James R. AhernMA, MLIS, CAS, Ed.D. candidateProfessional Librarian/Archivist, Cultural Heritage Expert, & EducatorCertified Public Librarian (Ohio Library Council, lifetime membership)
Certificated Paralegal (allied member of the ABA & OSBA)

Portfolio

Selected Work

A curated selection of projects undertaken with deliberate care. Each represents a distinct challenge met with considered craft.

Web Application2024

Scholarly Archive

A digital archive and research tool for a collection of historical manuscripts, built with accessibility and longevity in mind.

Challenge

The client needed a way to make thousands of fragile historical documents accessible to researchers worldwide without compromising the integrity of the originals.

Approach

Built a full-stack application with advanced search, faceted filtering, and high-resolution image viewing. Accessibility was treated as a first-class concern throughout, not an afterthought.

Outcome

Launched to a community of over 400 researchers. Load times under 1.2s on average. WCAG 2.1 AA compliant.

ReactTypeScriptPostgreSQL
Full-Stack Platform2024

The Cartographer

An interactive mapping platform for field researchers, combining real-time data with an elegant, minimal interface.

Challenge

Field researchers needed to capture, annotate, and share geospatial data in remote environments with unreliable connectivity.

Approach

Designed an offline-first architecture with background sync. The interface was stripped to its essentials — every element earns its place.

Outcome

Deployed across three research expeditions. Zero data loss incidents. Adopted as the team's primary field tool.

Node.jsReactMapboxGLREST API
Design System2023

Folio

A comprehensive design system and component library built for a publishing house, emphasising typographic precision.

Challenge

A publishing house with a 60-year legacy needed a digital design language that honoured their print heritage while enabling modern web experiences.

Approach

Developed a token-based design system with meticulous typographic scales, a full component library in Storybook, and detailed documentation for both designers and developers.

Outcome

Adopted across 12 digital products. Reduced new feature development time by an estimated 40%.

TypeScriptStorybookTailwind CSSFigma
SaaS Application2023

Ledger

A lightweight invoicing and financial tracking tool for independent consultants and small studios.

Challenge

Freelancers and small studios were drowning in spreadsheets and generic accounting software that was either too complex or too limited.

Approach

Focused relentlessly on the core workflow: create invoice, send, get paid, track. Every feature was pressure-tested against this loop.

Outcome

Used by over 200 independent professionals. Average invoice creation time: under 90 seconds.

ReactNode.jsStripeMySQL

Have a project in mind?

I take on a small number of projects each year. If yours deserves careful attention, I'd be glad to hear about it.

Get in touch