The project began with a review of the original site, which featured a cluttered layout and limited CMS flexibility. I proposed a clean, modern visual language using Tailwind and Next.js, combined with a streamlined backend using Headless Wix CMS.

My role included restructuring the content model, redesigning every page from scratch, implementing the front end, and creating a flexible CMS that allows non-technical users to easily update content. Even the About page, not initially planned for editing, is now CMS-managed.

Below is a comparison between the legacy layout and the redesigned version:

Before:

After:

Bonus features include integrated social sharing buttons and responsive design optimised for mobile.

Tech-wise the stack chosen is Next.js, Tailwind, and Vercel for hosting, along with a custom integration of headless Wix CMS. This combination enables a fast, scalable frontend and a flexible, user-friendly backend for editors. The CMS is tailored so that Events, Highlights, News, and Speaker Bios are all manageable through custom content types, making the site easy to maintain and extend.

Before development started, we ran several whiteboard sessions to map out the user flows and discuss content strategy. I facilitated and documented these sessions, and created rough wireframes that informed the layout and user experience of the site.

These collaborative sessions helped define how different content types—Events, Highlights, News, and Speaker Bios—would interconnect, making the site maintainable for the editors and intuitive for the users.