Developer Spotlight: Fabio Carretti | Codrops

Hey, I’m Fabio Carretti, a Creative and Frontend Developer based in Modena, Italy. With years of experience under my belt, I guess you could call me an old-school guy, but I’m always keen to stay ahead of the curve and embrace what’s next.

I kicked off my journey in the late 2000s, coding MySpace profiles for bands (sounds prehistoric, right?). From there, I transitioned to WordPress and JavaScript, building countless creative websites. Over the years, I’ve worked with almost every tech stack imaginable. Lately, I’ve been diving deeper into AI, merging my creative development skills with advanced AI interfaces.

Let’s take a look at some of the projects I’ve had the pleasure of contributing to.

“Every town across Canada has a Chinese-Canadian café,” and that’s the heart of this incredible storytelling project, which explores the rich culture of Chinese-Canadian cafés, food, and family.

I’m especially proud of the “Our Trip” page—it feels like a documentary in its own right. Dive in and lose yourself in the vibe of Sons & Daughters.

I built this website alongside with my mate Francesco Michelini and our great friends at Unlearn Studio (run by Davide Baratta and Giorgia Xia). 

Tech Stack:

• Storyblok
• Astro
• GSAP
• Lenis 
• TaxiJS
• Vercel

This is one of my first AI projects where I successfully merged my creative development background with the world of AI.

Maietica is an experiment that flips the typical approach to AI. Instead of asking random questions and expecting precise answers, here, you’re the one being asked questions—completely changing the experience. You become the oracle, generating a full article that tells a story based on your responses.

Though it’s designed for the Italian market—with labels in Italian—you can switch to asking questions in English after the initial choices, either in the custom box or the chat.

This was done with Symboolic, an AI start-up I’m currently collaborating with.

Tech Stack:

• React
• GSAP
• Strapi
• TailwindCSS

This project might not be the newest, having been released in late 2022, but I still have the same passion for it as when it first came out.

I was responsible for both the creative development and animation design, which meant I had to ensure everything came together smoothly. The pressure to deliver was real, but the result was worth every bit of effort. From the loading screen to the on-scroll animations, the entire website continues to feel just right to me, and I’m really proud of how it turned out.

I worked on this project while I was a Creative Technologist at Paper Tiger Agency.

Tech Stack:

• Vanilla JavaScript
• GSAP
• CraftCMS
• HighwayJS
• TailwindCSS
• Locomotive Scroll

This project is something I’ve been working on over the last few months in collaboration with my friend Michael Bertoldini. We’ve rebuilt the website for his Magma Music Agency, featuring some of the most unique video players we’ve ever created, all paired with incredible projects showcasing top-notch music.

I built this website always with my mate Francesco Michelini, design was handled by Alessandro Barbieri at La Colonia Studio.

Tech Stack:

• Nuxt
• Storyblok
• GSAP
• Vimeo API
• Lenis

More About Me

After a few years of building experience in the coding world, I went freelance in 2015 and never looked back.

My passion for development has always been strong, and I clearly remember those countless nights spent learning new things, juggling multiple projects, and pushing myself to the edge.

I’m not sure I’d recommend burning the candle at both ends like I did, but it worked for me—and for many others in the field. It’s an amazing industry to be passionate about, and I’d encourage anyone to dive in and make the most of it.

Over time, I wouldn’t say I’ve lost my passion, but I’ve had to shift priorities. Whether it was touring with my black metal band, Hierophant, or more recently, dedicating more time to lifting weights at the gym, my focus has evolved.

That said, my curiosity is as strong as ever, and I’m committed to staying on top of things, always mastering whatever’s coming next.

In the end, it’s all about balance—finding the right mix of work, creativity, and personal growth that keeps me moving forward and never settling for less.

Thanks for reading what I had to say, and I hope you enjoyed it!