Custom websites, web apps, and data tools built for small businesses. Fast, professional, and built to grow with you.
Development Services
Database architecture, AI automation, web development, and system integration
Recent Projects
Database & Analytics
Custom PostgreSQL systems, data warehousing, and analytics platforms built for scale and performance.
- PostgreSQL & PostGIS database design and optimization
- Custom data warehouse architecture
- Real-time analytics dashboards
- Query performance tuning
AI & Automation
Document processing, data extraction, and workflow automation using Claude AI and OpenAI integration.
- Intelligent document scanning and data extraction
- AI-powered workflow automation
- Custom Claude AI and ChatGPT integrations
- Natural language processing for business data
Web Development
Modern, scalable web applications and client portals built with Next.js, React, and enterprise-grade architecture.
- Custom web application development
- Client portals and dashboards
- E-commerce platforms
- Progressive web apps (PWA)
API & Integration
Connect disparate systems, build data pipelines, and automate workflows across your entire technology stack.
- CRM and business system integration
- Real-time data synchronization
- Custom API development
- Third-party service connections
Modern Technology Stack
Industry-leading tools and frameworks for building exceptional applications
Next.js
React
TypeScript
Tailwind CSS
Node.js
PostgreSQL
Vercel
AWS
Claude
OpenAI
Git
Next.js
React
TypeScript
Tailwind CSS
Node.js
PostgreSQL
Vercel
AWS
Claude
OpenAI
Git
About Clotfelter Data & Design
A Chicago-area software practice focused on system architecture.
The firm was founded on a recurring observation: good ideas fail quietly when the underlying structure isn't sound. Rushed implementations, unnecessary tooling, and unclear data models create systems that work briefly and then resist change.
The work traces back to a personal project called ShuffleArchive, an experiment driven by curiosity. A system to simulate a deck of cards being shuffled once per second, every second of the day. 86,400 shuffles, built to explore probability, randomness, and long-term distribution patterns. It wasn't built for a client. It was built to understand something deeply.
After sharing it with a colleague, the response wasn't theoretical. It was practical. That conversation led to spatial database queries, which led to GIS systems, structured data workflows, document automation, AI-assisted processing, and eventually custom application builds and API integrations across industries.
The throughline has never been trend-chasing. It's been structure.
The Approach
Every engagement begins the same way: start with the data model, define the constraints, and design the system so it can withstand change.
Clotfelter Data & Design grew out of a simple belief I've held for most of my career. When someone asked if something could be built, reported on, or understood in a new way, my answer was almost always the same: “If we have the data, we can build the insight.”
More often than not, the real challenge in software isn't the interface or the tooling, it's the structure of the data underneath. When the data model is sound, systems become flexible, reports become possible, and good ideas can actually work in practice.
That belief is how I genuinely plan and approach every project. I don't take shortcuts with systems that people will rely on. At Clotfelter Data and Design, we stand behind our product and Integrity is the backbone behind our work.
Because of that, I take on a limited number of projects at a time. Good systems require attention, not volume. When we work together, you are getting careful thinking, honest communication, and work that is built to last.
“If we have the data, we can build the insight.”
Development Process
A proven methodology that delivers results on time and within budget
Discovery & Planning
Understanding your vision and technical requirements
- Initial consultation and requirements gathering
- Technical architecture planning
- Project timeline and milestone definition
- Technology stack selection
Design & Prototyping
Creating wireframes and interactive prototypes
- UI/UX design and mockups
- Database schema design
- API architecture planning
- User flow mapping
Development
Building your application with modern best practices
- Agile development sprints
- Regular progress updates
- Comprehensive testing
- Code reviews and optimization
Deployment
Launching your application to production
- Production environment setup
- CI/CD pipeline configuration
- Performance optimization
- Security hardening
Support & Maintenance
Ongoing support and continuous improvement
- Monitoring and analytics
- Bug fixes and updates
- Feature enhancements
- Technical support
Discovery & Planning
Understanding your vision and technical requirements
- Initial consultation and requirements gathering
- Technical architecture planning
- Project timeline and milestone definition
- Technology stack selection
Design & Prototyping
Creating wireframes and interactive prototypes
- UI/UX design and mockups
- Database schema design
- API architecture planning
- User flow mapping
Development
Building your application with modern best practices
- Agile development sprints
- Regular progress updates
- Comprehensive testing
- Code reviews and optimization
Deployment
Launching your application to production
- Production environment setup
- CI/CD pipeline configuration
- Performance optimization
- Security hardening
Support & Maintenance
Ongoing support and continuous improvement
- Monitoring and analytics
- Bug fixes and updates
- Feature enhancements
- Technical support
Ready to start your project with a proven process?
Let's Get StartedTrusted by Businesses Like Yours
Serving Chicago-area businesses and clients nationwide
