Ricardo Augusto Kowalski
I'm a front-end developer moved by coffee, a good playlist selection and entusiasm by tech area. For over 11 years I've been developing projects like web apps, websites, landing pages and e-commerces. I have strong skills in Typescript, React, Next.js and Node.js.
About me
My name is Ricardo, I am 29 years old, and I live in Timbó, Santa Catarina, Brazil. I am a detail-oriented, persistent, and coffee-driven person. Besides coding, I am passionate about music — my playlists range from pop, rock, MPB, indie, disco, and many more. I’m a fan of the queen, the woman, Madonna. I’m also a Stephen King constant reader and a binge-watcher of series and brazilian novelas. I have a special fondness for everything that brings back the past.
About me Technology has fascinated me from an early age. My curiosity about the web began in the early 2000s as I explored websites, Orkut, MSN, and, of course, slowly downloaded music over dial-up internet. I took computer and hardware maintenance courses, but it was a game — among many others — that truly sparked my passion for development: The Sims.
I first played it on the old yellowed computers at school and spent years immersed in the life simulator. Over time, I got involved in building and sharing houses and worlds from the game, maintaining a blog on Blogger, just like many other players did. That was when I discovered the ability to edit themes and tweak the source code. Even without fully understanding what I was doing, I dived into it and fell in love with the process. A few years later, it all started making sense.
In 2011, I took a Delphi course, where only two students completed the program — I was one of them. After all, I am persistent. This course led to a small program I developed to handle the student council elections at my school, marking my first functional project.
In 2013, I moved to Timbó and began my professional journey at Sou Digital, where I started as an apprentice and was later hired as a front-end developer. I developed websites, web apps and e-commerce. I worked with HTML, CSS, and jQuery, eventually learning some PHP and Laravel, always striving to improve my work. Over the years, I refined my knowledge, sharpened my eye for code, design, and accessibility, and delivered high-quality projects.
At the same time, between 2014 and 2017, I pursued a degree in Advertising and Marketing. Although I never worked directly in this field, the degree added a lot of value to my work, providing insights into design, marketing, consumer behavior, and technology.
In 2017, within Sou Digital, what is now known as Sonica was born — a no-code platform designed to deliver functional and customizable websites without the need to deal with code. Today, Sonica is a startup positioned as a multi-chain platform for asset tokenization, focused on developing an ecosystem that connects originators, tokenizers, and distributors.
From 2019 onwards, as I transitioned to remote work, I took the opportunity to dive deeper into my studies and enhance my skills in React, Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, PHP, and Laravel. Today, I work as a front-end developer at Meu Rosinha while also being involved in other projects. My main focus is working with the React ecosystem, but I remain open to exploring other frameworks or even mobile development with React Native, which I am currently learning. On the back-end, Node.js has become a natural complement to Next.js or event using on of its frameworks like Fastify, while PHP and Laravel serve as more of a backup solution when needed.
In the future, my goal is to continue growing as a developer, exploring new technologies, and getting involved in challenging projects where I can leave a meaningful mark. While my focus remains on front-end development, I am always looking for new tools and best practices to expand my skill set. I want to collaborate with innovative teams, share knowledge, and contribute to the creation of products that truly make a difference. I strive to always keep moving forward—one day at a time, one line of code at a time.
Skills and expertise
Communication: Portuguese (Native), English (B2 Upper Intermediate).
Languages & techs: Javascript, Typescript, React, Next.js, Vue.js, Node.js, Fastify, NestJS, React Native, Expo, PHP, Laravel, HTML, CSS.
Libraries & tools: React Query, React Hook Form, Zod, TailwindCSS, Saas, Styled Components, Radix UI, shadcn/ui, Stripe API, Redux, Zustand, Context API, Server Components, REST API.
Databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Firebase, Prisma ORM.
Softwares & services: macOS, Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe XD, Docker, Git, GitHub, BitBucket, Notion, Trello.
Metodologies & good practices: Kanban, UI/UX, Responsive Design, Mobile First, SEO, Pixel Perfect, SOLID, Clean Architecture, Design Patterns.
Projects
My journey
I have been working as a front-end developer since 2013, when I joined Sou Digital. Between 2014 and 2017, I studied Advertising and Marketing, but my focus has always been on web development. Currently, I work at Meu Rosinha and also take on parallel projects. In the future, I seek new experiences and challenges.
Work experience
Front-End Developer
- I develop the web app, website, and online store of the platform alongside the team using React, Next.js, TypeScript, and Sass.
- I design page layouts and visuals, as well as some graphic materials for the projects.
- I assisted in the brand rebranding by recreating its visual identity; the platform’s original name was SmartMK.
- I developed the previous website and worked on maintaining the legacy web app.
- Rosinha has nearly 1,000 subscribers, and this number is expected to grow with new features such as WhatsApp integration and catalog expansion, now including Customizados, Natura, Boticário, Avon, and others, beyond Mary Kay, which was the only one available until then.
- The new version of the web app I worked on offers better maintainability with reusable components, improved performance through optimized rendering, reduced infrastructure costs by delivering the application as a static front-end, and a more consistent UI/UX for an enhanced user experience.
Full-Stack Developer
- I developed websites, landing pages, web apps, and e-commerce platforms alongside the team, now also working as a back-end developer, using HTML, CSS, Sass, Bootstrap, Vanilla JavaScript, PHP, Laravel, MySQL with Eloquent, Webpack, Laravel Mix, and the Tray platform.
- I developed over 50 projects for clients such as Uniasselvi, Roto Fermax, Viacredi, Móveis Butzke, Geo Marine Survey Systems, Linklaw, and Cadastra.
- I implemented continuous improvements to the company’s core CMS, which sped up the development process of content management modules for new projects by at least 2x.
Front-End Developer
- I participated in the development of the no-code platform with the team in the early years of the startup at Sou Digital, using HTML, CSS, Sass, Bootstrap, JavaScript, jQuery, Webpack, PHP, and Laravel.
- I worked on the development of new features and fixes for the interface of the websites and the platform’s CMS.
- I assisted in the creation of several websites within the platform.
Front-End Developer
- I developed websites, landing pages, web apps, and e-commerce platforms alongside the team using HTML, CSS, Sass, Bootstrap, Vanilla JavaScript, jQuery, Webpack, PHP, Laravel, and OpenCart.
- I developed over 200 projects for clients such as Uniasselvi, Unifique, Mueller, Grupo Kyly, Adapcon, Oficina3D, B+CA (Milton Nascimento, Emicida, Cazuza), and the Municipality of Blumenau.
Education and certifications
Full-Stack and Mobile Development
- React: Hooks, API consumption, unit and integration testing, Next.js, and design systems.
- Node.js: Fastify, NestJS, SOLID principles, design patterns, scalable APIs, and automated testing.
- React Native: Navigation, API integration, push notifications, deep linking, animations, micro-interactions, and offline-first strategies.
- Additional Skills: Redux, Zustand, multi-tenant SaaS boilerplate with RBAC, web accessibility, SEO for developers, and Micro SaaS development.
Full-Stack Development
- Laravel: Environment setup, creating routes, controllers, middlewares, and views. Mastery of dependency injection and best practices for building scalable and secure applications.
- Vue.js: Directives, state management with Vuex, data exchange between components, and route handling with Vue Router. Creating dynamic and interactive user interfaces.
Full-Stack Development
- Front-end: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript (ES6+), React, Vue.js, Angular.
- Back-end: PHP and Node.js, building applications with relational (MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB) databases, implementing authentication.
- Tools: Gulp and Webpack for build optimization and automation.
- Programming Paradigms: Functional programming, Object-Oriented Programming (OOP).
Social Communication: Advertising and Marketing
- I have a Bachelor’s degree in Advertising and Marketing.
- Broad understanding of communication, marketing, and design.
- Skills in advertising creation, copywriting, photography, graphic design, art direction, and multimedia production.
- Knowledge of marketing strategies, consumer behavior, branding, and campaign planning.
- Studied digital media, new technologies in communication, and audiovisual production.
- Strong foundation for working at the intersection of creativity and strategy in the digital environment.
Contact me
How about we have a chat? I’m open to talking and exploring new opportunities. Feel free to reach out to me at ricardoakowalski@gmail.com or through my social media. Let’s connect!
