Andrew Austin · Thunder Bay, Ontario
I build my own digital projects to learn what works. Then I bring that experience to helping businesses in Thunder Bay and the surrounding region make better use of technology.
Useful websites. Connected tools. Fewer subscriptions that don't earn their keep.
Selected work
A closer look at two client projects and one of my own ventures. Each explores a different way technology can be useful.
Client work · Lakehead University
Practical tools for everyday research data tasks.
A research data management toolkit for Lakehead University's Office of Research Services, bringing browser-based PDF, image, data, and privacy tools into one place.
The takeaway: Useful software can solve a specific job without requiring another account or a large platform.
Explore RDM Toolkit
Client work · Website & branding
A cohesive online presence for an event coordination business.
Website design, logo creation, and branding, with a consistent visual identity across the business's online presence.
The takeaway: The website and the brand need to work together so a visitor can understand the business.
Explore Carlina CoordinationDigital Setup Scout · Project overview
Understand the setup.
Keep control of the cost.
Own venture · Guides & tools
Clearer choices about the cost of getting a small business online.
A plain-language guide to domains, hosting, and business email, alongside comparison tools and practical checklists.
The takeaway: The right setup depends on what a business actually needs, including the time and support required to maintain it.
Explore Digital Setup ScoutThe person behind Seaway Digital
I run Seaway Digital from Thunder Bay. Across school, work, and everyday life, I've always looked for a different way to tackle a problem. Building digital projects gives that instinct somewhere practical to go.
Right now, I'm building out my own ideas and learning through hands-on work. I keep exploring new tools, testing their limits, and figuring out where they can actually help.
My longer-term goal is to help businesses here and across the surrounding region modernize at a pace that makes sense for them. That starts with understanding how a business runs, including what already works, where time gets lost, and which monthly bills are worth paying.
My background on LinkedInHow I can help
A useful solution might be a simple website, a connected application, or a better way to use the tools you already have.
A clear static website when you need a presence online. A database or service integration when your site needs to do more, such as collecting information or supporting a business process.
A practical look at how your business works today. Find repetitive tasks, review software costs, and compare alternatives that fit the way you actually operate.
Logos, colours, and a visual identity that carry through to your website. Give customers a consistent picture of your business and yourself a useful foundation to build on.
Help connecting your website, content, and social channels. Explore tools for generating ideas and reusing your work, with a process you can manage yourself rather than an ongoing social media management service.
Working together
We talk through how your business runs, the tools you use, and the task you want to make easier.
I help compare the options, including improving an existing setup. We agree on scope, costs, and timing before work starts.
We review the result together. Account access, ongoing costs, maintenance, and any support are part of the conversation, so you know what comes next.
Sometimes a static site or a small change to an existing tool is enough. A database or external service makes sense when the job needs it. We can explore that before deciding what to build.
That depends on the scope, content, and any integrations. I'll discuss a realistic budget and timeline once we understand the work, including recurring service costs and any ongoing support.
The wider collection
My own ventures are where I try things, solve problems, and learn. Alongside them is work built for other people.
13 projects shown
Family tree platform that lets you build your family history, connect with relatives, and preserve stories across generations.
Plain-language guides and practical tools to help small businesses choose domains, hosting, and email without paying for extras they do not need.
Financial literacy platform helping Canadians build wealth through education and tools.
Community-powered comparisons of store-brand vs name-brand products. Find out where generics shine — and where they fall short.
Curated deals site helping Canadians find the best discounts and savings.
Custom children's books that bring imagination to life with personalized stories.
Tracks observed clearance deals across Thunder Bay retailers with filters for price, stock, savings, and store.
Searches used-vehicle listings from Northwestern Ontario dealerships with filters, saved vehicles, and price history.
Custom Research Data Management toolkit built for Lakehead University Office of Research Services.
Custom Research Security toolkit built for Lakehead University Office of Research Services.
Website design, logo creation, and branding for an event coordination business.
Social media content creation and business consulting for hot sauce brand expansion.
Educational lecture on AI, built for SHAD Canada 2026 at Lakehead University.
What a Google Photos experiment taught me about checking platform dependencies before committing to a product.
Read the project retrospectiveNotes from the work
Experiments, decisions, and lessons from building things and exploring better ways to work.
How building solutions to my own problems changed the way I look at every digital product and subscription.
Read field noteHow I use AI as an on-call expert, and the two-minute cross-check that keeps it honest.
Read field noteThe landscape has changed. Here's what you need to know about getting online.
Read field noteStart a conversation
Tell me about your business, an idea you're exploring, or a task that takes more effort than it should. You don't need a technical brief to get in touch.
You'll hear from me, Andrew. I check and reply to email daily.
Email Andrew Choose a consultation time