Hidden Landscape
This project focused on designing a flexible publishing platform for Hidden Landscape, an independent planning research consultancy that uses maps as a primary method of investigation and communication. The goal was to create a scalable system to publish and archive diverse work while supporting engagement with local communities, press, and social justice organizations.
- Product and UX strategy
- Information architecture
- UI design and design system
- Interaction and component behavior
- Conditional logic and CMS implementation
- Webflow Development and SEO optimized content
- Hidden Landscape founder, publishing complex research
- Press and media, accessing projects as reference material
- Advocacy groups, engaging with location-based research
All projects needed to live within a single CMS template despite significant variation in content type and behavior. Projects ranged from long-form writing to static maps and time-based, exploratory mapping experiences. The system also needed to support long-term archival growth and user friendly content publishing.
I designed a modular CMS architecture in Webflow using multiple collections, filtering, and conditional logic to dynamically render content based on project type and content variables. Early approaches explored separating project types, but this quickly proved difficult to scale and maintain.
Through iteration and close collaboration on content structure, the system evolved into a single flexible template capable of supporting slider-based projects, static content, and exploratory map experiences. UI and interaction patterns remained consistent, while adapting to different content needs. Across the site, copy structure and calls to action were intentionally designed to surface in search results and support discovery by press and partner organizations.
The final platform provides a scalable foundation for publishing and archiving research over time. It enables clear engagement for external audiences, supports press and partner discovery through structured content and SEO-conscious copy, and allows new project types to be added without redesigning the system.
