Recent projects
Simple doesn’t mean cheap, cheesy or plain. Simple means putting the visitor ahead of the client — and sometimes that’s not so easy. At Ern Berck Digital we build elegant websites that are intuitive, fast and a breeze to manage.
The problem
When the web began to conquer the world in the 1990s, graphic designers started migrating from paper to pixels. The browser window — like the paper page before it — was treated as a known constraint upon which designers imposed their will.
But there’s a big problem with this approach. Whereas a piece of paper has fixed dimensions, a browser window could be any size. There’s no way for a web designer to know in advance what size any particular person’s browser window will be.
The solution
In April 2010 web designer Ethan Marcotte proposed a solution he borrowed from the world of architecture: Responsive design. He suggested that maybe websites could change and adapt according to the needs of the user’s internet device.
This approach has been adopted by most web designers, and it’s been standard practice for many years. We’ve expanded on this concept to include an incremental approach to programming called progressive enhancement. It typically has three steps:
- Identify required core functionality.
- Make that functionality available using the simplest possible technology.
- Layer on additional features and functionality that can be used by more advanced devices.
The benefit of using progressive enhancement is a more powerful website that can better react to unexpected circumstances — Like weird browsers, clumsy thumbs, flaky network connections, and obsolete internet devices.
Welcome to the mobile web
We build complex systems that work on dinky screens.
Bendini Lambert and Locke
A few months ago I was approached by a good client — who was inquiring for a friend — wanting to know if I’d ever built a website for a law firm. I admitted that I never had, and she mentioned that prior experience with the profession was required for the project. I replied that I understood, and thanked her for keeping me in mind. So just for fun, I did a bit of research, and built a law firm website anyway. Here it is.
Directives
- Target audience is small to medium-sized business owners
- Visual appeal extremely important
- Social media integration with LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook
- Must be fast and perform well on mobile devices
- Pages should be easily printable and downloadable in PDF format
Challenges
- Most law firm websites are pretty bad, with some notable exceptions
- Terminology inconsistent across many law firm websites
- Mobile display is a priority, but must function well on desktop
- Must be conformant with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards (at least)
- Client involvement with site may be limited
Status: Concept 2
Monika Bistro
Design concept for an upscale diner with an affluent, yet down-to-earth, clientele. Open daily from 5am to 2pm, the stylish restaurant serves breakfast and lunch with an unusual flair. It accepts no reservations, and makes all breads, sauces, and pastries in-house. The site was built with the WordPress block editor, and has built-in access to social media feeds — including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Directives
- Primary target audience is affluent breakfast diners
- Visual appeal extremely important
- Ability to interact with reservation and delivery systems
- Social media integration with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
- Menus should be easily printable and avialble in PDF format
Challenges
- Mobile display is a priority, but must function well on desktop
- High quality image optimization and storage
- Must be conformant with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
- Client interaction may be limited
- May require integration with local delivery services
Status: Concept 2
BMW Art Cars
Since 1975, 19 international artists have created BMW Art Cars. The collection was the brainchild of French race car driver and art aficionado Hervé Poulain. In collaboration with BMW Motorsport Director Jochen Neerpasch, Poulain asked his artist friend Alexander Calder to design a car. Calder agreed, and his creation would become the first of a global sensation. The site is not affiliated with BMW.
Goals
- Provide a showcase for client’s fondness for BMWs
- Document history of BMW Art Cars
- Create archive of BMW Art Car photographs
- Make mobile responsive and accessible
- Easy to manage and update
Details
- Extensive use of image galleries
- Server-side page caching solution
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Automated daily backup system
- Custom transactional email processing
Status: Active 1
Von Wyk Architects
This is a development website for a potential client in the architecture field. The technical requirements include very high-quality image rendering on both desktop and mobile devices. The site also requires built-in access to social media feeds, including Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. The solution is being designed entirely with the WordPress Block Editor and minimal use of additional plugins.
Directives
- Primary target audience is affluent California residents
- Extensive use of image galleries
- Visual appeal extremely important
- Possible European audience
- Must include an automated Instagram feed
Challenges
- Desktop is priority, but must function well on mobile
- High quality image optimization and storage
- Image requirements may demand a content delivery network (CDN)
- Client interaction limited to Instagram publishing
- Design subject to frequent change
Status: Concept 2
Network Mortgage
Network Mortgage is an independent residential mortgage broker located in Chico, California. Their last website was built in August 2017, and needed a complete redesign due to major changes in the WordPress CMS editing platform.
Goals
- Redesign 2017 website to run on WordPress 5.8 platform
- Migrate text-based content to new block editing system
- Improve performance on mobile devices
- Simplify site architecture and code base
- Reduce dependence on arbitrary images
- Prepare for implementation of Google Core Web Vitals
Details
- Built with GeneratePress Pro theme framework
- Site uses only core blocks and GenerateBlocks
- Low-maintenance image management program
- Partial conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
- Postmark transactional email service
- Cloudflare nameservers
Status: Active 1
Vermeer Medical Spa
Design concept for a medical spa (sort of a cross between a medical center and a day spa) in New Mexico. Med spas deal with patient information, so are subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Other priorities include page load speed, and high-quality image rendering on all devices. The site has an overall minimalist feel, with somewhat mysterious black and white photographs, coupled with muted colors and subtle graphics.
Directives
- Target audience is affluent women living in New Mexico
- Minimalist design with bold imagery
- Visual appeal extremely important
- Possible national audience
- Social media integration with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn
Challenges
- Desktop display is priority, but must function well on mobile
- High quality image optimization and storage
- Conformance with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards
- Client availability and interaction is limited
- Requires strict compliance with HIPAA regulations
Status: Concept 2
Chico Concours d’Elegance
Founded in 1979, the Chico Concours d’Elegance car show was established to bring truly beautiful automobiles to Chico, California. Celebrating 43 consecutive years in 2021, the annual event is one of oldest running car shows in the nation. We’ve been managing their site for 22 years.
Goals
- Provide a showcase for the annual car show
- Document the show’s rich history and heritage
- Provide up-to-date event and registration information
- Integrate tightly with Facebook and Instagram accounts
- Create an archive of event and winner photos
- Integrate with social media accounts for easy sharing
Details
- Custom-built image galleries
- Server-side page caching solution
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Nginx web server with EverCache architecture
- Automated daily backup system
Status: Active 1
Myrna Roth
This is a functioning development website for an unnamed poet. The technical requirements include very high-fidelity rendering on mobile, along with progressive web application (PWA) functionality. This project is a textbook example of how even the simplest of interfaces can get extremely complicated to execute across a wide variety of devices. Not for CSS novices. Still needs a lot of work.
Directives
- Primary target audience is affluent mobile device users
- Must have PWA capability
- Minimal imagery
- Typography and readability extremely important
- Possible worldwide audience
Challenges
- Seamless transitions from desktop to mobile
- Design burden on colors and typography
- Client prefers a “minimalist aesthetic”
- Needs a global content delivery network (CDN)
- Content updates could be frequent yet sporadic
Status: Concept 2
SLR Moss
Slrmoss.com is a showcase for the 2009 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss road car. To appeal to collectors, dealers and auction houses, the site was designed specifically for widescreen desktop displays. However, it also features a progressive web application (PWA) core for easy access on any mobile device — Online or off. The site is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, Mercedes-Benz or McLaren Automotive.
Goals
- Provide a showcase for the SLR Moss road car
- Document the car’s history and development
- Create an archive of photos, videos and illustrations
- Aggregate SLR Moss news and press releases
- Make mobile responsive and accessible
Details
- Extensive use of image galleries
- Server-side page caching solution
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Automated daily backup system
- Full progressive web application (PWA) functionality
Status: Active 1
Egan Electric
Founded in 1991, Egan Electric is a full-service electrical contractor located in Chico, California. They offer a diverse selection of electrical services, and have extensive experience with residential and commercial construction. They also install and maintain lighting control, home automation systems, and solar arrays.
Goals
- Add more useful and relevant content
- Improve performance on mobile
- Increase number of online leads
- Improve navigation and usability
- Enhance search engine rankings
- Add more useful and relevant content
Details
- WordPress content management system (CMS)
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Nginx web server with EverCache architecture
- Complies with accessibility standards
- Mobile responsive with progressive enhancement
Status: Active 1
The Core
Founded in October 2007, The Core is an independent physical fitness center based in Chico, California. The gym offers a fast-paced mix of body weight, cardiovascular, and weight training exercises. The new Core website combines grayscale imagery with assertive typography and bold calls to action — All delivered with a bit of attitude.
Goals
- Migrate site from Wix to WordPress
- Maintain active email servers
- Develop site architecture and navigation
- Add more credibility and authority to thin content
- Feature employees and customers
- Increase online leads
Details
- Complete re-writing of all page content
- Addition of staff biography page
- Unique “trending” feature to highlight daily workouts
- Developed custom contact form with robust processing
- Grayscale graphics and images
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Nginx web server with EverCache architecture
Status: Modified 3
E92 N55
E92N55.com is an independent enthusiast website dedicated to the author’s 2011 BMW 335i Coupe. The domain name pays tribute to BMW’s internal chassis and engine codes for the 2011–2013 3-series coupe with turbo-charged inline 6-cylinder engine. The minimalist site was built as an alternative to the BMW Driver’s Guide mobile app which isn’t available for the 2011 model year.
Goals
- Build an alternative to “BMW Driver’s Guide” mobile application
- Provide detailed journals for service, maintenance and recalls
- Include important operation guides in PDF format
- Keep non-essential graphics, photos and technology to a minimum
- Pages must be printable in a high-fidelity format
- Create a blog section for news, updates, and owner information
Details
- Custom print CSS styles
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Nginx web server with EverCache architecture
- Password protected “owner only” pages
- Extensive PDF resource library
- Official BMW documentation and service recommendations
Status: Active
Network Mortgage
Network Mortgage is an independent residential mortgage broker located in Chico, California. They’ve been helping folks finance their homes for over 20 years. They love what they do — and it shows.
Goals
- Develop new website on WordPress platform
- Migrate site to managed WordPress hosting
- Add blog component for regular rate and product articles
- Improve Google page rankings
- Integrate with active social media channels
- Increase inquiries and leads from online forms
- Improve site architecture
Details
- Built on Genesis Framework
- Offers custom content that is regularly updated
- Uses advanced contact and quote forms
- Integrated transactional email service
- Utilizes Cloudflare nameservers
- Custom SVG logos and icons
- Images sourced from royalty-free photo archives
Status: Retired
Mittenmaier
Robert Mittenmaier is an American artist who paints with acrylic on Masonite. A master at capturing every aspect of a scene, his work includes early American race cars, vintage Ferraris, and street scenes in his hometown of Murphys, California.
Goals
- Remove old and outdated pages
- Improve image quality
- Improve performance on mobile
- Eliminate shopping cart functionality
- Improve navigation and usability
- Enhance search engine rankings
- Add more focused and relevant content
Details
- Cloudflare DNS nameservers
- Custom SVG logos and icons
- Custom tiled image galleries
- SSL and HTTP/2 enabled
- Nginx web server with EverCache architecture
Status: Active
Ern Berck Digital
It seems weird to include your own website on the portfolio page, but we think it lends some needed context. Ern Berck Digital was the first website we built using the new WordPress block editor. But more importantly — considering the current fascination with design tools — no other block plugins, add-ons, or page builders were used.
Goals
- Build a showcase for the WordPress CMS editing tools
- Improve speed, responsiveness and visual stability on mobile devices
- Eliminate all unnecessary external page requests
- Maximize graphic efficiency with minimal load times
- Keep plugin use to an absolute minimum
- Employ CSS grid layout to minimize dependency on media queries
Details
- Extensive use of lightweight SVG files
- Hidden featured images used for Open Graph protocol
- Efficient WordPress CMS uses only six active plugins
- Industry standard Genesis Framework theme
- Website built entirely with the built in core block editor
- Typography features the new IBM Plex typeface
Status: Active
Notes
- Status Active: Indicates a live website — belonging to a thriving business — that has been updated frequently, and regularly maintained. It may be managed by Ern Berck or the client. In either case, the original design and content has only been improved upon.
- Status Concept: Indicates a fictional website developed to show layout, color, typography, and navigation ideas. It may contain placeholder content (text in Latin or other gibberish), and stock images. Typically, design concepts are not indexed by search engines, and have not been optimized for performance or usability. They are for demonstration purposes only. Think of concepts as rough drafts.
- Status Modified: Indicates a live website — belonging to a genuine business — that has been significantly altered from its original form by the owner. Unfortunately, these changes are usually not improvements, and needed updates have most likely not been applied. The sample screenshot you see here may or may not be representative of the current website.
Practical knowledge matters.
Experienced designers cost more. And experience rarely means programming skills. It means a broad understanding of the Web and how people use it. Reducing complex systems into simple interfaces that work on dinky screens is a skill that improves with practice.
