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© 2026 ARIEL RUFF — ©AR. // ©MadeByAriel. // Dedicated to the people! <3TWITTER · GITHUB · RSS
01// about

I'm Ariel — a New York-born builder who's been hustling between code, cameras, and creative direction since before "full-stack" was a buzzword. I grew up learning the city block by block, first mapping apartment data for Manhattan's community boards, then designing the digital literature that helped elect local leaders. That's where I picked up the instinct that still runs everything I do: understand the terrain before you build on it. What I've Built From launching my own vape brand, Blu Label Premium, from scratch — sourcing, formulating, packaging, and selling over 200 units — to shooting product photography that's landed in Shutterstock and Getty's catalogs, I don't wait for permission to make things happen. I've written for game journalism outlets, produced video series, redesigned app UI for companies like WeSuite, and built e-commerce sites from raw HTML up. Somewhere along the way I even taught myself pattern-making to sew a dress from a 3D render — because why not. How I Work Design language: I create visual systems that scale, from bottle labels to app interfaces Full-stack instincts: HTML, CSS, JS, PHP, Python, SQL — enough to ship real products, not just prototypes Photography & media: Product shots, stock content, and video storytelling with a documentarian's eye Data & research: Independent data acquisition and mapping for NYC government offices

The Bottom Line I've worn a lot of hats — developer, photographer, designer, entrepreneur, technologist — but they've always been in service of one thing: turning ideas into something real, something people can touch, use, or buy. That's the New York way, and it's mine too.

02// consulting

Four routes. One consultant. No layovers between departments.

RT-01

Business strategy

Key decisions, second opinions, and war-gaming your options before you commit. I've owned a product line end to end — I think in P&L, not just pixels.

RT-02

Creative direction

Brand voice, art direction, campaign creative — from the big idea down to the label on the bottle.

RT-03

Product & execution

Idea to shelf: design, manufacturing, packaging, web. When strategy needs hands, I bring my own.

RT-04

Research & data

Familiar with establishing facts on the ground for fostering better understanding and making hard calls — data acquisition, mapping, and analysis that turns a hunch into a decision.

03// flight log
AR30MM photography — graffiti tunnel, posterized
AR30MM Photography
Photography · Photo development
City council campaign poster, screenprint treatment
City Council Campaign
New media · Design · Copy — People for Manny Velazquez
Glide OS manual spreads, screenprint treatment
Glide OS Manual
Graphic design · Copywriting — TransMedia Inc.
Blu Label Premium product line, screenprint treatment
Blu Label Premium
Owner — brand · manufacturing · web. 200+ sold
Dramas in Pajamas watch-list app, screenprint treatment
Dramas in Pajamas
Watch-list app — design · full-stack build · v4.29
TwoYork Cakes campaign, screenprint treatment
TwoYork Cakes
Food photography · Design · Copy
Clothing design, 3D dress render, screenprint treatment
Clothing Design
Pattern design · 3D · Stitching
NO™ knitted crew neck sweater — front, screenprint treatment
NO™ Knitwear
Clothing design — jacquard knit, front
NO™ knitted crew neck sweater — back, screenprint treatment Clothing design — jacquard knit, back
MiSTer Super Famicom guide, screenprint treatment
MiSTer Famicom Guide
Hardware guide — writing · photography · layout
NYC Local Hub homepage, screenprint treatment
NYC Local Hub
Civic web project — all five boroughs
2019 Uptown Arts Stroll poster, posterized
Uptown Arts Stroll
Event poster — 2019 Paseo de las Artes
WeSuite app UI screens, screenprint treatment
WeSuite UI
UI design language for app refresh
Kill the Vibe single on streaming, screenprint treatment
Kill the Vibe LP
Music — album production & cover art
Stock photography, milk splash, screenprint treatment
Stock Photography
Featured in numerous outlets
TwoYork Cakes logo, sticker TwoYork Cakes — brand identity
All lines. One hand.
flight log — pasted up, not framed

Manifest abridged — additional samples on request.

04// madebyariel

Software MadeByAriel, independent software solutions, and my development musings.

Not case studies — working stock. Each one I own end to end: the idea, the interface, the code underneath, and the maintenance after launch.

RS-01 In service · v1.0.7
A project filing system for VS Code

VS_Abode.

Turns the VS Code start screen into a desk: what you're mid-way through on top with its branch and uncommitted count, the rest filed in the drawer, notes kept as markdown in the repo. No account, no telemetry, MIT.

Open the landing page → Get it on the Marketplace
RS-02 action shot → In service

Dramas in Pajamas

Watch-list app for people who lose track of what they were watching. Design, front end, full-stack build — v4.29.

RS-03 action shot → In service

The Terminal Times

The publishing system behind this site's writings — block editor, revisions, image pipeline. PHP + SQLite, no build step.

RS-04 action shot → In development

NYC Local Hub

Civic web project covering all five boroughs — data acquisition, mapping, and a front end that makes city information legible.

RS-05 action shot → Delivered

WeSuite

A UI design language and component set for an app refresh — handed over as a working front end, not a picture of one.

RS-06 archive still → Retired

Glide OS

Interface language, manual, and docs for TransMedia's operating environment. Out of service, kept in the yard for parts.

Striped tiles are awaiting their screenshots · Collaboration is welcome! :) · Send a brief

05// contact

Got a route in mind?

Send a project brief →
Or just write: mail@arielruff.com
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