Modernizing a Global Publishing Catalog
Role:
Senior UI/UX Designer
(via Webtarget Inc.)
Tools:
Sketch, InVision
Link: drawnandquarterly.com
The Challenge
Drawn & Quarterly is an internationally respected independent publisher with a vibrant, decades-deep archive. However, their digital presence had become difficult to navigate and visually disconnected from the brand's reputation for artistic excellence. The primary challenge was to modernize the entire front-end experience and improve content discoverability without disrupting years of legacy WordPress data or the existing backend infrastructure.
Strategic Objectives
Archival Architecture: Conducted a deep content audit to reorganize disconnected categories, creating a clear, intuitive path through a massive library of books, authors, and events.
Editorial-Scale UI: I shifted the visual language away from standard thumbnails toward "magazine-style" layouts. By utilizing large-scale imagery and flexible hero sections, I gave the publisher’s iconic artwork the space to dictate the page's energy.
Intent-Based Search: While a global search was available, I strategically layered "scoped" search fields within the Book and Author sections. This provided a high-utility shortcut for users with specific intent (searching by ISBN or title), bypassing broader site results for surgical precision.
The Approach
📂 Auditing Legacy Architecture:
Mapped out a decade of "hidden" content to identify navigational bottlenecks. This audit allowed me to restructure the site’s hierarchy, ensuring that deep-archive titles and author bios were as discoverable as new releases.
📖 Editorial-First Layouts:
Moved away from standard e-commerce grids in favor of magazine-style spreads. By implementing large-scale hero sections and flexible content blocks, I gave the artwork room to breathe while maintaining a professional editorial tone.
🔍 Scoped Search Strategy:
To bypass the limitations of the legacy global search, I introduced "contextual" search bars within the Book and Author sections. This provided users with a surgical tool for finding ISBNs and titles without the noise of site-wide results.
📦 Modular Design System:
Developed a standardized system of typography, spacing, and UI components. This allowed the front-end to feel modern and cohesive while sitting on top of the existing WordPress backend, ensuring a seamless transition without a database overhaul.
The Impact
Enhanced Discoverability: Transformed a fragmented "content graveyard" into a browseable, high-utility library where legacy titles are as accessible as new releases.
Operational Continuity: Successfully overhauled the user experience while respecting deep technical constraints, avoiding a costly and risky database migration.
Design Longevity: Years after the initial launch, the design remains the foundational framework for the brand. The system continues to scale and remain "lively," proving the long-term value of the modular architecture.
Search bar on the Books page with live suggestions enabled. Users can search by title, author, or ISBN, with matching results appearing in a dropdown before submitting the query.
Key Takeaway
Design durability is built on flexibility. By creating a modular system that respected legacy constraints rather than fighting them, I provided the client with a "living" platform that has remained vibrant and functional for years, successfully bridging the gap between a static archive and a modern editorial experience.
