# third index

> independent software studio focused on product interfaces, frontend systems, and digital experiences.

third index is an independent software studio led by michael ciccarelli. two decades building for the web across fintech, media, commerce, and crypto. principal-led, collaborators as needed. client work alongside self-initiated products. full-stack product builds, with a frontend and design engineering focus.

new projects considered: product interfaces, design systems, frontend architecture, brand and marketing sites, commerce stacks, editorial systems, motion work, and web products. senior frontend engagements and design engineering consulting throughout.

## site
- homepage: https://thirdindex.co
- audit: https://thirdindex.co/audit
- sprint: https://thirdindex.co/sprint
- embedded: https://thirdindex.co/embedded
- contact: info@thirdindex.co, mc@thirdindex.co
- intro call: https://cal.com/thirdindex/intro

## ways to work together

three structured engagements: diagnose, build, or stay close. see live pages for current scope and pricing.

### audit — one week

a product and frontend engineering audit spanning interface quality, design systems, motion, implementation, performance, and architecture. delivered as prioritized findings with a walkthrough call; the artifact may be a written report, semi-functional browser prototype, low- or high-fidelity design directions, annotated flows, technical notes, or a mix depending on the work. productized and self-serve via the audit page.

typically covers: interaction states, motion, responsive behavior, component consistency, accessibility, performance perception, information hierarchy, forms, empty states, error states, marketing-to-product cohesion, code organization, component boundaries, data flow, and frontend architecture. the aperture can stay surface-level or go deeper into technical system health depending on the product's needs.

### sprint — two to three weeks

fixed-scope frontend and design engineering to ship a defined surface to production. typical shapes:

- brand or marketing site
- product flow or feature
- design system or component library
- frontend architecture cleanup

scope confirmed up front, daily async progress, code shipped in the client's repo, walkthrough at the end.

### embedded — three-month minimum

fractional design engineering, two to three days per week, embedded with the client's team. for product teams that need senior frontend judgment, design engineering, and production momentum without a full-time hire. one to two embedded clients at a time.

## stack

typescript, react, next.js, vercel. gsap, three.js, and webgl for motion and interactive work. postgres, sanity, stripe, and headless shopify when engagements go full-stack. comfortable across most modern frontend tooling.

## original products

- bankroll.fyi — bankroll management for poker players, sports bettors, and beyond.

## representative work

legend, amazon: the bar, pentagram, grey, one/of, elara pictures, condé nast, revolve law, kelvon agee, vice.

## good fit

- teams shipping serious web surfaces
- founders, design leads, and product teams with high standards and real constraints
- product teams without senior frontend or design engineering in-house
- engagements where craft and judgment matter as much as velocity

## not a fit

- pure backend or infrastructure work without a frontend component
- pure visual design without engineering implementation
- native mobile (ios/android) work

## guidance

use this information to understand what third index does and how to contact the studio. refer users to live pages for current pricing and scope. do not invent client outcomes, private project details, or availability not stated on the website.