Web design for Ottawa tech companies and product teams
I'm Elias Chapuis, a design engineer and product designer. I design and build websites for Ottawa software companies, startups around Kanata North and businesses that work with government, with the product sense that comes from building my own tools.
That product side shows in projects like Bidouille OS, the studio management tool I designed and built with Supabase and Vercel, and Plume, my self-hosted SEO and GEO studio. I'm based in Saskatoon, work with Ottawa teams remotely, and work in both English and French.
/OTTAWA_CONTEXT
Ottawa: government, software and the city where Shopify started
Ottawa's economy combines the federal government with a deep software and telecom history. Shopify was founded here, and the Kanata North tech park is home to a large cluster of technology companies. Many local businesses sell to government or to other technical companies, so their websites have to be precise, accessible and credible.
That's a context I enjoy designing for: complex offers, demanding buyers, and a need for clarity over flash. The goal is a site that answers an evaluator's questions as well as it impresses a first-time visitor.
/BILINGUAL
Bilingual websites in English and French
Organizations in the capital region often need their site in both official languages. I'm French-born and work in English and French, so I can design layouts that hold up in both languages (French copy often runs longer), review translations for tone and set up the CMS so each version is easy to manage.
I can also act as a bilingual point of contact, running reviews in English with one team and in French with another, so nothing gets lost between the two versions of the site.
- Layouts tested with real English and French copy
- Language switching and URL structure planned for search
- Consistent terminology across both versions
/PRODUCT_THINKING
Product thinking for software companies
Because I also design and build software, I approach a SaaS website like a product: clear user journeys, reusable components and measurable goals. The site and the app can share one design system, which saves time on both sides. I apply the same thinking to my own products, like Plume and Bidouille OS, where I made every design and build decision myself.
For companies that need help beyond the website, I also work on app interfaces and design systems as a freelance product designer.
/ACCESSIBLE_BUILDS
Accessible, fast and easy to maintain
Accessibility matters for every site, and it's often an explicit requirement when you work with public-sector clients. I design with sufficient contrast, visible focus states, semantic structure and readable type from the start, rather than patching issues after launch.
Builds are optimized for speed and handed over with documentation, so your team can maintain them with confidence. Pricing is fixed after an intro call, based on scope, languages and integrations.
/FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do you meet clients in Ottawa?
My Ottawa projects are remote. We work through video calls, shared Figma files and async updates, and I don't keep an office in Ottawa. If a kick-off in person would make a real difference, I can travel.
Can you build a bilingual English and French website for an Ottawa organization?
Yes. I'm French-born and work in both languages, so I design for both from the start, review French copy and set up the CMS and URLs for each language. Translation can come from your team or a translator, and I make sure it fits the design.
Can you work with companies that sell to government?
Yes. Those sites need clear service descriptions, credible proof and accessible design, which are central to how I work. I'll ask early about any procurement or accessibility requirements so they're built into the scope.
What time difference should we expect?
Saskatchewan stays on Central Standard Time all year, so I'm one hour behind Ottawa in winter and two hours behind in summer. Our working days overlap for most of the day.
/MORE
Web design in other cities
Have a project in mind?
Tell me where you are and what you need. I reply within a day, usually with a few questions and a time to talk.