Chicago Freelance Web Designer

My story

Art school first. In 1997 I graduated from Chicago’s American Academy of Art with a dual degree in illustration and graphic design. I still think like a designer before I think like a programmer: layout, typography and a clear visual hierarchy come first.

Then video, then the web. After school I worked in video pre- and post-production in Los Angeles, got hooked on computer graphics and web publishing, and came home to Chicago. I took programming, networking and marketing classes at College of DuPage and learned HTML, CSS and JavaScript on the job. I have been a working web designer and developer in and around Chicago since 1999.

Nine years running a web company. From 2000 to 2009 I ran Yourlink Web Services Inc., providing custom web design, development and hosting to businesses, organizations and individuals. That is where I learned what small businesses actually need from a website, and what they do not.

Enterprise interface work. As a contractor I designed web page layouts, site maps and page flows at Walgreens Health Services, built application prototypes, icons and wireframes at Hewitt Associates, and redesigned the interface of an internal financial application at Morgan Stanley. Working inside large teams taught me process, documentation and how to design for real users.

Company Chicago. Since 2010 I have worked through my own company, Company Chicago Inc., designing, hosting and maintaining sites for law firms, contractors, architects, salons, nonprofits and retailers. From 2018 to 2021 I was also the front-end developer for Ella’s Bubbles, building and running a WordPress online store, its Google Shopping feed and its advertising campaigns.

How the work is done today

The tools have changed completely several times since 1999, and the biggest change came in the last year: AI coding agents that can read an entire site, find what is broken, and draft and test fixes. I use them every day, the way a good contractor uses power tools. They make the work faster and more precise. They do not replace knowing what to build.

Every project still has one accountable person, me, reviewing everything before it ships, testing on a staging site first, and answering the phone afterwards. Read how I use AI, see what it makes possible in AI-assisted web development, or read the audit of my own site for what it looks like in practice.

What you can count on

• You work with me. No account managers and no hand-offs. The person you talk to is the person doing the work.
• Your site is yours. I avoid proprietary code and closed platforms, so you are never locked into me or anyone else.
• You can run it yourself. Every site comes with instructions and a walkthrough so you and your team can update it.
• Or I can run it for you. Site Care keeps the site updated, checked and backed up every month.
• One-year warranty. All work is warrantied for at least a year. If you find a code error, I fix and republish it at no cost to you.
• More than a website. Logos, graphics, photo retouching, video editing, SEO and automation, so everything a customer sees fits together.
• A fixed quote before work starts. See how pricing works.

What clients say

 
 
 
 
  EXCELLENT  
  
 Based on 23 reviews 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Angelica Lee 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I just finished a web design project with John, and I was very happy with how everything turned out. He kept me in the loop and broke the whole project down clearly. I was happy with the updates that we made, and he showed me how to make some of the updates on my own. My old site was slow and hard to navigate. John improved the accessibility of the site, and made sure everything loads fast. He  helped me with SEO and I'm seeing more traffic coming in. When I had questions or needed something adjusted urgentley John got back to me within a few hours which was extremely helpful.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Jim Brennan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I had the pleasure of working with John Schuster to revamp my company’s website, and the experience was nothing short of outstanding.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Steepers Only 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Working with John Schuster's web design team was a fantastic experience! Their skills in collaboration and creative problem-solving stood out as they brought my vision to life. From brainstorming innovative ideas to ensuring every detail met my needs, they consistently exceeded expectations. The final website is visually stunning and user-friendly. Highly recommended!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 General Cutting Tool Jeff 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
John helps grow our business by consistently analyzing and addressing the needs of both our customers and are staff. He implemented an eCommerce shopping that is continuing to double is sales every year. Through his recommendation and assistance we have started using a CRM that streamlines business and communications. We highly recommend John's services and expertise.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Charles Leahy 
 
 
 
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Quick - efficient - excellent value for the money!!!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Ann Schaffer 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m a musician and needed a website and press release. John worked highly collaboratively with me on both, coming up with great visual ideas. But what blew me away was his responsiveness.   If you need it, John will get it to you pronto. John really made me feel I was a priority.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Anna Belle 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
John recently revamped the company website, improved SEO, and just gave it an overall makeover. We had such a great time working together! Comparing this organization to other companies I have worked with, the level of professionalism, patience, and assistance was by far the best I have encountered. They provided ideas, creative initiatives, and much more. They were very thorough, professional, responsive, reliable, and most importantly patient. If you need a website, I highly recommend John Schuster and am looking forward to working with them in the near future on phase 2.
  
 
  
 
 
 
 Posted on Google  
 
  
 
 
 Linda Tes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
John really went above and beyond when it came to our company's website. He was on time with all proposed deadlines and his communication was excellent!! Thank you john
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 

Away from the screen

I was trained in traditional media (watercolor, pen and ink, oil and photography) and I still paint. You can see some of it in the acrylic painting gallery. That training is a big part of why I care how a site looks and not only how it works.

More about my background

Education and experience · Resume · Portfolio · Testimonials · How I compare with agencies and other freelancers · LinkedIn

My office is at 1531 N Wells St in Chicago’s Old Town, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Call 312-380-5745 or send a message.