Jacob Lilley

Jacob Lilley approached me looking for an ExpressionEngine developer to help him update his firm's website. 

We first focused first on search engine optimization; added all the needed and recommended meta data to his website so we could start to improve his ranking asap. 

Next I re-designed / re-skinned his existing website, and in the process, created new, custom fields for him to ensure the most important content to target keyword search phrases were properly used in headings and meta data consistently targeting his service areas and architectural style and features.

Jacob Lilley Architects came to the project with a clear visual direction and a strong preference for large-format photography, minimal interface elements, and an immersive presentation.

My role was to translate that vision into a functional, responsive website while addressing the practical needs of visitors, search engines, and content administrators. The result preserves the firm’s distinctive aesthetic while adding thoughtful improvements to navigation, performance, content relationships, and calls to action.

Goals & Requirements

• Showcase architectural work through large, high-impact photography
• Preserve a minimal, editorial design directed by the client
• Create dedicated sections for projects, people, news, and firm information
• Automatically feature selected projects and recent press on the homepage
• Connect press coverage with the projects it references
• Improve content structure for search engines and AI-driven discovery
• Credit and link to project collaborators
• Add clearer opportunities for visitors to contact the firm and join its mailing list
• Balance image quality with page speed and search performance

Improving Navigation Contrast

The transparent navigation requested for the design could become difficult to read over certain photographs. I developed an interactive navigation treatment that introduces a white background when visitors scroll or engage with the menu, improving contrast without changing the initial visual presentation.

Creating Meaningful Content Relationships

ExpressionEngine relationship fields connect related content throughout the website:

• Project pages automatically display relevant press coverage
• News and press pages link visitors back to featured projects
• Related projects create meaningful pathways through the portfolio
• Homepage sections automatically display featured work and recent news

These relationships help visitors explore the firm’s work while giving search engines and AI platforms clearer context about how the content is connected.

Structuring Press and Project Credits

Custom fields organize publication details such as the publication name, author, citation information, and related project. This information can also be incorporated into structured data.

A flexible collaborator field allows the firm to credit photographers, interior designers, landscape architects, and other project partners, including links to their websites when available.

Balancing Visual Quality and Performance

Architecture websites depend heavily on detailed photography, but oversized images can slow pages and negatively affect search visibility. We worked closely to balance image dimensions, visual quality, responsive delivery, and loading performance while preserving the impact of the original photography.

Supporting Engagement

A new contact form and mailing-list signup create clearer opportunities for potential clients and interested visitors to connect with the firm.

The redesigned website remains true to Jacob Lilley Architects’ highly specific visual direction while providing a more usable and technically structured experience.

The site now connects projects, press, people, and collaborators more effectively; supports ongoing content growth; and provides stronger foundations for accessibility, performance, search visibility, and AI-driven discovery.