I recently worked with a client who’d built their website using one of the big DIY website builders. The website looked fine to start with but over time colours drifted, heading styles changed and buttons looked different on every page. The website had slowly lost its identity and the branding and message were getting lost.
All clients want a great looking website so when this happens it’s not down to a lack of care or effort. The problem in this case was the client had a bit too much freedom. When you can change colours, fonts, spacing and layouts it’s surprisingly easy for things to unravel.
After creating their new website with structured fields I met the client for a quick tutorial on how to update their content. The first question they asked me was “Will I be able to break the website?”
That question really stuck with me.
The fear of breaking your website
I’ve found that most business owners get worried about messing up their website. They want to be to make changes on their own, but they don’t want to accidentally damage their brand. When every simple edit feels like a design decision it creates uncertainty and that usually leads to people constantly tweaking things or avoiding updates altogether.
Why structure creates confidence
The difference with a structured website is that you can update text, add new content, upload images and create new pages but the typography, spacing, colours and layouts stay consistent and locked away.
Creativity within a framework
Structure doesn’t remove personality, it protects it.
When the framework of your website is solid, your brand stays consistent and everything feels far more professional. You’re free to focus on communicating, rather than worrying about whether you’ve chosen the right shade of blue for your buttons.
Sometimes the most helpful thing a designer can do isn’t to give you more control, it’s to build something you can’t easily break.