Daily Inspiration: Meet Devin Heinzler

Today we’d like to introduce you to Devin Heinzler.

Hi Devin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Absolutely! Dev & Design Co. was officially founded in April of 2024, but my passion for web design started in 2021 when I was in school for software engineering. I originally planned to build AI and manage complex databases, but while building some school projects, I fell in love with the intersection between function and fashion: Website (or UI/UX) design!

From there, I scoured the market looking for services that provided bespoke web design in the form of a partnership between client and designer that felt like a journey rather than a simple transaction between parties. With very little luck in my search, and months of wondering how I could build what I was looking for, a close friend of mine asked me to build a simple website for their business early this year and… the rest is history.

I put the horse before the carriage a little, building websites for my peers and small businesses without ever building my own – ironic, I know. Then April rolled around and I decided it was finally time to focus on putting my own brand on the map: Dev & Design Co.

Since then, I’ve been building a team of designers, developers, and creatives to deliver the full digital package for small businesses just like mine: websites, brand kits, and everything in between!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“Smooth” certainly isn’t the first word that comes to mind, no. As with any venture, there have been several obstacles. The foremost issue, which I know every new business can relate to, has been finding the balance between working FOR the business and working ON the business. I began as a solo act, doing my own marketing, branding, outreach, and every day tasks for the business. I found myself feeling like an employee rather than a CEO. Overcoming that issue, especially in today’s version of my business, comes in the form of taking risks with where I put my time and my money. Those risks come in the form of sacrificing a day or even a week to focus on my business facing needs rather than my client facing needs, or trusting a new contractor to pick up tasks I otherwise wouldn’t have time to complete. In short, I place my time, trust, and money in people or tasks that I think will propel my business forward. It doesn’t always work out, but I’m always happier with a success story than I am disappointed about a failure.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Chiefly, Dev & Design Co. designs, builds, deploys, and maintains websites for small businesses done through a deeply personal relationship between client and designer. My team and I have spent hours and many eyes rolled at the one-stop-website shops that throw a template at you and expect you to do the rest. This isn’t that. Before I dove into the world of tech, I came from a background of service and hospitality – where customers came for the product but stayed for the service.

Within our range of services, designing and building websites is our bread and butter. We’re positively obsessed with modern and minimal designs, but we also live by the philosophy that no order is too tall, and no design preferences are too wild to handle.

To this day, we’re most proud of the Design Co. website. Nothing we’ve created since has captured the unique voice of our brand, the work we do, or our passion for pixels. Sleek, modern, elegant, and a true 1:1 visual representation of Dev & Design Co.

What sets us apart is the relationships we build with our clients. Never have we been given such a unique opportunity to blend our love of working with real people and our passion for pixels. The design journey takes client and designer from pencil sketches of scattered ideas to a fully functioning website in as little or as much time as a client wants. Websites can seem so arbitrary until you realize its your vision, brand, and voice on display for the entire world to see – we understand that, and won’t stop until we give small businesses the opportunity to proudly share theirs.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I’m very blessed to have been raised in a family that was intensely close with each other. Extended family and all – cousins, aunts, uncles, generations past – we spent so much time together. Our favorite place to do so was at our family farm where twice a year we’d host a campout and just spend a weekend outdoors with everyone. The absolute peak of that experience was at the end of the night when dozens of us just sat around a massive campfire telling stories, catching up, being present. That will always be my favorite part of my childhood.

Pricing:

• Starter Kit Package: $750
• Minimalist Package: $1,500
• Idealist Package: $3,250
• Visionary Package: $4,999

Contact Info:

• Website: https://devdesignco.net/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devfromdesignco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dev-heinzler/