Golden Treats
Overview
I developed a full-featured custom website for Golden Treats using TypeScript and Next.js. The site includes a homepage that showcases the client's brand, a gallery section displaying their products, and an integrated order request form that lets customers place inquiries directly through the site. The tech stack delivers fast performance and a smooth user experience while giving the client a professional online presence that drives customer engagement.
Problem
The bakery was losing potential customers due to their outdated online presence and lack of a streamlined ordering process. Without a proper showcase for their products or an easy way for clients to submit custom order requests, they were missing out on sales and spending too much time managing inquiries through scattered phone calls and social media messages. They needed a modern, centralized platform that could display their work effectively and capture order requests efficiently.
Reflection
Building this project sharpened my skills in TypeScript and Next.js while teaching me how to translate real business needs into functional features. I learned to balance aesthetic design with practical functionality, especially when creating the order form to capture the right customer information without overwhelming users. The experience reinforced the importance of understanding client workflows—seeing how a simple gallery and form could transform their customer acquisition process showed me that effective web development isn't just about code, it's about solving actual business problems.
Learning
1. Client Communication and Requirements Gathering: Conducting effective stakeholder interviews and translating business needs into technical requirements while managing expectations throughout development.
2. Iterative Feedback and Design Refinement: Developing a collaborative workflow using design mockups and staging deployments to incorporate client feedback and match their brand identity.
3. Component Architecture and Reusability: Structuring the site with modular, reusable components to keep code maintainable and ensure consistent styling across all sections.
4. Performance Optimization in Next.js: Leveraging Next.js features like image optimization and server-side rendering to ensure fast load times critical for customer engagement.
Challenges
The core challenge was capturing the client's playful, whimsical personality without crossing into unprofessional territory. Every design decision became a balancing act—bright colors that popped but didn't overwhelm, fun typography that stayed readable, animations that delighted without annoying. The owner's direction of "make it feel happy" sounds simple but translating that vibe into code while maintaining credibility for customers ordering expensive custom cakes was brutally difficult. I cycled through countless iterations before landing on a design that felt joyful yet trustworthy enough for someone dropping serious cash on a wedding cake.
Future
Moving forward, I'd add an online payment system so customers can place deposits directly through the site instead of coordinating payments manually. A customer testimonials section would build social proof and credibility, especially for high-ticket custom orders.