Hey Contra Community! 👋 Excited to share my latest Squarespace project, Vera Collective (https:/...Hey Contra Community! 👋 Excited to share my latest Squarespace project, Vera Collective (https:/...
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Excited to share my latest Squarespace project, Vera Collective, a unique online space dedicated to fostering meaningful live conversations and genuine human connection. This project was a fantastic opportunity to push the boundaries of Squarespace's design capabilities, especially with the new Finish Layer tools.
The Vision Behind Vera Collective
Vera Collective was born from a desire to create a serene, inviting digital sanctuary where individuals can engage in authentic dialogue and shared understanding. The design needed to reflect this ethos: sophisticated, minimalist, and deeply engaging.
Design Highlights & Finish Layer in Action:
1. Bold, Immersive Aesthetic:
I opted for a striking dark theme with elegant typography to create an immediate sense of depth and focus. This bold choice helps to draw users into the content, emphasizing the intimacy of live conversations.
2. Strategic Use of Block Transforms:
To achieve a dynamic yet refined layout, I extensively utilized Block Transforms. Notice how certain sections, like the prominent "Who This Space Is Not For" area, use subtle transformations to break the grid and add visual interest without compromising readability. This allowed for a more artistic and less conventional presentation of important information.
3. Responsive Stacks for Seamless Experience:
Ensuring a flawless experience across all devices was paramount. I leveraged Stacks to meticulously arrange content blocks, guaranteeing that the site's unique visual hierarchy and interactive elements remain perfectly aligned and accessible, whether viewed on a desktop or a mobile device.
4. Subtle Block Animations for Engagement:
To enhance user engagement and guide their journey through the site, I incorporated Block Animations. These subtle, scroll-triggered effects introduce content gracefully, adding a layer of sophistication and interactivity that keeps the user immersed without being distracting.
5. Custom Typography with Font Uploads:
The brand identity of Vera Collective demanded a distinctive typographic voice. Through Font Uploads, I integrated custom fonts that perfectly complement the site's elegant and thoughtful aesthetic, reinforcing its unique brand personality.
Why Vera Collective Stands Out:
Vera Collective isn't just a website; it's an experience. By combining a bold design vision with the powerful new Finish Layer tools in Squarespace, I was able to craft a platform that is both visually stunning and highly functional, truly embodying its mission of connection and understanding.
I'd love for you to explore Vera Collective yourself and let me know what you think! Your feedback is invaluable.
30+ pages, 3 weeks, and honestly one of my favorite projects in a while.
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Wireframes first, then UI across every page, fully responsive, with animation on the key screens, all built inside the brand the client had already set.
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The home screen sets the tone full-bleed lifestyle imagery, an in-app try-on preview, and an "Explore Collection" CTA that earns the click.
Three sections. Every reason to buy answered before the question is asked.
This is what luxury e-commerce looks like when the design respects the product as much as the person wearing it.
Does this feel like an eyewear website that converts browsers into buyers? 👇
At first, it sounds like a visual problem. But once I look beneath the interface, I may find that:
→ The offer is difficult to understand.
→ The strongest proof is buried.
→ The navigation reflects the company, not the user.
→ The CTA appears before enough confidence has been built.
At that point, changing the layout won’t solve the actual problem.
The work becomes defining what users need to understand, what will make them trust the business, and what should help them take the next step.
The brief says redesign.
The project says strategy.
Fellow designers: what’s the most common problem you discover hiding behind a redesign request?