Over the years, I’ve developed a design process that works effectively, focusing on functionality, scalability, and ease of management. This process allows me to seamlessly separate data input from front-end design, ensuring that managing content is intuitive for site owners, while the website remains visually dynamic and technically efficient. It’s an approach that has evolved over a decade of hands-on experience, countless challenges, and continuous learning.
Now, this is where I stand: what I present here is the process I’ve refined so far, but it’s by no means set in stone. I know every organization has its own workflows, tools, and standards. Whether you’re an agency managing a portfolio of websites or a corporation with multiple digital assets, I’m flexible enough to adapt my methods to complement your internal processes. I can enhance what’s already in place or collaborate with your team to create something entirely new.
Here’s a deeper look into my process:
Content-Centric Focus
Everything starts with content. The way a website is structured depends heavily on how its content is organized and categorized. That’s why I take a structured, taxonomy-driven approach. Taxonomies act as the backbone of the website, ensuring everything is properly classified and easy to manage.
Real-Life Example:
Take a real estate website as an example. I’ll establish categories for “Properties,” “Agents,” and “Locations.” This structure makes it easier to manage and ensures the website serves its intended audience effectively. By organizing the content in this way, I can lay a strong foundation for both back-end and front-end functionality.
Title: Separating Data Input from Front-End Design
One of the highlights of my process is how I separate data input from front-end design. This separation makes managing content efficient for site owners while keeping the design intact and unaffected by updates.
Here’s How It Works:
- Custom Post Types for Content Management: I rely on custom post types for data input. For example, if you’re running a property website, you’ll see buttons labeled “Properties” or “Agents” in the dashboard. When clicked, these buttons allow you to create, edit, or review content, all in one place, without touching the actual design files.
- Page Builder for Front-End Design: I use the Brizy page builder exclusively for its original purpose—designing the front-end. This ensures that the templates and pages are dedicated to the visual aspects, while all content updates happen separately.
- Unified Content Propagation: Once data is added in the back-end, changes automatically propagate across the website. This means when you update something, like adding a new property, the front-end reflects it seamlessly. It’s fast, accurate, and eliminates redundancy.
Discover my Project Management process
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Custom Post Types, Fields, and Reusable Blocks
My process involves creating tailored tools for each project. Whether it’s custom post types, precision-driven custom fields, or reusable content blocks, these elements ensure efficiency in both design and management.
What This Looks Like:
- Custom Post Types: These are like data containers. For an automotive website, I’d create post types like “Vehicles” or “Dealership Locations.” Each type has a dedicated button in the back-end for managing that specific content.
- Custom Fields for Precision: Within each post type, custom fields like “Price,” “Mileage,” or “Model Year” allow for precise data entry. These fields ensure the front-end displays only the information you want, exactly where you want it.
- Reusable Blocks: Design-wise, I use reusable blocks extensively. For example, a call-to-action block created for one page can be reused across multiple pages, maintaining consistency while saving time during updates.
Dynamic and Scalable Design Solutions
Scalability is critical, especially for organizations managing multiple websites. My dynamic solutions ensure your websites are future-proof, designed to grow alongside your needs.
Key Highlights of My Design Solutions:
- Dynamic Templates: I create front-end templates that fetch data dynamically from the back-end, ensuring updates are reflected in real-time.
- Scalability: Whether you’re managing a single website or an entire portfolio, my process makes it easy to scale. Additions and changes are seamless and won’t disrupt existing functionality.
- Cross-Site Consistency: For organizations managing multiple sites, I create design frameworks that can be applied uniformly while retaining unique branding for each site.
Open to Collaboration and Continuous Improvement
As much as I value my process, I recognize that no two organizations are the same. If you bring me on as part of your team—whether on a contract or full-time basis—I’m open to adapting, fine-tuning, and evolving my methods to align with your standards and expectations.
What I Can Bring to Your Team:
- Process Documentation: I’m skilled in documenting workflows, including internal design processes, and creating checklists to ensure consistency and quality. For example, I can create standards checklists for copywriters or designers to evaluate their work against.
- Reviewing Design Blueprints: Whether it’s a Figma prototype or another visual structure outlining navigation, page components, and content placement, I can analyze these against client requirements and offer actionable feedback.
- Continuous Learning: I thrive on researching, learning, and adapting to the latest trends in web design and development. My goal is to contribute to your team’s growth and success, not to remain rigid in my ways.
Final Thoughts
This is the process I’ve developed so far, but I approach every opportunity with a humble and open mind. Whether you want someone to implement this process as-is or refine it further for your organization, I’m ready to collaborate. My priority is to deliver results that align with your objectives, while continuously improving and evolving along the way.
If you’re looking for someone who can bring structure, technical expertise, and adaptability to your team, let’s connect. Together, we can create something exceptional.