Process
Why I Stopped Using Design Tools and Went Back to Paper
After years of Figma dependency, I rediscovered the speed of pen and paper. Here's how sketching first actually makes my digital work better.
Jun 12, 20254 min read
readProduct Designer &
Developer
I Piumal Dhanawardhana design interfaces people enjoy using, then build them end-to-end. Based in Colombo, working globally — turning ambiguous problems into polished products.
Colombo, Sri Lanka
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Featured Projects
A curated selection of products I've designed and built from first sketch to live production.
View Case Studies
Full Stack Development
React, Next.js, Astro, Node — I write the code that makes designs feel alive and performant.
Product Design
From wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes — I obsess over the details that make interfaces click.
Writing & Ideas
Thoughts on design systems, mobile engineering, and the invisible work behind great products.
Read the Blog
code should feel
like conversation
shipped > perfect
the blank screen
is not the enemy
every pixel earns
its place
build fast,
listen faster
simplicity is
the hardest part
I don't just push pixels — I solve problems with code and craft. Every project is a chance to make something someone genuinely enjoys using.
— Piumal
- Selected Work
Projects where I wore every hat — from the first wireframe to the last commit.
Brilliant Cashew
E-commerce, Brand Identity, UI/UX, Web Development
A premium cashew brand's online store — from packaging design to a fully responsive Shopify-free storefront built with Next.js.
Dronei
E-commerce, Brand Identity, UI/UX, Web Development
A drone brand's online store — featuring a modern design and seamless shopping experience.
Lumina Lamp Corner
Product Design, Web Development, 3D Rendering
A lighting brand's digital presence — product showcase with interactive 3D renders and a custom e-commerce flow.
Feeling Good Agency
Brand Website, Social Media, Content Strategy
landing page for a creative agency — highlighting their services, portfolio, and team with a clean, modern design.
- About Me
I sit at the intersection of design and engineering — and I refuse to pick just one.
I'm Piumal Dhanawardhana, a product designer and full stack developer from Colombo, Sri Lanka. I started by breaking things apart to see how they worked — turns out, that's still how I approach every project.
My toolkit spans TypeScript, React, Next.js, and Astro on the web, with Swift and React Native for mobile. But tools are secondary — what matters is whether the thing I build actually solves a problem without making the user think twice.
When I'm not designing or coding, I'm probably sketching UI ideas in a notebook, reading about design history, or debugging something that worked perfectly five minutes ago.
- Where I've Worked
Building real products at real companies — and occasionally on my own terms.
Currently at TWC Innovations shipping ReviewCraze, a review management platform that turns customer feedback into business growth.
Roles
TWC Innovations
Software Engineer
Leading frontend architecture for ReviewCraze, an automated review management platform. Building React-based dashboards, integrating AI-powered sentiment analysis, and shipping features that help businesses respond to customer feedback in real time.
TWC Innovations
Frontend Engineer
Developed internal tools and client-facing web applications using React and TypeScript. Implemented design systems, optimized bundle sizes, and collaborated closely with the design team to bridge the gap between mockups and production code.
Freelance
Designer & Developer
Built e-commerce platforms and brand websites for local businesses — from Brilliant Cashew's online store to restaurant landing pages. Handled everything from brand identity to deployment on Vercel.
- Blog
Things I've learned the hard way — about design, code, and building for real people.
Engineering
React Performance Is a Design Problem
Most performance bottlenecks I've fixed weren't code issues — they were design decisions made too early. How thinking in frames changes everything.
Apr 3, 20257 min read
readInsights
Building for Sri Lanka's Internet
Low bandwidth, older devices, patchy connectivity — designing for emerging markets forces you to care about every kilobyte.
Feb 18, 20255 min read
read- Kind Words
People I've worked with kind enough to say nice things.
"
Fast, thoughtful, and zero drama. Piumal shipped our restaurant site in two weeks and it looked better than competitors who took two months.
D
Dinesh Fernando
Owner, Sydney Restaurant Group