Hey there! I'm Angie, a web designer and developer with 20+ years of experience creating thoughtful, user-focused websites. I'm the founder of Block 81, a design studio based in Portland, Oregon, where I specialize in crafting clean, semantic code and intuitive user experiences.
I've been working with Craft CMS for over 10 years and have a deep appreciation for how it empowers content creators. My specialty is tailoring Craft's author experience – particularly with Matrix fields – to make content management as intuitive and enjoyable as possible for clients. I believe in keeping things simple and purposeful, using minimal third-party plugins while maximizing Craft's native capabilities.
My technical foundation includes deep knowledge of CSS, semantic HTML, and cross-browser compatibility. I build fully responsive sites that work beautifully across all devices and browsers. Whether it's a marketing site, B2B platform, small business presence, music industry project, or e-commerce solution, I focus on creating websites that serve both users and content managers exceptionally well.
Beyond building new sites, I handle hosting, ongoing maintenance and support, and seamless migrations from other platforms like WordPress, ExpressionEngine, and Squarespace to Craft CMS. My goal is always the same: delivering websites that look great, perform flawlessly, and make content management a breeze.
Successfully migrated the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust from WordPress to Craft CMS, tackling complex plugin dependencies and thousands of media files while preserving SEO value. The migration included 80 site pages, over 700 blog posts, and specialized grants data tables, all organized into an intuitive structure that empowers their content team.
Built with administrator experience as the priority, using Craft's structure sections to create logical hierarchies and implementing systems that allow 99% of redirects to be handled independently. The project includes ongoing monthly support and has delivered significant improvements in content management efficiency and site maintainability.
Collaborated with a Portland digital agency to build a dynamic new website for Exterro, a legal tech company offering comprehensive data risk management platforms. Translated the designer's vision into a fully functional Craft CMS site while migrating key content from their previous website.
The B2B-focused site exceeded expectations for both the agency and end client, delivering a polished, user-focused platform that supports Exterro's unique business needs. Thorough testing by both teams ensured a seamless launch and positive reception.
Partnered with an Anchorage, AK agency to redesign the website for The Bridge Company, a high-end Anchorage restaurant under new ownership by two entrepreneurial women. Created a modern, minimalist design that emphasizes simplicity and beauty, featuring large, high-quality photos to showcase dishes and atmosphere.
Built with Craft CMS for intuitive content management, the site is organized clearly for easy updates by the restaurant team. Optimized with basic accessibility and on-page SEO to create a digital presence that performs as exceptionally as their dining experience.
Built a new website for Whistic's third-party risk management platform in collaboration with a Portland agency under a tight timeline of just a few months. Faithfully translated the designer's vision into a high-performing B2B website focused on personalization and conversions.
The Craft CMS implementation features thoughtful organization of pages and content, allowing Whistic's team to make seamless updates. The project showcases the ability to deliver ambitious timelines without compromising quality, resulting in a dynamic tool that supports pipeline generation.
Developed a custom web application for Wheelhouse 20/20's contractor kickstart program, transitioning from manual processes to an automated online system. Built comprehensive UX design covering client front-end scheduling, admin back-end service ordering, and automated email notifications.
Created a custom Craft CMS module to handle the credits system and automated notifications, paired with a minimal, functional front-end design. The application streamlines service delivery for residential contractors while reducing administrative overhead for the marketing agency.
Migrated IIA's client portal from ExpressionEngine to Craft CMS while modernizing the UI and improving the authoring experience. The portal serves paying clients exclusively, requiring careful attention to user group permissions across 7 different access levels.
Focused on improving flexibility and user experience while maintaining the original utilitarian design that worked well for the audience. The complex user permissions system and data migration required extensive testing, resulting in a portal that IIA is very happy with and that provides better content management capabilities.
Led a complete website overhaul for Chronic Disease Coalition as they grew from a Pacific Northwest kidney advocacy group to a national organization with thousands of patient advocates. Collaborated closely with CDC to reorganize content structure and align with their brand refresh, emphasizing the human aspect of chronic disease advocacy.
Migrated from WordPress to Craft CMS with a focus on improving the authoring experience, including migration of critical news content with proper SEO redirects. Created custom interactive SVG maps for displaying state-by-state chronic disease data, ambassador locations, and policy information – all manageable by the CDC team through Craft's interface.
Redesigned and migrated IIA's marketing website from Squarespace to Craft CMS, addressing loose site structure and hard-to-find content. Created comprehensive site structure documentation and wireframes to reorganize content logically and improve user experience.
Tackled the complex challenge of migrating hundreds of blog articles from Squarespace through a multi-step process involving WordPress as an intermediary and Craft's Feed Me plugin. The final result provides a clean, engaging design with improved content organization and superior authoring experience for long-term growth.