I’m Rowan. I make calm software and slow photographs.

I’m a designer and developer in Bellingham, Washington. I run Switchback Studio, a two-person practice that builds tools for outdoor brands, parks groups and anyone who works where the signal drops.

Before the studio, I spent four years as a product designer at Cairn Maps, three as a design engineer at Talus Works, and my first job out of school building the online store for Tidewater Outfitters.

What I work on

Most of my work is maps, field tools and the quiet parts of software: sync, settings and the screens nobody notices when they work. I like small teams, short documents and going to the field before writing code.

Away from the desk

Most weekends I’m above treeline with a film camera. I develop black and white at home, in a closet, and send the color film out.

Say hello

The best way to reach me is a reply to the newsletter. I read every one, though it can take me a week to answer.