Senior Web Developer & Frontend Architect: Bridging the gap between complex technical systems and intuitive user experiences.
Profile
Yorick Brown is a high-calibre Senior Web Developer and Founder of YB Digital with over 18 years of commercial experience. He specializes in architecting performant, accessible web platforms and translating intricate design prototypes into pixel-perfect code. With a deep background in both modern React-based applications and complex WordPress/CMS ecosystems, Yorick is renowned for his calm, analytical approach to problem-solving and his ability to act as a bridge between technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.
Work Experience
Lead Full-Stack Developer (Freelance) at YB Digital (April 2007 – Present)Designing and delivering full-stack web applications and internal tooling for charities, SMEs, and enterprise organizations. Responsible for frontend architecture, UI/UX decisions, API integration, and long-term system sustainability.Senior WordPress & Frontend Engineer at Angry Creative (March 2022 – May 2024)Senior engineer on high-traffic, multinational platforms. Built complex frontend interfaces using React and custom Gutenberg blocks, collaborating with product teams to deliver user-centered interfaces for global ecommerce brands.Full-Stack Engineer at AmericanEagle.com (June 2021 – March 2022)Focused on content management, ecommerce, and custom tooling for large enterprise platforms, emphasizing usability in search and filtering interfaces.CMS & Frontend Engineer at Pragmatic (December 2018 – June 2021)Provided frontend and full-stack development for diverse client platforms, including large-scale WordPress multisite implementations for international markets.Developer/Designer at Discovery/Espresso Education (October 2007 – October 2017)Designed and built user-facing interfaces for complex internal tools and content platforms, architecting CMS app frameworks and data-driven interfaces.
Education
BSc (Hons) Politics & International Studies (2.1) — University of Southampton (N/A)Graphic Design – Typography, layout, & image-making — Central St Martinu2019s (N/A)Magazine Sub-Editing (Certificate with Merit) — London School of Publishing (N/A)
Skills
React, JavaScript, PHP (Object-Oriented), WordPress (Custom Themes/Blocks/Plugins), HTML5, CSS/SCSS, Bootstrap, REST API Integration, UI/UX Design, CI/CD Pipelines, VPS Governance, BEM Methodology, Accessibility Compliance
Major Achievements
Nominated for Primary Digital Content award at BETT 2014. Delivered internal tooling that significantly reduced editorial and operational friction. Architected WordPress multisite solutions for international content localization across 20+ countries. Served as senior developer for a global ecommerce brand supporting 500k+ customers. Developed reusable frontend component systems to ensure consistent UX across enterprise platforms.
Workplace Preferences (Likes)
Collaborating with non-technical stakeholders Balancing technical quality with delivery pragmatism Building intuitive, user-centered interfaces Architecting scalable, decoupled systems Continuous learning and professional development
Frictions & workplace dislikes
Editorial and operational friction Poorly structured legacy codebases Lack of clarity in design-to-code handoffs Siloed engineering environments
Personal Hobbies
Writing and editing Broadcast media subtitling Typography and graphic design Attending industry conferences (React Conf, WordCamp, etc.)