Projects Archive - Page 2 of 2 - Web Design Cardiff

Case Studies / International Institute of Marine Surveying

International Institute of Marine Surveying

The International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS) is an award-winning, independent organisation promoting the professionalism, recognition and training of marine surveyors worldwide.

The Challenge

The IIMS needed a website refresh that wouldn’t disrupt its core structure. Key requirements:

Performance Boost: Slow load times hampered member access to critical resources.
Security Hardening: Reduce plugin reliance to eliminate vulnerabilities.
Responsive Modernization: Optimize for mobile without redesigning layouts.

Our Approach

01. Leaner Infrastructure

Custom WordPress Theme: Built on Bootstrap 5 for lightweight responsiveness.
Plugin Purge: Replaced bloated plugins with:
- Custom PHP-coded solutions for core functionality.
- Tailored post types/fields to streamline content management.

02. Speed Optimization

Technique	Implementation	Impact
Bootstrap 5 Framework	Custom lightweight theme	35% faster mobile load times
Plugin Elimination	Replaced 6 plugins with custom PHP code	Server load reduced by 40%, fewer security risks
WebP Image Conversion	Converted all JPG/PNG to WebP format	60% smaller files, no quality loss
Amazon S3 Video Hosting	Offloaded media to CDN	Buffering reduced by 75% (global)
CSS/JS Minification	Combined + compressed static assets	Render-blocking time down by 50%
.htaccess Optimization	Caching rules + Gzip compression	Repeat visits 2x faster

03. Security & Accessibility

Removed 3rd-party plugin risks.
Retained familiar IA.

Screenshots

The Result

Load Times increased 40% (tested via GTmetrix).
Mobile Traffic increased 22% post-optimization.
Members kept the layout they knew, with invisible upgrades.
Security Starts at Code Level: Fewer plugins = fewer exploits.
Future-Proofing: Custom code reduced long-term maintenance costs.

The IIMS now has a fast, streamlined web portal that is easy to navigate and easily accessible on desktops, tablets and phones.

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Case Studies / Berry Vintage

Berry Vintage

Berry Vintage sell and buy high quality vintage jewellery. They have over 80 years combined experience in the jewellery industry.

The Challenge

Berry Vintage needed an affordable yet powerful eCommerce solution to:

Showcase delicate jewellery details (hallmarks, gemstones, engravings)
Simplify complex purchases
Build trust for high-value transactions
Scale affordably as a startup in a competitive market

Why WooCommerce Was Ideal

Zero platform fees (vs. 3%+ SaaS transaction costs)
Unlimited customization for luxury presentation
Native WordPress SEO to attract organic traffic
Built-in tools (no expensive apps needed)

Our WooCommerce Solution

01. Key Features Tailored for Jewellery

Business Need	WooCommerce Solution	User Benefit
Size Variations	Visual dropdowns + size guide modals	25% fewer returns
Product Trust	Macro photography + hallmark zooms	18% higher conversions
Direct Inquiries	AJAX contact forms on product pages	30% faster response times

02. Technical Foundations

Speed: WebP images (0.8s loads)
Mobile-First: 58% of revenue from smartphones
Clean Code: Custom hooks vs. bloated plugins

03. Growth-Ready Tools

Abandoned Cart Recovery
SEO Blog: Posts drive 40% of traffic
Wishlists

Screenshots

The Result

Fully Launched in 8 Weeks from concept to revenue.
Post-Launch Metrics:
- 75% mobile traffic with flawless responsiveness.
- 20% conversion rate on promo campaigns (via native coupon tools).

Berry Vintage now have a feature-rich and powerful eCommerce online store that their customers will love.

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Case Studies / Titan Storage

Titan Storage

Titan Storage is a storage company providing secure modern storage facilities around the UK for business and personal use.

The Challenge

Titan Storage’s old process was manual and disjointed:

Quote → Reservation → Payment → Contract Signing, happened across 3 different systems
Staff had to re-enter data between platforms, causing errors and delays
Customers sometimes abandoned bookings due to complex steps

Goals:

End-to-end automation from quote to signed contract
Real-time sync between Website → Storman, Website → DocuSign
Flexible eSignatures: Sign now or later (email link)

The Solution

01. Instant Quotes & Reservations

Customer Journey:

Gets quote on website → Lead sent to Storman
Reserves unit → Pays deposit → Order syncs to Storman
Chooses signing option:
- Sign Now: Redirected to DocuSign → Signed PDF emailed
- Sign Later: Email link to return to DocuSign anytime

Tech Stack:

WooCommerce Custom Plugin: Handles deposits/orders
Storman API: Real-time unit availability/pricing
DocuSign eSignature: Embedded signing flows

02. Key Integrations

Step	System Action	User Benefit
Get Quote	Website → Storman (lead created)	Accurate, real-time pricing
Reserve & Pay	WooCommerce → Storman (order sync)	Holds unit instantly
Sign Contract	WooCommerce → DocuSign (embedded or emailed)	No printer/scanner needed
Post-Signature	WooCommerce → Customer (PDF attached)	Fully digital audit trail

03. Staff Efficiency Gains

Auto-Updated Storman Dashboard:
- Sees paid deposits
- Tracks pending signatures
- Flags expired reservations
Zero Manual Entry: Eliminated 2 hours/day of data rekeying

Screenshots

The Result

This integrated system delivers a seamless, legally compliant booking experience – automating reservations, payments, and contracts while ensuring full synchronization between Titan’s website, Storman, and DocuSign.

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Case Studies / Pantheon Poets

Pantheon Poets

Pantheon Poets is an online collection of recited Latin poems with accompanying Latin text and English translation.

The Challenge

Pantheon Poets sought to bridge ancient and modern worlds by creating a definitive digital resource for Latin poetry – designed for those without Latin proficiency.

Core Requirements:

Accessible Translations: Side-by-side Latin texts + literal English translations.
Auditory Learning: High-quality audio recordings of recited poems.
Scholar-Grade Curation: Structured archives by poet, era, and theme.

The Approach

01. Architecture for Discovery

Custom WordPress Build:
- Poet & Poem Post Types: Organized with taxonomies.
- Dynamic Linking: Auto-generated connections between poets and their works.
- Minimalist UI: White space and restrained red/black accents to spotlight poetry.

02. Speed & Accessibility Optimizations

Feature	Solution	Impact
Audio Hosting	HTML5 player	Zero buffering for global listeners
Responsive Typography	Relative units (rem)	Readability on all
Image Optimization	WebP format + lazy loading	Faster page loads
CSS/JS Minification	Combined + compressed static assets	Render-blocking time reduced
.htaccess Optimization	Caching rules + Gzip compression	Repeat visits 2x faster

03. Design as a Silent Guide

Color Palette:
- Reddish-grey backgrounds: Soft contrast for text legibility.
- Black/red accents: Echo classical manuscript aesthetics.
- Hierarchy: Poet bios → poems → audio player (linear learning flow).

Screenshots

The Result

Adopted by the Classical Association as a teaching resource.
SEO Success: Top rankings for “Latin poetry with translations”.
Auditory + Visual Learning: Audio recordings made Latin tangible for non-speakers.
Scholarly Rigor, Modern UX: Trusted by academics but approachable for students.

A classy, easy to use site that is a great resource for Latin poetry.

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