About

Me

I create web presences that are minimal and purposeful, privacy-respecting and eco-conscious. Creating without values is actively destroying our environment. Natural world and societal fabric. We can do better.

I live in the Netherlands and enjoy greatly the natural expression of this earth (nature) and the essential human expression of vibration (music).

I practice Mindfulness (as in intentional sitting, walking, speaking, listening). I am a member of the Metal Business Club; what a great combination that is!

I support Free and open-source software (FOSS) with which I have built this website. You can read more about this in the Software section.

Methods & Values

Sorely needed in a world driven by convenience and profit.

Human-centric Design

Respect for human experience and effort.

This principle guides my design and doesn’t waste your time or effort. Oftentimes unnecessary elements distract or subvert what a person wants to do on a website. Annoying and misleading cookie banners are an example of a Dark pattern that is all too common.

Minimal design doesn’t mean the website is empty or lacking functionality but rather it leads to a more streamlined experience without unneeded clutter. A person can do what they are there for in a relaxed and respectful manner.

Adaptive Development

There is no ‘One Fits All’ solution.

It is wasteful to assume that one approach will serve everyone best. Today there are countless ways to develop for the web. It is overwhelming to try and keep up with every new development. Yet what all of these development tools have in common is they work in the browser (which uses HTML, CSS & JavaScript to display a website).

I follow a static-first approach when it comes to develop a website. Static first approach means using HTML & CSS first (which is lightweight and fast by default) and only include JavaScript (which is slow and resource-intensive) when necessary.

Eco-conscious Infrastructure

To be able to make sustainable choices we need to be clear in ‘What is being build and who is engaging with it?’ Equipped with the answer we can choose what infrastructure is fitting.

  • Low scale: static website on one local server
  • Medium scale: static website with interactive islands deployed on an edge-computing network of servers in the region
  • Large scale: static website with interactive islands deployed on a world-wide CDN

It is also important to choose a hosting provider that does more than merely use green energy which by now is fairly standard. Most hosting providers cannot even guarantee that they use green energy because it depends on their respective national grid distribution and how much of that energy is green or gray at any given moment.

Things like using residual heat of a server farm, investing in environmental compensation (e.g. planting trees) and providers that are committed to reducing and recycling waste and machinery they use.

Services

Web Development

I engage in the entire life cycle of a web presence. From the initial inception to the final implementation. Sustainable & Performant Web Development with an eye for Minimalism.

Another way of saying: Fullstack-development

Non-exhaustive list: gathering requirements, creating prototypes, designing UI/UX, coding the front-end and back-end, managing databases, registering domains, setting up hosting, deploying the site, planning for scalability, optimizing performance, integrating privacy-respecting analytics, continuous monitoring, maintaining and supporting the site, training clients, looping in feedback

Consulting

Do you already have a web presence or plan to set up one in the future? Do you want to represent the way forward by embracing sustainable practices in your web presence?

Design & Development

If your website feels outdated or overwhelming, I help refine it—removing distractions, improving navigation, and creating a clean, focused design that enhances engagement.

Web Infrastructure

I help create lean, efficient websites that minimize environmental impact. From reducing unnecessary assets to choosing eco-friendly hosting, I ensure your site is both efficient and sustainable.

Sustainability Report

I provide an actionable sustainability report that evaluates your website’s carbon footprint, energy consumption, and efficiency. This helps identify areas for improvement and ensures your digital presence aligns with sustainable practices.

Software

In current times, there is virtually an endless amount of technologies one can choose from. There is only the question: What do I know how to use, and what do I need for this project?

Tech Stack (ioannishariskos.com)

Here are the technologies I used to create this website: Astro, Tailwind CSS, and statichost. Not only are these some of the fastest technologies available, but they are also more sustainable (JAMstack) than traditional tech stacks.

Privacy

I use a self-hosted instance of Plausible to gather basic data about visitors to this site. Plausible is privacy-respecting, doesn’t use cookies and gathers no identifiable information. I use these data to understand how people use my website and what they engage with.

Setup

I use software that follows the FOSS principles. Supporting these companies and communities ensures that the internet and computing in general stays a public good.