Wavelight

About

In December 2018, I joined Wavelight, a digital web agency based in Rotterdam, as a freelance frontend web developer. The company was founded in 2017 by three schoolmates, each bringing their unique expertise in development, web design, and communications. Initially hired to assist with side projects, I quickly became more involved in the company’s operations.

Stepping up as sole developer

Shortly after I joined, the other developer had to step down due to burnout symptoms and increasing workload. This left me as the sole developer at Wavelight. Despite the challenge, I embraced the opportunity and took on the full spectrum of development tasks. My dedication and contributions did not go unnoticed, and I was soon invited to join the partnership, becoming a co-owner of the company.

Leading collaborative efforts

As Wavelight continued to grow, we occasionally hired other agencies or freelance developers and designers to help meet tight deadlines. I managed technical personnel during these collaborations, ensuring that projects were completed efficiently and to a high standard. My role as a web developer evolved to include not only coding but also leadership and project management responsibilities.

Transition to a private company

In 2022, we transitioned Wavelight from a general partnership (VOF) to a private company (B.V.). This change marked a significant milestone in the company’s growth and allowed us to operate with greater flexibility and professionalism. As a co-owner, I took on more management tasks, overseeing the technical and development aspects of the company. This involved everything from initial technical concepts and research to coding, client communication, demonstrations, presentations, and guiding other developers.

A tight-knit team

The core team at Wavelight consisted of the three owners: myself and the two other founders. This small but dynamic team allowed for close collaboration and effective decision-making. Our complementary skills ensured that each project was approached with creativity, technical expertise, and strategic planning.

Closing a chapter

In 2024, we decided to close Wavelight to focus on our primary careers and families. While this marked the end of an era, the experience at Wavelight was invaluable. It allowed me to grow significantly as a web developer, leader, and business owner. The skills and experiences I gained at Wavelight have shaped my career and continue to influence my approach to web development and project management.

My time at Wavelight highlights my ability to adapt, lead, and deliver high-quality web development projects. If you’re looking for a web developer with a proven track record of technical excellence and effective project management, my experience at Wavelight demonstrates my capability to take on complex challenges and deliver outstanding results.

Tech

• Worked on projects that incorporated React, Redux and Next
• Worked on projects that incorporated Vue 2, Vue 3, Vuex and Nuxt
• Used various content managing systems, such as Contentful, Prismic, Wordpress
• Handled deployment and rendering through services such as Netlify and Vercel.
• Improved search console rankings by doing SEO audits and applying changes to
• Communicated with clients from all work fields.
• Demonstrated and presented work to clients.
• Researched possibilities for client requests and wrote up professional reports with
• Created how-to’s and tutorials for clients, describing how to use the CMS.
• Used Jest to incorporate unit-tests into deployment pipelines.