crafting designs that are fresh and modern while remaining accessible and user-friendly. From sleek design to semantic code — I believe in building websites that are as functional as they are beautiful.
Clay Cauley
Full Stack Web Designer & Front-End Dev
Kentucky, USA
My Story
The Very Long
Version
Quick Facts
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Role
Full Stack Web Designer & Front-End Dev
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Experience
15+ Years in UI/UX, Web Design & Front-End Development
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Based In
Kentucky, USA
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Education
B.A. in Web Design, Western Kentucky University
Growing up in a Kentucky farming family, I quickly realized that farming wasn't my path. Around the start of high school, my interest shifted to technology, beginning with free online site builders before moving up to hand-coding in Dreamweaver. Throughout those years, I constantly sketched layouts and built websites for myself and my friends, unknowingly laying the foundation for my career.
This passion led me to Western Kentucky University (WKU), where I pursued a degree in Web Design and Advertising, graduating in 2011. During this era, when the iPhone was still fresh and new, mobile design was an afterthought. We built desktop sites and forced them into mobile dimensions, relying on Photoshop slices before I transitioned fully into coding with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Shortly after graduation, I joined Fruit of the Loom as a Web Designer and Front-End Developer. Collaborating with back-end engineers, I strengthened my understanding of JavaScript and embraced the emerging HTML5 and CSS3 standards. During my time there, our team recognized the industry shift toward mobile browsing, successfully transitioning our approach to a mobile-first design strategy.
Accessibility is more than helping people with disabilities. It's about creating a better experience for everyone. When we design with empathy and inclusivity, we unlock the true potential of the web.
As the digital landscape changed, I had to adapt with it. I learned to navigate the shift from jQuery to modern, responsive libraries like Bootstrap, and eventually to advanced frameworks like Tailwind, Vue and React. My design toolkit also needed to evolve, moving from Adobe's suite to Sketch, and ultimately to Figma, which now serves as my primary design platform.
Today, after years of continuous learning and hands-on experience, I brand myself as a Full-Stack Web UI/UX Designer and Front-End Developer. Merging design and development, while working closely with engineering teams to ensure my concepts are both feasible and intuitive. If you need a versatile, reliable professional who gets the job done right, I am your guy.
What Drives Me
The Principles Behind
The Work
Good work doesn't happen by accident. Behind every design are guiding principles that inform my process, from the first sketch to the final pixel.
Design Intent
Every color. Every typeface. Every pixel has a job to do. I don't add things to clutter up space. I add them because they serve the user.
Lasting Design
I create designs I'm not embarrassed to look at six months later. Clean, documented, and structured so the next person isn't confused and starting from scratch.
People First
Accessibility isn't a checklist, it's respect. I build things that work for everyone, regardless of how they're accessing the web.
Always Iterating
The best work rarely comes from the first idea. I embrace feedback, test assumptions early, and treat every project as a chance to learn & grow.
Skills & Tools
The Toolkit I
Reach For
An ever-evolving set of skills I rely on daily. Sharpening each one through every project.
Design
Development
Strategy & Process
Experience
Where I've
Been
The roles, companies, and experiences that shaped who I am, how I think and how I work.
Lead Senior UI & UX Designer
2026 – PresentWiserSites
Describe your responsibilities and accomplishments in this role. What did you build? What problems did you solve? What was the impact on the business?
Sr. Web Designer & Front-End Developer
2021 – 2025Fruit of the Loom
Describe your responsibilities and key accomplishments. Keep it focused on impact and results rather than just listing day-to-day tasks.
Sr. UI/UX Web Designer & Front-End Developer
2015 – 2021CafePress
Describe your responsibilities and key accomplishments. Keep it focused on impact and results rather than just listing day-to-day tasks.
Lead Web Designer & Front-End Developer
2011-2015Fruit of the Loom
Describe your freelance experience — the range of clients, industries, what you learned operating independently, and notable wins.
BA in Advertising & Web Design
2011Western Kentucky University
My time at WKU was spent during the crossover from Flash to HTML5, which meant I got to learn both the design and development sides of the web at a time when everything was changing. It was a formative experience that set the stage for my career.
Beyond the Screen
What I'm Like
Outside Work
When I'm not locked in behind a screen creating Figma variables and brand guidelines, I'm out exploring the world around me with my wife and daughter. Or on a tennis court playing singles & doubles. Giving your all to your craft is important but taking time to recharge & relax is just as crucial.
I'm also a huge nerd. Occasionally you'll find me playing video games or sifting through my trading card collection. Whether it's on the PC, PlayStation, or Nintendo all just depends on the mood I'm in. I've been collecting Pokemon cards since I was a kid & that will never change. Sorry, not sorry!
Let's Build Something
Got a Project in Mind?
I'm always open to hearing about new projects or collaborations