Calm,
modern
software crafted with a little sparkle

For modern creators, thoughtful builders, and mission-driven organizations

We BUILD

Modern websites

Modern JavaScript sites and high-performance static builds. Fast, accessible, and built to convert visitors.

Next.js · Astro · 11ty

Bespoke software development

From a custom event tracker built in a few days to a full enterprise CMS. Tailored software at whatever scale you need.

Rails · Django · Next.js · React · PostgreSQL · TypeScript · Python

AI-native infrastructure that actually works

MCP servers, documentation that serves both developers and AI models, APIs built for AI interaction

MCP · Claude Code · Context-aware docs · Discovery optimization

Accessible mobile applications

Mobile apps that prioritize accessibility from day one. iOS native with SwiftUI or cross-platform with React Native.

iOS · Swift/SwiftUI · React Native

Map-based discovery and storytelling platforms

GPS tracking, routing, geocoding, offline maps. The infrastructure for map-based discovery.

Mapbox · MapLibre

Custom plugins and integrations

Plugins and custom integrations for WordPress, headless CMSes, low-code/no-code platforms, and workflow automation

WordPress · Webflow · Squarespace · Framer · Wix · Bubble · Zapier · Airtable · Make · n8n

Custom video overlays and broadcast graphics

Overlays and data systems for your streams, events, and video content. Live or pre-recorded, with or without real-time feeds.

OBS/vMix · Real-time data · Browser-based · Custom APIs · Transparent overlays

We SOLVE

  • Slow sites killing conversions
  • WCAG 2.1 AA deadlines without panic (accessibility audits, screen reader testing, semantic HTML)
  • Turning maps, GPS, and real-world data into storytelling (Mapbox routing, geocoding, offline maps, real-time tracking)
  • AI development workflows that actually help (AI-assisted development, discovery optimization, context setup)
  • Taking your build exactly where you envisioned (custom code for Webflow, Squarespace, Framer, Wix, Bubble, WordPress; automation with Zapier, Airtable, Make, n8n)
  • Wiring together complex integrations (third-party APIs, real-time data feeds, multi-platform architectures)

Recent Work

Rebelle Rally Multi-Year Technical Partnership

Live broadcast graphics, scoring system modernization, and multi-platform integration for a women-only off-road navigation rally across Nevada and California.

The nerdy details Summarize

The Challenge

The Rebelle Rally is a women-only off-road navigation rally. Think orienteering with 4x4s across Nevada and California, with high-tech tracking and scoring behind the scenes. Past work ranges from WordPress builds and custom plugins to React vehicle tracking dashboards and Mapbox storytelling. 2025 brought a new challenge: live broadcast graphics for their streaming coverage. The catch? Their PHP scoring system had been reliably running rallies for years. Any new work had to integrate without breaking what worked.

The Approach

Started with a PHP API layer that reads from the existing scoring database without touching the scoring logic itself. Then built browser-based live overlays (JavaScript) that production could control from their booth during broadcast. Standings graphics, challenge results, sponsor logos, all updating in real-time as transparent overlays for OBS/vMix. The scoring pages got rebuilt in JavaScript on top of the same backend. Also made a team bio importer (JotForm to WordPress) — teams submit once, we review for quality control, then it flows through to the site.

The video overlay system ended up being its own reusable tool. Production liked having a custom-built system we could refine together in a short amount of time, instead of trying to shoehorn their needs into existing broadcast software.

The Result

Professional broadcast overlays running live during the 2025 rally, with production controlling graphics in real-time. Scoring system stayed stable while the front-end got modernized. Multi-year relationship with a lot of variety: WordPress builds, custom plugins, systems integration, live broadcast tools, data pipelines.

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WordPress · React · PHP · JavaScript · OBS/vMix · Elementor · JotForm
Rebelle Rally live broadcast overlay showing Day 6 standings

SafetyChain Enterprise Marketing Site Migration

Next.js + DatoCMS migration building a bespoke CMS for marketing independence. AI-forward documentation multiplying development velocity on custom enterprise-scale work.

The nerdy details Summarize

The Challenge

Marketing wanted more independence to build and test landing pages — trying different approaches to see what performs best. The existing site was more template-based, which worked but limited how much marketing could customize and preview before publishing. Needed a flexible system where non-technical folks could build, preview, and publish landing pages, blog posts, and resource pages independently, plus migrate hundreds of custom posts and pages.

The Approach

Started with Next.js 14 + DatoCMS, then built a modular block system using DatoCMS's component architecture. Created reusable section components so marketing could preview and drag-and-drop to build pages. Custom content models, TypeScript + GraphQL type safety, comprehensive component library. Migrated hundreds of posts and pages.

The documentation piece ended up being key — it worked as both developer onboarding and Claude Code context, which helped ship features faster and enabled SafetyChain developers to build directly from the docs.

The Result

Marketing builds and previews pages independently now, and SafetyChain developers ship features using the documentation. Launched September 2025. Faster workflow, less developer bottleneck. The AI-forward approach made it possible to deliver custom enterprise-scale work with a small team, using comprehensive docs as AI context for everyone.

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Next.js · TypeScript · DatoCMS · GraphQL · Tailwind CSS · Storybook · Netlify
SafetyChain enterprise marketing homepage with modular component system

Campendium RV Camping Discovery Platform

Full-stack Rails and React work on RV camping discovery platform with 50,000+ locations, user reviews, and Mapbox integration.

The nerdy details Summarize

The Challenge

Campendium helps RV travelers discover campgrounds and plan trips — 50,000+ locations, user reviews, Mapbox integration. Legacy Rails codebase needed ongoing feature work while staying stable for active users.

The Approach

Full-stack Rails and React/Stimulus work. Enhanced Mapbox filtering for campground discovery, added Active Storage for file uploads, worked on cross-brand OAuth. Built out Segment analytics and dug into user testing sessions to help guide product decisions.

A lot of the value was the maintenance work that keeps legacy Rails apps healthy — refactoring database queries, standardizing React components and Stimulus controllers, steadily reducing technical debt. Not flashy, but essential for keeping a platform stable when thousands of RV travelers rely on it daily.

The Result

Platform stayed stable while shipping new features. Database queries got faster, frontend components modernized, analytics setup helping inform product decisions.

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Rails · React · Stimulus · Mapbox · PostgreSQL · Active Storage · Segment Analytics
Campendium RV camping discovery platform with Mapbox map

About Elemental Sugar

We build modern web and mobile applications, custom plugins, and the infrastructure that makes platforms work together. For creators building their vision, builders shipping products, and organizations on a mission. Sometimes that's building from scratch, sometimes it's finishing what got stuck. Solid foundations (elemental) crafted with care (sugar). That's the idea, anyway.

We build interfaces that adapt to users, not the other way around. Calm, predictable technology that respects human capacity: energy levels, attention spans, the need for quiet tech. Neurodivergent-friendly design isn't a feature, it's the foundation. When we use AI, it's practical infrastructure, tools that help get work done, not hype or hand-wringing.

Elemental Sugar is proudly LGBTQ+ and woman-owned. Founded by Tami Mitchell, bringing 13 years of specialized depth to what each development project needs. We understand access barriers from lived experience, not theory, which means we build technology that actually adapts to different ways of thinking and working. Making technology work with people, not against them.

Colorado mountain sunset with purple and golden sky

Work Together

Building something that needs calm tech, energy-aware design, or map-based storytelling? We build exactly that.

Got a stuck project, a gnarly integration, or something that needs someone who sees connections others miss? We've been solving these problems for 13 years.