ARDO

ARDO is run by Ashley Roberts who started his own Design Office. After working at some reputable architectural firms, he decided to go out on his own and focus on residential new builds, extensions, and historically listed architecture projects. The site that he had built was merely an image gallery with very little messaging and limited ways to get in touch. We completely rebuilt the website with copy, design, and development in mind on a CMS that the client can continually use to update case studies, contact information, and lead magnets. Architecture firms shine through the buildings they built, so the visuals are important, and the website needs to show more than it tells. The Ardo website is a nice blend of architectural excellence, personal creativity, and online performance.

The challenge

Our challenge was to show an architect's work the way it deserves while still giving the site something to say.

The client approached us with a goal to establish his new practice online and turn a portfolio of work into a source of enquiries.

An existing site that was little more than an image gallery
Almost no messaging explaining the practice or its focus
Limited ways for prospective clients to get in touch
No way to publish new projects without a developer

The solution

Architecture practices are judged on what they build, so the site needed to show more than it tells.

We rebuilt it with copy, design and development considered together: generous space for the photography, and just enough words to explain the practice, its focus on residential new builds, extensions and heritage-listed projects, and what working with Ashley is actually like.

Everything sits on a CMS he controls. New case studies, updated contact details and lead magnets all go in without a developer, so the site keeps pace with the practice instead of freezing on launch day.

A rebuild that leads with the work and still explains the practice
Messaging that positions a new studio with confidence
Clear paths to enquiry rather than a gallery with a dead end
A CMS for publishing case studies and lead magnets

The process

Discovery and messaging.
Understanding the practice, its focus and the clients it wants to attract.
Copy and structure.
Writing the messaging and planning a structure that lets the work lead.
Design.
Key pages designed around the photography, on a consistent system.
Build and handover.
Developed in Webflow with a CMS he can run, then tested, launched and handed over.