A Philly Design studio that aspires to make cool stuff for people who are also cool.
We’re not here to chase trends or play it safe. Arc & Atlas exists for the brands that give a damn—for the weirdos, the visionaries, the ones who color outside the corporate lines. We make things that look good, work hard, and actually mean something. Whether you’re a therapist, a purpose-led founder, or just tired of websites that feel like beige wallpaper, you’re in the right place.
We bring the strategy.
You bring the guts.
Love is Love.
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Trans Rights are Human Rights.
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Black Lives Matter.
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F*ck Homophobia.
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This is a TERF-free Company.
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Love is Love. ❊ Trans Rights are Human Rights. ❊ Black Lives Matter. ❊ F*ck Homophobia. ❊ This is a TERF-free Company. ❊
Arc & Atlas was born out of a need for design that actually works—visually, strategically, and emotionally. Design that knows when to play it cool and when to punch above its weight. We don’t do cookie-cutter. We don’t do vague vibes. And we definitely don’t do “that’ll do.”
The meaning behind the name:
Arc: Design-wise, it suggests shape, trajectory, and storytelling.
Atlas: Can refer to both maps (guidance, structure) and mythology (strength, foundation).
Together: A blend of craft and direction — “Arc” = the creative journey, “Atlas” = the solid strategic framework beneath it.
Thanks Claude.
TRUSTED BY
About your designer
I’m Justin. After years designing under my own name (RIP Justin Mabee Design), I knew it was time to build something bigger. Arc & Atlas is the evolution—a name that carries more weight, more clarity, and more teeth. I bring a well over a decade of web design experience, a deeply honed Squarespace skill set, and a not-so-secret obsession with clean typography, conversion-driven UX, and messaging that doesn’t sound like AI wrote it on a lunch break.
My wife, Amélie de Beaumont-Mabee, and I were married in Iceland in 2018. We recently moved back to Philly with our three dogs, Kelce, Bailey, and Betty.
I taught myself everything I know about Squarespace, Figma, Framer, and web design. With 15 years of experience, I've built well over 600 websites, crafted countless strategies for clients, and I've seen it all. You can't scare me with how many pages you have, how messy your content is, or anything. I’m ready to help you make sense of it, and give you the tools to succeed.
PRinciples we live by
000. No hate.
This isn't negotiable. I stand with LGBTQIA+ humans. Black Lives Matter. Trans rights are human rights. Full stop. My work doesn't create space for bigotry, and neither do I. If you're looking for someone who'll tone down inclusivity to make the narrow-minded comfortable, I'm not your designer.
Great design speaks to everyone—not just those who look, love, or live like you do. Your brand should reach across differences, not reinforce divides. I build digital spaces where everyone belongs, because hate has no place in good design. Or anywhere else, for that matter.
001. no boring fonts.
You know what I won’t be doing today? Using the same six tired typefaces that everyone else is recycling like it’s 2012 and they just discovered Proxima Nova.
Even ChatGPT suggests the same yawn-worthy fonts from Adobe or Google. That’s not my vibe. Every site I build gets a fresh set of typefaces tailored to the vibe, the voice, the damn essence of the brand. Fonts aren’t decoration—they’re identity. They’re storytelling. They’re the outfit your website wears to the party. So why show up in a beige hoodie when you could walk in wearing something that turns heads and owns the room?
002. “Work Smarter, Not Harder” is a scam.
I know, I know. It’s practically tattooed on the forearms of every hustle bro on LinkedIn. But let’s be honest—half the time, “work smarter” is code for “cut corners and hope nobody notices.”
As someone who’s adjusted padding by 1px just to make a button feel right, I’m not exactly the poster child for shortcuts. I want to get my hands dirty. I need to triple-check that the color contrast works for actual humans and not just an algorithm. Yes, innovation is cool. Yes, I love tools and shortcuts when they truly help. But I also believe in doing the work—like, the real work. The kind that clients might not even notice at first but feel in the final product.
003. Don’t settle for good enough.
It always surprises me how many business owners will invest in things like events, print materials, or packaging—but treat their website like an afterthought.
Here’s the truth: people judge your business by your design. Instantly. Sloppy websites, fuzzy images, generic layouts? That’s a first impression you don’t get back. But when your brand looks intentional, cohesive, and legit? Customers notice. They trust you faster. They buy quicker. Good design isn’t fluff—it’s strategy.
004. Own your mistakes.
Nobody trusts perfection—it reeks of dishonesty. When you mess up (and you will), don't hide behind excuses or blame the client's "evolving requirements." Admit it. Fix it. Learn from it. I've found that owning my failures builds more trust than a portfolio of flawless work ever could. Clients don't expect perfection; they expect professionalism.
And sometimes professionalism means saying "I screwed that up, and here's how I'm making it right." Your reputation isn't built on never falling—it's built on how you get back up.
005. create cool sh*t.
Let's be real: nobody remembers safe work. Nobody shares the "pretty good" website or the "decent" logo. People remember the work that made them feel something. The stuff that took risks. The designs that zigged when everyone else zagged. Don't just make things that function—make things that matter. Make work that you'd want to show your coolest friend.
If your portfolio looks like everyone else's, you're doing it wrong. Trends fade. Templates get outdated. But creating genuinely cool shit? That never goes out of style.