We’ve been working with James G. Rogers Architects (JGRA) since 2009 when we designed their initial site. They are a high-end architecture firm that sources projects across a wide range of organizations. Their client list includes many well known clubs, educational buildings, sports and recreation complexes, and municipal buildings. JGRA approached us in April to build them a new mobile-responsive, robust WordPress-powered site to replace their old HTML site.
UX: User Experience
With a business that is so incredibly visual it was crucial that the user experience integrated JGRA’s beautiful renderings and photos to the fullest extent. The front page of the site features a full width slider of some of their most impressive work. Along with the initial front page experience, we wanted to make the portfolio just as stunning. The portfolio features a multitude of different projects, all of them curated with galleries of professional photography that lets JGRA’s expertise shine.
Navigation
Before designing the new site we took a look at the analytics of JGRA’s old site to get some insight into how users were interacting with their content. It was overwhelmingly clear that visitors were spending the vast majority of their time perusing their portfolio pages. The architecture team also told us that on sales calls, they would pull up the Portfolio section on their tablet. With the emphasis on the Portfolio and on-mobile/tablet accessibility, we designed the navigation to give visitors even easier access to the portfolio and it’s sub-categories. The results are smooth transitions and clean design elements that leverages the website to its fullest extent.
Backend
Whenever working with a client it’s important for us to identify how they will be using the site. Will they be creating a database of retail items? Will they be blogging? In the case of JGRA, we knew that they would need quick access to the portfolio functions of their site to easily add and update content. Now, updates that used to take hours worth of sizing and coding on their old HTML site now take a tenth of the time with the power of the customized WordPress CMS (Content Management System).
Conclusion
What we’re left with is a bright, inviting, and easily navigable site. A blend of photos and information that greet the visitor, and potential client, simply and seamlessly.
Click here to take a look at James G. Rogers Architect’s new website!
