In over a decade of web design and development Butterfield's love for the medium and appreciation for the social possibilities of networked software have only grown stronger. He has had a distinguished career as a designer, entrepreneur, and technologist, and is a frequent speaker at conferences and events around the world.

He lives in San Francisco with his wife Caterina Fake and their small dog. He studied philosophy at the Universities of Victoria (B.A.) and Cambridge (MPhil.), where he graduated with honors.