Derrick Boddie, the founder of Mango Innovation, shares a behind-the-scenes look at a project that transformed Editors Canada’s outdated Drupal website into a sleek, modern WordPress platform. This story illustrates our approach to solving technical challenges while preserving the client’s brand and delivering measurable results.
The Challenge: An Outdated System Needing a Refresh
Editors Canada faced significant hurdles with an aging Drupal website that was increasingly hard to manage. Their internal team struggled with the technical limitations of Drupal, and the site’s design was not optimized for the modern, responsive experience that today’s users expect.
Key Challenges Included:
- Complex Content Management: The existing Drupal setup made updating content a complicated task.
- Outdated Design: The site was built for older devices and did not offer a responsive experience.
- Brand Consistency: Editors Canada needed to maintain the familiar look and feel of their site while introducing modern design elements.
- Multi-Site Coordination: The organization required a consistent design approach across various sub-sites.
With limited internal resources to tackle these issues, the need for a specialized approach became clear.
Our Approach: A Step-by-Step Transformation
At Mango Innovation, we believe in a thoughtful, custom approach to each project. For Editors Canada, the process was focused on understanding their unique challenges and delivering a solution that aligned with their brand identity.
1. Understanding the Client’s Needs
We started by engaging with the Editors Canada team to fully understand their technical and design challenges. This initial phase was crucial for capturing the essence of their brand and pinpointing what needed to be preserved during the migration.
2. Crafting a Custom WordPress Solution
Recognizing that off-the-shelf themes wouldn’t do justice to their unique identity, we developed a custom WordPress theme that mirrored their original design. Key elements of this custom solution included:
- Preserving Brand Identity: The new design was carefully crafted to retain the visual elements that Editors Canada’s audience recognized and trusted.
- Enhanced Responsiveness: We rebuilt the site with modern, responsive design practices to ensure it looked great on all devices—from desktops to smartphones.
- Simplified Content Management: Transitioning to WordPress provided a more user-friendly backend, enabling the Editors Canada team to update their content with ease.
3. Coordinating Multi-Site Consistency
Since Editors Canada operates multiple sites, we ensured that the new design language was seamlessly implemented across all platforms. This consistency helped reinforce their brand and provided a unified experience for users.
The Results: A Modern, User-Friendly Website
The project delivered significant improvements:
- Streamlined Updates: The Editors Canada team now enjoys a simplified content management process, reducing the time and effort needed for updates.
- Modern Look and Feel: The custom WordPress design brought a refreshed, responsive appearance that enhances user experience.
- Consistent Branding: With the new design applied across all sites, the organization now benefits from a cohesive digital presence.
- Increased Engagement: The improved functionality and modern aesthetics have contributed to better user engagement and overall site performance.
Reflections on Our Process
This project highlights the value of a tailored approach when addressing complex web challenges. By focusing on understanding client needs and developing a solution that honors the existing brand, Mango Innovation was able to transform an outdated system into a modern, efficient platform.
We believe that every project tells a unique story, and Editors Canada’s migration is a prime example of how thoughtful planning and custom design can lead to successful digital transformation.
This case study not only provides insights into our process but also serves as a learning tool for anyone interested in how custom web development can address real-world challenges in the nonprofit sector. Enjoy the video and explore how a detailed, client-focused approach can make all the difference.
