# Paul Carlon > Strategic Design Engineer | Systems Thinker | Bridging Design, Development & AI Location: Duluth, Minnesota, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/paulcarlon I’m a design engineer with 20+ years of experience building digital products at the intersection of design, systems, and execution. I specialize in turning ambiguity into shipped work, connecting strategy, UX, and front-end implementation to create products that are clear, usable, and resilient. My background spans large organizations and fast-moving teams, including work with AOL, Nationwide Insurance, Micro Center, Manta, and venture-backed startups. I’m most effective in environments where problems are not neatly defined. I think in systems, design with intent, and stay hands-on through implementation, often acting as connective tissue between design, product, and engineering. My work spans UX and UI, front-end development, CMS architecture, design systems, prototyping, SEO, and applied AI workflows that prioritize speed and quality over novelty. I’m open to part-time or contract roles where ownership, judgment, and execution matter. If you need someone who can connect dots, move fast, and ship responsibly, let’s talk. ## Work Experience ### Founder, Creative Director & Lead Developer @ ASDF.Design Jan 2025 – Present | Duluth, Minnesota, United States I founded ASDF.design as a boutique digital studio specializing in crafting bold, fast, and functional web experiences for creative businesses and community-focused brands. I specialize in front-end development, custom Shopify and Webflow builds, and bleeding-edge web technologies, including React, Next.js, Supabase, and more. From scrappy nonprofits to Fortune 500 giants, I’ve built websites that do more than look good, they solve real problems. From one-page sites to fully custom ecommerce platforms, I lead projects from concept through deployment. Every build is tailored to meet business goals with a strong emphasis on performance, clarity, and user experience. Core services I offer through ASDF.design include: • Custom Web Design & Development • Shopify & Webflow Development • API Integrations & CMS Architecture • SEO Strategy & Optimization • Brand-Aligned UI/UX Design Clean code. No fluff. Let’s build something useful. ### Founder @ Duluth.Art Jan 2024 – Present | Duluth, Minnesota, United States - Created a community platform connecting local artists through discoverable profiles and external storefronts - Developed the site using Next.js, Supabase and TailwindCSS - Built a scalable content model with dynamic routing, image upload, and category filtering - Implemented role-based access control, public art mapping, and profile galleries - Wrote all UX copy to support platform neutrality and encourage participation ### Interactive Director @ Sek Design Studio Jan 2023 – Jan 2025 | Duluth, Minnesota, United States - Delivered 20+ custom Webflow websites for nonprofits, arts orgs, and small businesses across the Midwest - Oversaw both front-end and back-end implementation across digital projects, from prototyping to final deployment - Integrated CMS platforms and implemented custom logic using JavaScript, Webflow interactions, and APIs (AudienceView, Stripe, Mailchimp, Constant Contact) - Managed domain setup, DNS configuration, SSL, and 301 redirects to ensure smooth launches and maintain SEO continuity - Introduced and standardized modern workflows to streamline development and future-proof the studio’s digital output - Spearheaded the transition from WordPress to Webflow, reducing maintenance overhead and improving client satisfaction - Collaborated closely with designers, clients, and vendors to deliver interactive experiences tailored to brand goals and audience needs - Contributed motion design and video support for client sites, enhancing engagement and storytelling through multimedia - Helped the studio go from zero to hero in SEO rank for web development ### Co-Founder / Design Engineer @ Mystic.com Jan 2021 – Jan 2023 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States - Collaborated with former CoinMarketCap engineers to develop a bleeding-edge, chain-agnostic NFT market index - Led indexing of NFTs, Collections, and Marketplaces, integrating web3 frameworks and decentralized protocols - Designed and implemented the visual layer using TailwindCSS, JavaScript, and Jinja2/Django for a mobile-first experience ### Product Designer @ Cardinal Health Jan 2021 – Jan 2021 | Columbus, Ohio, United States - Created a responsive design system for internal mobile/web applications ### Stay-at-Home Dad @ Unknown Jan 2016 – Jan 2021 ### UX/UI Designer @ Micro Center Jan 2020 – Jan 2021 | Columbus, Ohio, United States - Designed a custom PC builder tool using research-driven UX flows and wireframes ### Prototype Machinist @ FeraDyne Outdoors Jan 2018 – Jan 2019 | Superior, Wisconsin, United States - Responsible for programming and CNC machining highly precise prototypes used in product development of world-class archery equipment. ### Design Engineer @ Ready Made RC, LLC Jan 2016 – Jan 2017 | Remote - Redesigned eCommerce UX and implemented custom icons and marketing visuals ### Creative Director @ Aver Inc. Jan 2014 – Jan 2016 | Columbus, Ohio Area - Led UI/UX for a healthcare SaaS platform; built full brand and product design system ### Creative Technologist @ Nationwide Jan 2013 – Jan 2014 | Columbus, Ohio Area - Built responsive prototypes and wireframes for customer-facing applications ### UX/UI Designer @ Manta Jan 2010 – Jan 2013 | Columbus, Ohio - Helped lead UX/UI and front-end design during major rebrand. Developed component systems and helped scale traffic 100%+ year over year. ### Interactive Developer @ tracermedia Jan 2009 – Jan 2010 - Built Flash-based learning tools for McGraw-Hill using ActionScript/XML. ### Interactive Designer @ Tween Brands Jan 2008 – Jan 2008 | Columbus, Ohio Area - Designed Flash games, emails, and landing pages for the Justice and Limited Too brands. ### UX/UI Designer @ AOL Jan 2007 – Jan 2008 - Sole designer supporting AOL’s international portals, producing assets and DRDs across multiple regions. ### Art Director @ Orange Barrel Media Jan 2006 – Jan 2007 - Art directed high-profile wallscape installations. National campaigns included Nationwide Insurance, Toyota, and Gillette. ### Lead Project Engineer @ Action Group Inc. Jan 2006 – Jan 2006 | Columbus, Ohio Area - Designed and fabricated armor assemblies for defense vehicles using SolidWorks and hands-on prototyping methods. ### Visual Designer @ AOL Jan 2005 – Jan 2005 - Specialized in designing and illustrating static and dynamic graphics for advertising and landing page usage ### Lead Model Maker @ Aerosport Modeling and Design Jan 2004 – Jan 2005 - Built prototypes for clients like Dell, Honda, and Motorola using SolidWorks and manual finishing tools. ### Model Maker & Lead Finisher @ Reed Prototype + Machining Jan 2004 – Jan 2004 | Austin, Texas Area - Finished a high-gloss fanless media PC for Dell, including a piece that ended up on Michael Dell’s desk. ## Education ### Bachelor of Science in Design Technology - Model Design Bemidji State University ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/plainpaul - Portfolio: https://www.mynameispaul.com - Portfolio: https://asdf.design - Portfolio: https://www.duluth.art --- Source: https://flows.cv/paulcarlon JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/paulcarlon/resume.json Last updated: 2026-03-31