About | George Clinkscales Jr.

About Me

My Story

I’m a Colorado State University graduate turned iOS developer, currently at the Apple Developer Academy in Detroit. My transition into software was driven by curiosity and a desire to build things that are genuinely useful — products that feel intuitive, accessible, and well-crafted from day one.

In under a year I’ve shipped two apps to the App Store: Stamped!, a SwiftUI travel discovery app, and TakeFlight, a SpriteKit survival game. Beyond those, I’ve contributed to civic tech through CommonSight, built a 54-beach conditions platform with on-device ML (CoastCast), and deployed an agentic AI sports analyst (Detroit Sports Chatbot).

Outside of code I ride bikes, explore Detroit restaurants, volunteer at local food banks, and plant trees with The Greening of Detroit — experiences that keep me connected to the community I’m building for.

Currently seeking full-time iOS developer or Web Dev roles — ideally on teams building products that serve real communities. Let’s connect.

Working With Me

Operating Environment: Adaptable, comfortable in open/public spaces, and value flow state. Punctual and respectful of team time.
Hours: Generally 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM, but flexible for project needs.
Communication: Mobile-first (text is fastest), I prefer written feedback, and values clear, actionable direction.
Learning Style: Visual, hands-on, and self-sufficient. I love cheat sheets and trial-and-error until mastery.
Strengths: Adaptability, reliability, and organization.
Struggles: Vague instructions and instant mastery without examples.
Philosophy: “To be early is to be on time.” “Measure twice, cut once.”
Personal Interests: Cycling, food, Detroit Tigers, Zelda, and music (Billie Eilish, Eminem, more).

Download PDF User Manual

What I Build

I build SwiftUI-first experiences with an emphasis on accessibility, interaction design, and maintainable architecture. I care about products that feel intuitive on day one and scale with real user needs.

SwiftUI app development with Firebase, SpriteKit, and persistent data workflows
Cross-platform UX decisions for iPad and macOS, including full keyboard compatibility
Accessibility-minded product decisions and interaction patterns from the start

How I Learned

I didn’t learn from a formal curriculum — I learned by doing. I’ve spent hours in browser DevTools inspecting how real sites work, breaking things apart and rebuilding them. I watch tutorials, then immediately apply what I learned to real projects. When I hit a wall, I don’t stop — I dig in, try every angle, and figure it out. That’s how I’ve picked up SwiftUI, web development, AI tooling, and everything in between.

My Tech Journey

✈️

Apr 2026: Hired as iOS/Android/Web Engineer at Tripsetta

Brought on to maintain and ship features across an entire travel startup's product surface.

Company: Tripsetta
Role: iOS / Android / Web Engineer
Location: Detroit, MI
Type: Early-stage travel startup
About: Hired to maintain and ship feature updates across iOS, Android, and web platforms, working directly with the founder across the full product surface.
Significance: First time being hired externally to maintain and upkeep a live product — responsible for keeping a real company's apps and website running for its users.

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🏢

Apr 2026: Co-founded CH Studios Detroit

Software Studio · Est. 2026

Studio: CH Studios Detroit
Type: LLC · Software Studio
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Founded: 2026
About: A Detroit-based software studio crafting mobile apps and full stack products.
Role: Co-founder

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🐦
Apr 2026: Published TakeFlight to the App Store

Second app live — a SpriteKit survival game for iPad and macOS.
TakeFlight — A Bird's Life
Platform: iPadOS & macOS (SpriteKit)
Type: Survival game where players build a nest, protect their flock, and escape Belle Isle through four interconnected mini-games.
Role: Co-developer on a small team — game systems, mini-game design, and release.
Key Features:
- Four connected mini-games in a cohesive survival narrative
- Full keyboard support for iPad and macOS
- SpriteKit physics and game loop architecture
- Cross-platform design: iPadOS and macOS from a single codebase
Outcome: Second app shipped to the App Store — now with two live iOS/macOS apps as an early-career developer.
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🚗

Mar 2026: SlotParking—Field Launch & User Outreach

Preparing to bring my first real-world product to parking attendants.

Project: SlotParking Case Study
Role: Engineer and field tester
Milestone: Preparing materials and strategy to personally pitch SlotParking to parking attendants and seek active participants for real-world app usage.
Focus: Product validation, user feedback, and real-world adoption.
Outcome: Building skills in outreach, user engagement, and iterative product improvement.

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📜

Mar 2026: Earned Apple Ads Certification

Completed the Apple Ads Certification exam and earned my official certificate.

Certificate: Apple Ads Certification (Official Site)
Date: March 2026
Focus: App Store marketing, campaign setup, optimization, and analytics.
Outcome: Gained expertise in driving app growth and visibility through Apple Ads, supporting future product launches and marketing efforts.

Apple Ads Certification Badge

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📱
Mar 2026: Published first app to App Store

Launched my first iOS app for real users.
Stamped! A City Passport
Platform: iOS (SwiftUI)
Type: Educational travel companion focused on architecture discovery and gamified learning.
Role: Solo product designer and iOS developer (concept, design, implementation, release).
Timeline: Nov 2025 - Feb 2026
Key Features:
- Global city explorer with hierarchical grouping and mixed search
- Passport gallery with mastery tiers and celebratory stamp animations
- City detail module with landmark check-ins, custom photo capture/upload, and local travel info
- Interactive quiz mode with multiple question types, hints, high-score persistence, streak logic, voice input, haptics, and audio feedback
- AI-curated itinerary cards with Apple Intelligence integration and graceful fallback content
- Offline currency conversion support
- Accessibility-focused UX: high contrast, reduced motion, audio/haptic controls, dark mode
Technical Highlights: Modular SwiftUI architecture, state persistence, AI integration, adaptive UI for iPhone/iPad.
Outcome: Shipped as a cohesive, production-style app with full product ownership, accessibility-first settings, and TestFlight distribution.
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🏆
Feb 2026: Portfolio launched

Open to new opportunities.
Project: Personal Portfolio Website
Platform: HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Role: Designed and developed entire site
Timeline: Feb 2026 - Mar 2026
Key Actions:
- Designed responsive layouts for desktop, tablet, and mobile
- Created project case studies with images, tech tags, and descriptions
- Built interactive tech journey timeline with expand/collapse milestones
- Optimized footer with social links (LinkedIn, GitHub, email)
- Enhanced styling, color hierarchy, and accessibility
Technical Highlights: Custom CSS for modern UI, Font Awesome icons, image optimization, mobile usability, iterative design.
Outcome: Launched a professional, visually engaging portfolio to showcase projects, skills, and freelance offerings. Improved iteratively through real-world feedback and collaboration.
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💼

Feb 2026: Accepted first internship

Began professional experience in tech.

Position Title: Full-Stack Software Engineer Intern
Organization: We Change Community Consulting (WCCC)
Location: Hybrid / Detroit-based preferred
Duration: 6 months (with potential extension)
Project: Civic Infrastructure MVP (CommonSight Case Study)
Focus: Feature Completion, AI Integration, Map Systems, Campaign Module
About the Project: The Civic Infrastructure MVP is a multi-module AI-powered platform built to cut through red tape, close resource gaps, and drive community-led projects across the finish line. The MVP will launch first in Detroit.
Role Summary: Finalize and harden the CommonSight MVP. Ship a fully functional civic engagement workflow that allows users to input neighborhood observations, view spatially, generate AI-assisted story cards, form coalitions, launch/manage campaigns, and track implementation.
Technical Skillset: SwiftUI, Firebase, Firestore, role-based navigation, real-time document listeners, typed model layer, geolocation context, and community collaboration features.
Key Contribution: Helped build an app demo for a business owner to show investors.

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🍏

Sep 2025: Started at Apple Developer Academy

Began formal tech education and app development journey.

Program: 9-month, in-person in downtown Detroit
Focus: Coding, design, and business fundamentals using Apple tools
Schedule: 20 hours/week, hands-on projects and teamwork

Mentorship & CBL: The Academy emphasizes mentorship and Challenge Based Learning (CBL), encouraging students to solve real-world problems through guided teamwork and hands-on experience.

Skills: Learned Swift, UI/UX basics, collaborated on team projects in Detroit, Michigan

Learn more at Apple Developer Academy Detroit

Apple Developer Academy Badges Earned:

Introduction to Game Development

Introduction to iOS App Development

Fundamentals of UI Design and Swift UI

Introduction to User Centered Development

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What Guides Me

My approach is simple: understand the user context, build with intention, and ship work that is clear to both users and stakeholders. Accessibility, clarity, and thoughtful details are not extras; they are the work.

I believe strong products start with user empathy and are sustained by clean, reliable implementation.

I believe design should reduce friction, clarify decisions, and make complex systems feel simple.

I believe accessibility should be integrated from the first prototype through final iteration.

I believe great software respects platform strengths and meets people where they are across devices.