Why you don’t need to be technically minded to have a website.
There’s a common misconception that having a website means having to understand everything that goes on behind it. The technology. The updates. The maintenance. The mysterious buttons you’re afraid to press in case something disappears. But a website should make running a business easier, not introduce a whole new set of complications. And it certainly shouldn’t be something you’re frightened to touch.
a gallery without walls
We’ve worked with Wendy J Levy for many years, originally designing and maintaining the website for her contemporary art gallery in Didsbury, Manchester. When Wendy decided to close the physical gallery and move her business entirely online, it was an opportunity to rethink how the website could work for her.
The new gallery needed to do more than simply display artwork. It needed to retain something of the personal experience that had always been part of Wendy’s business. We could have created a conventional online shop, complete with shopping baskets, payment systems and automated transactions. But that wasn’t what Wendy wanted.
Buying a piece of art can be a very personal decision. People have questions. They want to know more about an artist, a particular painting or the story behind a piece. So, rather than encouraging visitors to click Add to Basket, we created a way for them to make an enquiry. A conversation could begin. And Wendy could continue doing what she had always done: sharing her knowledge, offering advice and building relationships with people interested in art.
behind the scenes
Of course, an online gallery isn’t static. New exhibitions are introduced. Artwork changes. Artists join the collection. Information needs updating. Wendy and her assistant needed to be able to manage these things themselves, without having to contact us every time something changed. But Wendy would be the first to admit that she’s not particularly technically minded. And why should she need to be? Her expertise is in art, not website administration. Our job was to create something intuitive and manageable. A website that gave Wendy the freedom to make everyday changes, without requiring an understanding of programming, design or the technology behind it.
The complicated work happens behind the scenes. What Wendy sees is something she can actually use.
your website. your way…
Not everyone wants the same level of involvement in their website. Some clients enjoy making their own changes, adding content and keeping everything up to date. Others would rather hand it all over and get on with running their business. And plenty sit somewhere in between. There’s no right or wrong approach.
We believe a website should be designed around the people who will use it, not simply around what the technology is capable of doing. That means listening. Understanding how a business operates. Finding out what someone feels comfortable managing themselves, and what they’d prefer us to look after.
Because even the most beautifully designed website is of little value if its owner finds it intimidating or impractical.
and if something goes wrong?
Occasionally, it will. Something might not display as expected. An update might cause confusion. A button might be pressed that perhaps shouldn’t have been. It happens. But having your own website doesn’t mean being left alone to work everything out. We’re only an email away.
The latest version of Wendy J Levy Fine Art continues to evolve, just as the gallery itself has evolved over the years. And that’s precisely how we think a website should work. Not as something complicated that a business owner has to learn to live with. But as something useful, flexible and thoughtfully designed to fit the business – and the person behind it.
Because the best technology is often the technology you barely notice.