Parallels

This week has felt like a mix of two really different projects. While I’ve been spending a lot of time working on the Big Brothers Big Sisters website refresh, I also started building a website for Farmer Dan. Meeting with Dan to talk through the project was a good reminder of why the discovery phase matters so much. It’s not just about making a website – it’s about creating an online space that reflects what the business stands for. For Dan, transparency and responsible land management are really important, so part of the goal is to make sure visitors can immediately see his commitment to sustainability when they visit the site.

One thing that has stood out this week is the shift in platforms. With the Big Brothers Big Sisters project, I’ve been working in Squarespace, which is like working in a tiny box. It sometimes feels like you’re stuck in that tight template. For the Farmer Dan project, though, I decided to use Wix, and the difference is noticeable. Wix gives a lot more flexibility with layout and design, which makes it easier to focus on telling the story of the brand and creating a better user experience instead of fighting with the layout.

As I start putting the foundation together for Farmer Dan’s online presence, I’m realizing how important it is to choose the right platform for the project. One project is teaching me how to work within stricter limits, while the other is giving me the freedom to build something from the ground up. It’s interesting to see how both experiences are shaping the way I think about design and building websites, and how important it is to be able to pivot.