Launching a new software initiative is hard. It shouldn’t be.

We’re here to lead you through the process of building and launching complex digital products.

Why us?

Nothing makes you quite as hellbent on solving a problem as your own personal experience. Why is our team so intent on making software easy? Here’s a quick background:

1) The journey begins.

Our founders launched a startup while in college, named Applits, with a mission to shake up the mobile application industry by crowdsourcing app ideas. The Applits community submitted ideas for the ‘next big app,’ and a public voting process determined which apps were brought to life.

3) Designli is born.

It became clear to us what to do next: we decided to close Applits so we could forge our own agency to solve these exact problems. Following the classic “necessity is the mother of invention” philosophy, we built what we wish we could have found as paying clients years ago. We have poured over our process to identify the key actions and steps for success when building mobile-first software for demanding consumers.

2) Building apps is hard.

Three years, over 2,000 ideas, and 16 launched apps later, we understood first-hand the strategies and struggles of designing and developing quality mobile apps. We found a severe lack of agencies that understood the needs of startups and established businesses conscious of the business case behind why the software is being built, and having a process that ensured the success of the product with its users.

4) Making software accessible.

We have a talented team that will dedicate themselves to the success of your project, guiding you through the complex ecosystem of creating custom software. We've proven time and time again that app development doesn't have to be complicated. With Designli, you can expect the process of building a digital product to never be a mystery.

1) The journey begins.

Our founders launched a startup while in college, named Applits, with a mission to shake up the mobile application industry by crowdsourcing app ideas. The Applits community submitted ideas for the ‘next big app,’ and a public voting process determined which apps were brought to life.

2) Building apps is hard.

Three years, over 2,000 ideas, and 16 launched apps later, we understood first-hand the strategies and struggles of designing and developing quality mobile apps. We found a severe lack of agencies that understood the needs of startups and established businesses conscious of the business case behind why the software is being built, and having a process that ensured the success of the product with its users.

3) Designli is born.

It became clear to us what to do next: we decided to close Applits so we could forge our own agency to solve these exact problems. Following the classic “necessity is the mother of invention” philosophy, we built what we wish we could have found as paying clients years ago. We have poured over our process to identify the key actions and steps for success when building mobile-first software for demanding consumers.

4) Making software accessible.

We have a talented team that will dedicate themselves to the success of your project, guiding you through the complex ecosystem of creating custom software. We've proven time and time again that app development doesn't have to be complicated. With Designli, you can expect the process of building a digital product to never be a mystery.

Our leadership.

Get to know us: we’re looking forward to digging into your problem and collaborating on a solution.

Keith Shields

All Keith wanted for his 10th birthday was a domain name. Fast forward a few years to high school, and when his mom told him to get a summer job he opted to sell his website instead - rather than start mowing lawns.

When working on his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The Ohio State University, Keith spent his time coding websites and launching the Ohio State Freestyle Rap and Beatbox Club, which grew to be one of the largest student-run organizations on campus. Keith paired up with Josh (below) to build a college startup, Applits, named Inc.com’s “Coolest College Startup of 2014,” and has been leading app and web-app projects with Designli ever since.

Joshua Tucker

Josh is a natural contrarian, and often goes against the crowd when he thinks there’s a better way. A college athlete and engineering student turned college dropout, Josh wanted to pursue entrepreneurship rather than getting a degree. That’s when he teamed up with Keith and found his passion for the technical complexities of building and launching new software systems.

As an aspiring private pilot, scuba diver, and personal finance enthusiast, Josh is a “jack of multiple hobbies” and master of, well, some. As the COO of Designli, Josh enjoys learning how customers’ businesses work and figuring out how to design and implement software to solve their problems.

Leading a small yet talented Design and Development staff of 30+.

Let's build together.

We'd love to hear about your product or idea.

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