Wes Hulsizer - About Page
Creating digital solutions through human-centered problem solving
Creating digital solutions through human-centered problem solving
Designer, developer, hobbyist, & maker
Hi there!
I’m Wes—a designer, developer, accessibility consultant, homesteader, and all-around hobbyist.
My passions center on helping others, embracing natural living, and following rule #32: enjoy the little things.
Throughout my career, I’ve focused on solving meaningful problems and making a positive impact on the world—or at the very least, on the people around me.
This website is designed, built, & maintained by me. No CMS. It's built with JQuery & Bootstrap 5.
Purpose of This Site
- A home for some of my frequently used web apps
- A primary place for sharing information and handling requests
- A space to explore and test new design and development concepts
If you want to know more about me and my work...
Consulting, Product Design, Engineering & Support
I work in this field driven by a passion for helping people through digital solutions. What better way to make a difference than by empowering others to learn, grow, and solve problems together? Over the past 10 years, I’ve supported, designed, and developed accessible web applications, working across e-commerce, ed-tech, CMS, and LMS industries.
While I enjoy frontend development, database design, and crafting SQL queries, my true passion lies in design. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a UX Engineer, where I led accessible web applications from concept to development to final delivery. This role allowed me to blend my skills in design and development, creating solutions that are both functional and inclusive.
Read more on my web resume page, and my portfolio page, and I invite you to check out my LinkedIn profile .
- UX Engineer
- Product & UX Designer
- Software Engineer (Full Stack & Front End)
- Scrum Master
- Accessibility Specialist / Consultant
- Advanced Support Engineer
- Product Owner
- Project Manager
- Design System Specialist
- User Researcher
My diverse professional journey across various roles reflects a career grounded in adaptability, continuous learning, and a passion for tackling challenges in the dynamic tech industry. From UX Engineering to Product Management, each position has been a stepping stone, allowing me to build a rich blend of skills, perspectives, and insights. This breadth of experience enables me to approach problems creatively, lead with empathy, and drive innovation by integrating best practices from each discipline. Whether enhancing user experiences, leading agile teams, or consulting on accessibility, my commitment to excellence and growth has been the constant thread in my career, guiding me through the ever-evolving landscape of technology.
Accessibility
I have nearly a decade of experience (around 8 years) in testing, developing, and designing for accessibility. I have led accessibility training sessions for developers and created business pitches to promote accessible software solutions within marketing agencies. Additionally, I have spearheaded redesigns for accessible digital solutions, ensuring they meet and exceed industry standards.
During my time at Blackboard (now Anthology), I worked closely with other accessibility teams to enhance the platform’s accessibility features. We extended their automated alternative file format downloads for users with disabilities and developed an API integration for automated page scanning, allowing educators and administrators to build accessible content directly within the CMS.
I have collaborated with clients in healthcare, education, and government sectors, as well as business and school administrators facing accessibility litigation. I was also part of the team that created the first accessibility-focused alternative eCommerce theme for BigCommerce, designed with inclusivity in mind.
My largest project to date was a comprehensive audit and overhaul of the CorpU platform’s learner experience, a year-long initiative. The first quarter involved planning, design, and customer interviews, while the remaining three quarters focused on a complete frontend redevelopment. During this project, I also initiated the foundations of the CorpU component library, laying the groundwork for a more accessible and cohesive design system.
Accessibility is at the core of every project I’ve undertaken in recent years—not solely for inclusivity, compliance, or profitability, but because it is fundamentally the right approach to problem-solving. Data consistently shows that accessible features, like closed captions and live transcripts, benefit all users by enhancing information retention. I often use the analogy of a single, well-designed family restroom, which provides a more universally comfortable experience, compared to larger facilities that may meet code but lack essential amenities.
My accessibility toolkit includes automated scanning tools, a custom-built accessibility color contrast checker, and a collection of Accessibe samples on CodePen, along with extensive manual testing (primarily keyboard testing and VoiceOver). The automated tools I use include the axe linter, Siteimprove, various axe-core plugins, the WAVE tool, and accessibility extensions for Figma, Adobe, Microsoft products, and more.
Homesteading
I began caring for chickens in 2018, feeding them Purina layer feed and Flock Party mealworms, along with plenty of fresh veggies, kitchen scraps, and healthy treats. They roam the homestead, providing natural pest control (keeping my yard tick-free is a huge bonus!). Over time, our homestead has expanded to include quail and pigs, offering a diverse source of sustainable food and deepening our connection to natural living. Additionally, I manage horses at our stables, focusing on creating a safe, nurturing environment for each animal while contributing to our self-sustaining lifestyle.
3D Printing & Design
3D printing embodies two core philosophies for me. First, it’s about the freedom to create and repair everyday items. There’s nothing quite like fixing my kids' favorite toys or designing solutions to improve daily routines, like optimizing phone charging setups. Second, it’s about the creative liberty 3D printing brings to everyday people, allowing us to rethink and reimagine how we interact with objects. Since 2017, I’ve been an active part of the 3D printing community, constantly learning and sharing ideas. For more details, check out my 3D printing and services page—more exciting updates are coming soon!
Political Affliations, Movements, and Petitions
Pass the Kids Online Safety Act
Help protect our children from the harmful, shameful side influences of social media
Read more at act.parentstogetheraction.org or visit the Dove.com information page.Hobbies & Interests
I consider myself a true hobbyist, always exploring and eager to try new things. Here are some of the areas I’m passionate about:
- Student pilot
- Certified boat captain
- ba-certified diver
- Motorcycle rider
- 3D printing enthusiast
- Homesteader
- Small business owner
- School board member, board secretary, and IT administrator
I love collecting certifications and licenses like video game achievements, constantly pushing myself to learn and grow
IT Consultation
My journey into IT consulting is grounded in a lifelong passion for empathetic, user-centered technology solutions. I started at Best Buy in high school and college, where I developed a dedication to helping people navigate and solve their tech challenges. My approach is about making technology accessible, understandable, and actionable for everyone. Whether optimizing existing systems or building new solutions from the ground up, my goal is to empower teams and individuals with customized IT strategies. To ensure top-quality service, I work with a small, trusted network of colleagues who share my commitment to enhancing businesses through strategic, personalized IT solutions.
I'm continously updating this page with relevant information as well as my resume. If you have any questions, I welcome you to contact me via my Google form or via your preferred social network.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Questions not written into cards yet: 1. What is your experience working with vendors? 2. What design strategy do you use when the design roadmap is unclear? 3. Where do you see yourself in the net 1-3 years? 4. What project are you most proud of? 5. Tell me about a project that wasn't successful and why? 6. Greatest strength / weakness 7. How do you win over customers who feel accessibility is unimportant? 8. What's the first rule of Aria? 9. What is your ideal team / work environment? 10.- Growth & architect mindset - Planning for the growth of the design system outside of current project needs. How to accommodate features and functionality as well as how to prevent overlaps and inconsistencies.
- Documentation - guidelines, training, FAQ, requests, and communications to name a few of the important requirements of a successful and scalable design system. Documentation will ultimately enable or hinder other designers (as well as other stakeholders such as engineers) from contributing to and using the system.
- Modular / ATOMic - This feeds into the proper growth of the design system itself with a focus on interoperability. Tokens need to be usable by the components while tokens should still be usable across all elements inside of new features. This allows for greater flexibility and adaptability. The ultimate goal here is to provide support in accommodating new and different scenarios.
- Testing & feedback - This feeds back into treating the design system like a product. User testing, focused workshops on features or workflows, reviewing code, and deploying other analytical tools to measure the adaptability of the design system.
Want more?
I invite you to check out my LinkedIn profile or view my portfolio page.
If you have any questions, I welcome you to contact me via my Google form or your preferred social network.
Recently added design process page.
Recently added certificates page.