About Me
I was supposed to be a chartered accountant. Instead, I build websites and question my life choices. Life, as it turns out, has a sense of humour.
Hi, I’m Karel Caslavsky. Freelance full-stack web designer, affiliate marketer, and digital nomad of sorts. Over 20 years of building websites that are functional, human-friendly, and occasionally even admired by Google. After navigating a rather spirited season of life’s plot twists, I’m back doing what I do best, because rent refuses to pay for itself.
How I Got Here
Spoiler: it was never the plan. The plan was spreadsheets.
Chartered Accountant in Training
I went to university fully motivated to conquer financial statements and balance sheets. I had a calculator and a dream. The dream died first.
The Mysteriously Disappearing Years
One thing led to another. Several years vanished in that peculiar way years do when you are not paying attention. I emerged as an almost-fully-fledged freelance web designer. Accidentally.
Back to School (Reluctantly)
I returned to formal studies and combined backend and frontend development skills. What started as a hobby became a profession. A profession sprinkled with humour, self-deprecation, and a stubborn respect for good web standards. My websites even used to validate perfectly. Ask my Mum.
20+ Years of Questionable Decisions
I’ve designed websites for businesses and individuals across the world. Agencies, lawyers, doctors, furniture makers, business owners, diaper makers (yes, really), friends, family, and wonderfully eccentric humans of all kinds. What I enjoy most is creating websites that are easy to use, practical, and built with care.
Where I’ve Worked & Who With
Not the countries themselves. That would require significantly more paperwork.
I’ve collaborated with:
(Yes, diaper makers. I have questions too.)
What I Actually Believe
I’m an open-minded secular humanist with a fascination for cultures, people, and the strange, brilliant chaos that makes humanity what it is.
I don’t do dogma. I don’t do tribalism. I do coffee, curiosity, and the occasional existential crisis at 3 AM. I believe in building things that help people; websites, relationships, questionable life choices, and I believe in doing it with honesty, humour, and a healthy dose of self-awareness.
My websites are built the same way I try to live: practical, straightforward, and with as little unnecessary drama as possible. No bloat. No pretence. No requiring a theology degree to understand the navigation menu.
“I respect good web standards, decent coffee, and people who admit they don’t have all the answers.”— Me, obviously
Current Status
Working remotely has given me even more appreciation for the freedom this work offers and the people I get to meet along the way.
If a project needs close collaboration in person, travelling isn’t an issue. Anywhere on this planet works. I’m still waiting for affordable warp technology before expanding beyond that.
At the moment, I’m based in the Czech Republic, though I intend to spend time in the Philippines while continuing my digital nomad lifestyle. I bring my laptop, my adaptability, and my willingness to work across time zones that make my sleep schedule cry.
Moments & Memories
A few snapshots from the journey. Some planned, some accidental, all real.
Some of my best work happens over a cappuccino on a quiet porch. Grey t-shirt, laptop open, caffeine within arm’s reach. The uniform of a freelancer who has accepted his fate.
Daikoku Parking Area on a race meet night. Standing on the pavement surrounded by legendary JDM metal, trying to look like we belong there. Sheer bliss. The moment in life you want to last forever.
Another coffee shop further down, same matching outfits, just a different photo. When you are having a good moment, you take the photo every time. That is the rule.
Just a few metres from that coffee shop, this full-yellow Nissan GTR R35 with an LBWK body kit was parked like it owned the street. I am absolutely a car guy — 90s JDM is my second life, right after Asian women and freelance web design.
Walking barefoot on the beach at dusk, laptop tucked under my arm, wondering if this counts as a commute. The digital nomad life has its perks. The sand in your shoes is not one of them.
The next day, same beach, same spot — but sunshine this time. White t-shirt, genuine smile, and the realisation that some places just feel like home, even when they are not.
So, What Now?
If you are thinking any of the following, we will probably get along just fine:
Your action items are simple. Pick one. Or all three. I am not judging.
Greetings,
Karel Caslavsky