Project Type
Portfolio
Location
Ireland
Industry
Event
Tech Stack
WordPress, PHP, MySQL, HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, WPForms, Yoast SEO, Razorpay, Flutter, REST API
Category
Website
ABOUT THE CLIENT
Galway, IRELAND
A master photographer based in the charming city of Galway, West of Ireland, has earned a reputation as one of the best in the business. He has won numerous awards from Kodak and Fujifilm for his exceptional work, which spans from wedding photography to family portraiture and corporate images.
All names and logos have been changed to respect NDA.
The Client
Peter Harkin is an internationally recognized educator, speaker, and leadership development expert. With a background in coaching, mentoring, and public speaking, Peter works with schools, universities, and professional organizations to inspire positive transformation and elevate individual and group performance. His work spans across countries and cultures, making his online presence crucial for global engagement.
90%
Development Hours Saved
70%
Boost in
Security
80%
Reduction in Compliance Risk
The Ask
Peter needed a professional and inspiring portfolio website to present his work, values, global outreach, and upcoming events. The goal was to design a clean and modern platform that reflects his personal brand and allows clients to explore his services, read testimonials, contact him easily, and view event updates.
The Engagement
We were engaged to design, develop, and maintain a personal portfolio site that would serve as Peter’s digital identity. The collaboration included close interaction with Peter to ensure the website’s content and design echoed his tone, voice, and international appeal.
CHALLENGES
We encountered challenges with plugin selection, production behaviour and maintaining effective communication with teams.
Designing a site that reflects Peter’s calm, empathetic, and inspiring persona
Ensuring accessibility and easy navigation for global visitors of all age groups
Creating a responsive layout that works flawlessly on mobile and desktop
Integrating newsletter signup, contact form, and SEO optimization
Ensuring fast load times and lightweight performance
Maintaining content clarity while showcasing diverse services and global impact without overwhelming the user
OUR APPROACH
Business Analysis & Estimation
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Ideation and Planning
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Defining features and functionalities
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Scope and goals
Design
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Wireframe/mock-ups
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UX/UI design
Development
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Functional Development and Analysis: The development is done according to the sprints set during estimation. During the code commit, static code analyzers like eslint are run to identify and fix any issues with the code.
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Unit Testing and Review: The developers raise a Pull Request (PR) on Github, which triggers GitHub Actions to run the SonarQube and unit tests. The Technical Leader and other developers review the PR and ensure everything looks good before merging it.
Testing
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Manual Testing and Automated Testing: The app undergoes thorough testing to ensure it is free of bugs and glitches.
Seemless Deployment
Seamless Deployment: Once the PR is merged, our CI/CD pipeline ensures the app is automatically deployed to the domain, enabling a smooth and efficient launch with CircleCI-powered automation.
Maintenance and Upgrades
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Security Testing: Regularly tested to safeguard against vulnerabilities.
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Analytics & Monitoring: Tracks user behavior to guide updates.
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Platform Compliance: Follows app store and Play Store guidelines.
1. Discovery Phase – Understanding Client Vision & Business Goals
We conducted stakeholder interviews with Peter to understand his values, audience, and goals. A brand tone was defined — one of trust, warmth, and clarity. Content structure, audience personas, and key features were also outlined.
Using Figma, we designed a clean, minimal UI with warm color palettes, modern typography, and easy content flow. Emphasis was placed on white space, emotional imagery, and clear CTAs like “Get in Touch” and “Join My Mailing List.”
2. Design Phase – Creating an Intuitive & Premium User Experience
3. Development Phase – Building a Scalable, Secure Platform
The website was built on WordPress, leveraging a lightweight theme with custom page templates. Key features like testimonial sliders, newsletter integration, and contact forms were developed using WPForms and Mailchimp plugins.
Cross-browser and mobile responsiveness testing was conducted. We optimized the site using Yoast SEO, tested performance with Google PageSpeed Insights, and ensured all links/forms were functional.
4. Testing Phase – Ensuring Stability, Speed & Security
5. Deployment Phase – Smooth Rollout with Zero Downtime
The website was launched on a secure and fast WordPress hosting provider. SSL, backup systems, and analytics were implemented.
We continue to assist Peter with regular updates, blog uploads, plugin maintenance, and performance monitoring. Monthly backups and SEO improvements are also part of the ongoing support.
6. Maintenance Phase – Continuous Support & Feature Enhancements
The Outcome
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Successfully launched a clean, user-friendly portfolio site within 3 weeks
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Improved engagement via a professional digital presence
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Enhanced discoverability through SEO optimization
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Seamless experience across desktop, tablet, and mobile
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Established a solid platform to promote upcoming speaking engagements and workshops
In Conclusion
This project demonstrates how thoughtful design and lightweight development can amplify a personal brand globally. The Peter Harkin website now acts as a central hub for connection, inspiration, and collaboration — all while reflecting his true essence.