Solving Complex Challenges for Millimetre
When Millimetre, a Sout East London based stock photo website specialising in film photography, reached out to me, they had an elegant brand foundation but faced a variety of technical hurdles. Their hosting and website were already set up with their logo, color palette, fonts, and key pages in place, but several essential functionalities were not working as intended.
This project required me to dive deep into the technical aspects of their WordPress and WooCommerce site, as well as the Dokan multi-vendor platform, to resolve their challenges and deliver the polished functionality they envisioned.
Meeting the Challenges
The client’s main concerns centered on usability and design elements:
- Search Functionality: Their site’s search function wasn’t working, which made it difficult for users to find the right stock photos efficiently.
- Product Quick View: A smooth quick view feature was a priority, but it required a lot of fine-tuning to integrate seamlessly.
- Dynamic Download Button: A key functionality for their stock photo site was a download button that dynamically delivered low res versions of images for potential clients research decks.
In addition, the client had design aspirations for their site that included colored borders, curved edges, and a polished, modern aesthetic that reflected their focus on artistic film photography. These required custom JavaScript, PHP, and CSS to implement.
Overcoming the Hurdles
Child Theme Incompatibility: Initially, I planned to create a child theme for maintainability and updates, but I discovered it was incompatible with their WooCommerce setup. Instead, I opted for a plugin solution, which required additional custom CSS and JavaScript to achieve the desired functionality.
Site Neglect: The website had been left unattended for a while, which meant performing a thorough site audit to fix broken links, resolve errors, and optimise performance.
Multi-Vendor Research: Since the client was considering expanding into multi-vendor capabilities, I conducted research into platforms like Dokan to assess their suitability for the site’s needs.
Custom Media Queries: To ensure the product quick view modal was responsive and visually consistent, I added tailored media queries and CSS adjustments
Results That Deliver
By the end of the project, the client had a fully functional, visually enhanced site that aligned with their original vision. Key improvements included:
- A working search function that made navigating the site seamless.
- A dynamic download button integrated into the product pages, streamlining the customer experience.
- Enhanced styling with custom design touches like curved edges and colored borders that brought the site to life.
The client was thrilled with the outcome, and their website now provides a professional and intuitive platform for showcasing and selling their stunning film photography.
Reflecting on Millimetre
This project exemplified the importance of adaptability and problem-solving in web design. By blending custom code, thorough research, and attention to detail, I was able to overcome the challenges and deliver a site that meets the needs of both the client and their audience.
If you’re struggling with functionality or design challenges on your site, let’s collaborate to find creative solutions and bring your vision to life.
