Brendan Johnson builds websites that feel handmade, load fast enough to make Lighthouse blush, and give clients a CMS they can actually use without calling the developer every time.
// services
Fast. Clean. Built to Last.
Static-first architecture, practical CMS editing, and enough custom craft to make the site feel owned.
01
Starter Website
A sharp, fast marketing site for solo operators and small teams that need the right first impression.
Astro static build
CMS-ready sections
Analytics wired in
Timeline quoted per project
02
Growth Website
A larger CMS-powered site with richer page structure, stronger conversion paths, and room to scale.
Directus content model
Reusable page sections
Performance QA
Timeline quoted per project
03
Headless Ecommerce
A custom storefront layer for teams that need speed, control, and a clean path beyond template limits.
Storefront API wiring
Product data modeling
Checkout integration
Timeline quoted per project
04
Mobile Apps
Cross-platform mobile apps for teams that need native-feeling UX, API-backed data, and a clean path to the App Store and Play Store.
React Native / Expo build
API & auth integration
Store submission support
Timeline quoted per project
05
Wix / Velo Enterprise
Complex Wix and Velo builds for enterprise teams that need custom data, dashboards, and integrations.
Catch me and drag me in. I'll run, jump, climb walls, and duck under your cursor.
Click to grabHe'll runHe'll climb wallsHe'll jump over your cursor
Move your pointer to chase Brendan. Click directly on the character to grab him and drag him toward the
cubicle. The game is decorative and does not block site navigation.
Astro keeps the default payload close to zero, which means the site can carry personality without asking visitors to download a full app before the first paint.
Directus gives clients an editing layer that feels like a real CMS, while keeping the frontend clean, portable, and deployable as static files.
Vercel handles the global CDN and deployment pipeline. Railway keeps the CMS isolated, durable, and ready for webhooks when content changes.
// selected work
Projects I've Led & Built.
Enterprise complexity, precise execution, and performance that holds up.
01MLBPA
100 / 100 / 100 / 100
MLBPA / Players Choice Awards
Awards Data Pipeline
306 records, 11 award categories, and a CMS-driven workflow built for a high-visibility enterprise program at Act One Media.
Wix/VeloCMS ArchitectureData Pipeline
02D.L. Evans Bank
100 / 100 / 100 / 100
D.L. Evans Bank / Branch Locator
Custom Location Experience
41 branch records, custom Google Maps behavior, and a precise locator flow built for customer-facing financial services.
Wix/VeloGoogle Maps APICustom Elements
03Act One Media
100 / 100 / 100 / 100
Act One Media / Agency Site
Performance-First Rebuild
Quad 100 Lighthouse scores with cinematic GSAP animation, CMS-ready structure, and a fast editorial workflow.
AstroGSAPDirectus
// how I work
Methodical. Precise. No Back-and-Forth.
01
Brief + Discovery
Clarify goals, audience, content, integrations, and the real constraints before design starts.
02
Design in Figma
Work from a deliberate visual system so the build has direction before code takes over.
03
Build + CMS Wiring
Create the frontend, wire the content model, and keep editing practical for the people using it.
04
QA + Deploy
Test responsive behavior, performance, forms, metadata, analytics, and production deployment.
05
Handoff + Ongoing
Document how the site works, hand off the CMS, and stay available for measured improvements.
// about
Developer. Builder. Problem Solver.
I'm the principal web developer at Act One Media, a web agency in Galesburg, Michigan. Over the last 5+ years, I've led and built enterprise-grade web projects for clients including MLBPA, D.L. Evans Bank, and McDonald's as part of my work at AOM.
Outside of AOM, I take on select freelance projects with a modern Astro, Directus, and Vercel stack. The goal is simple: fast sites, clean CMS editing, and a build that does not fight the people maintaining it.
I work with one designer. She handles Figma and visual direction; I handle everything that happens in the browser, from frontend architecture to CMS wiring and deployment.
Galesburg, Michigan. Golf. Dogs. Always building.
Code is how I bring ideas to life. People are why I build.
Fast isn't a feature. It's a baseline requirement.
A CMS your client can't use isn't a CMS. It's a liability.
The best time to wire up analytics was day one. Second best is now.
// let's build
GOT A PROJECT?
Tell me what you're building. I'll come back with how I'd approach it, what it would cost, and what it would score on PageSpeed.
