“We want to keep the diver’s helmet, but… make everything work.”

We kicked off with a detailed message from the project lead:

“I’d like a fresh design. The content mostly stays, but we’re adding a research page, a blog, and maybe a donate button. Also, the current version doesn’t behave well on mobile, and honestly, it’s never felt… quite finished.”

That’s an understatement.

The old version had charming graphics, but under the hood, it was fragile. Sections broke on different screen sizes. Pages weren’t using reusable layouts. Editing content required a mix of duct tape and prayers. Images looked flat or out of place. Some animations were clunky; others broke entirely.

The idea? Solid.
The execution? Patchy.
The challenge? Build something that looks handcrafted, but runs like a clean machine.

They also wanted to keep the branding — colors, fonts, background textures — but update the way they were applied. And this time, they wanted the site to support:

• Structured research entries by location and year
• A clean signup process for field school programs
• Reviews (from real people) to add credibility
• Optional blog functionality for future content
• A PayPal donation feature
• Smart forms that didn’t feel like a tax return

So yeah, not a small wish list.

We rebuilt the ship without losing the soul

We approached this project the same way they approach a shipwreck site — with care, precision, and a plan to document everything properly.

Step 1: Content triage and site map overhaul

We started by reworking the page flow into something that actually worked:

• Home: clear mission, visual storytelling, call to action
• About us: team bios, vision, and subtle design flourishes
• Join us: overview + detail pages for field schools, with sign-up functionality
• Research: new section, organized by project, with images and downloadable content
• Blog: future-proofed by duplicating the research layout for editorial posts
• Contact: smart form, social links, no dead ends

We also added room for real reviews (TripAdvisor style), visual section dividers, and lightweight interactions to guide visitors through the content — without overwhelming them.

Step 2: Smart WordPress build

The original site was locked down, hard to edit, and technically fragile. We rebuilt it on WordPress, which allowed us to:

• Set up reusable templates for research and blog entries
• Integrate new projects without breaking design
• Let the team upload images, adjust layout blocks, and tweak copy on their own
• Add donation and sign-up forms with minimal fuss

No more calling a developer for every edit. Just real control, in a clean CMS.

Step 3: Keep the brand, lose the friction

The team was attached to specific graphic elements — contour lines, compass textures, diver helmets, and old-world cartography vibes. We kept them all. But instead of sticking them on top like stickers, we baked them into the design using:

• Soft SVG textures and masked backgrounds
• CSS fades and layering
• Mobile-optimized image handling
• Typography and spacing tuned for clarity

The result: a site that feels thematic, but not stuck in the past.

Step 4: Ironing out the small stuff

The devil is in the details, and this site had plenty of little things that needed attention — and fixing:

• Buttons that required two clicks to open content? Fixed.
• Text alignment that broke in Safari? Resolved.
• Moving background effects that felt gimmicky? We froze them.
• TripAdvisor reviews with weird layout issues? We prepped it for plugin upgrade.
• Signup scrolls that didn’t lead anywhere? We removed the noise.
• Low-res logos in the footer? Replaced with high-res SVGs.

We worked through 20+ specific UX and layout points to get things clean, fast, and functional.

What we delivered

In short: a fast, focused, and mobile-friendly WordPress site that finally matches the spirit of The Shipwreck Survey.

Here’s the breakdown:

• Modular layouts for growth
  The new “Research” and “Blog” sections use shared templates. Now, every new expedition or update can be added in a few clicks — keeping the design consistent without extra dev time.
• Fast, stable hosting
  We moved them onto our managed VPS (3GB RAM) with cPanel, daily backups, free SSL, and email-ready setup. Their previous hosting setup was slow and unsupported — now they’re on infrastructure that won’t buckle under a blog post.
• Clean design with brand character
  From the muted color palette to the stylized header lines and the gentle motion effects, the final result feels like them — but now polished, clear, and effective.

Tech stack details

• CMS: WordPress
• Hosting: Managed VPS (3GB SSD, SSL, cPanel, backups)
• Fonts: Brandon Grotesque (titles), Roboto (body)
• Custom design elements: Compass textures, contour overlays, helmet iconography
• Add-ons:
  • PayPal donation integration
  • TripAdvisor plugin support
  • Blog-ready layout
  • Reusable forms for signup and contact
  • Mobile-optimized image system

Want your research, nonprofit, or project to stop looking like a forgotten blog?

We get it. You’ve got bigger things to do than fix page alignment issues or explain to your board why the “Donate” button disappears on mobile.

Let us help you turn your outdated site into something that actually works — and feels like you.

→ Book a quick 30-min video call — we’ll show you exactly what to fix.
Clear, fast, and no pressure. Just answers.