Nicholas Matlock Alexander
Independent builder Indiana
Close to the problem.
Hands-on with the solution.
I work directly with the people using what I build. I turn their complex workflows into useful software. I bring a background in design, motion, and creative operations to how it all comes together.
From scattered documents to disconnected tools, I help teams turn a recurring problem into a clearer process and software they can use.
Turn repeated copying, checking, and chasing into a workflow that keeps the source information and the next action visible.
What we can buildA document intake and review tool, a consistent register, or a follow-up queue for unresolved records.
Explore the Fieldnote prototypeBuild around how people actually work: who needs the information, what they need to decide, and where it goes next.
What we can buildAn operations dashboard, scheduling tool, customer portal, or connection between existing systems.
See how I built SaddleSyncWork through a task your team already handles. Learn where AI helps, what needs checking, and how to repeat the process.
What we can developA practical team session, reusable prompts, a review checklist, and a guide built around your workflow.
See an AI-assisted creative workflowHave a process in mind? Start with a small, defined pilot.
See what a pilot includesFeatured / SaddleSync
A scheduling problem became a software business. I work with barn owners to design, build, and support the tools they use for lessons, rider onboarding, and billing.
Software that belongs where the work happens.
Interactive demo / Workflow automation
Fieldnote brings source records, exceptions, and human review into one workspace. Try five fictional sheets and export a register you have checked yourself.
Independent prototype · No account needed · No live AI
Product engineering
A globe-first workspace for exploring global signals, inspecting their sources, and reviewing change over time. Co-developed with a technical partner. Powered by Heraklion.
Spatial storytellingAn explorable 3D workspace connecting source cameras, annotations, and a story timeline. A collaborative project within Heraklion.
Brand & digital experienceA connected product story brought to life through art direction, interactive chapters, and an original animated visual system.
Creative technology
Two Crocs spec campaigns combining human art direction, AI image and video generation, and editing in code.
Independent concept. Not commissioned by or affiliated with Crocs, Inc.
I like being close enough to understand what is getting in the way and hands-on enough to do something about it.
Talk with the people doing the work. Follow the handoffs, exceptions, and workarounds. Find the problem that is worth solving.
Connect the interface to the system underneath it. Prototype, write code, and keep creative intent intact through implementation.
Help people adopt it, follow what happens in production, and turn customer feedback into the next useful improvement.
Creative roots. Engineering practice.
I’m Nick. Before building software products, I spent 12 years in creative operations at Nexstar, leading design and production for FOX59 and CBS4 in Indianapolis.
The job combined craft with coordination: motion graphics, brand systems, a six-person team, and hundreds of projects a year. Making good work meant understanding the entire system that produced it.
That same instinct now shapes my engineering. With SaddleSync, I work directly with barn owners, turn operational problems into product decisions, and carry those decisions through design, code, and customer support.
I’m at my best when the problem needs both technical depth and a creative point of view.
A practical first engagement
Choose one recurring task, one team, and a clear definition of better. I’ll work with you to understand the process, build a focused prototype, and test it with the people who use it.
For example: take a batch of service records through intake, exception review, and a consistent export.
Discuss a workflowOr email nick@matlock.work with a short description of the task.
What you leave with
The steps, handoffs, existing tools, and exceptions that shape the work.
One agreed workflow, built with approved sample data and clear review steps.
Check completion time, errors, and correction effort with the team. Document what improved and what still needs work.
A walkthrough, operating notes, known limits, and a recommendation to expand, revise, or stop.
We define the deliverables, price, timeline, data access, and any software costs together. A production rollout, ongoing support, or broader integration is scoped separately after the pilot.
Forward-deployed engineering, product engineering, and creative technology roles where customer understanding, implementation, and design judgment belong together.
Talk about a roleStart with a workflow pilot, a custom tool, or a practical AI session. My background in team leadership, design, and engineering helps connect the work people do with the tools they need.
Find a starting point