CHEZ MARI HAIR SALON
Chez Mari is a website redesign and rebranding project for a local hair salon based in Vancouver. The goal was to transform the salon’s outdated site into a modern, elegant, and user-friendly experience that reflects the brand’s high-end services. Our focus was on creating a cohesive and responsive visual identity, improving the user experience, and integrating a booking system that would simplify appointment scheduling for both the salon and its clients.
Our client was looking for a fresh and modern design that would attract new customers while also catering to their existing clientele. They also wanted a more thorough booking system and with SEO in mind. We worked closely with the salon owner to understand their vision and goals, and we conducted user research to identify pain points in the current booking process. Based on our findings, we created a new site structure that prioritized ease of use and accessibility.
SEE LIVE
✺ CHALLENGES
One of the main challenges we faced was establishing efficient communication with the client. As the salon team didn’t have a technical background, it was often difficult for them to visualize certain design choices or understand backend limitations. We had to find creative ways to explain why certain design decisions—like simplifying page layouts, adding more whitespace, or emphasizing mobile usability—were in their best interest.
This involved a lot of mockups, walkthroughs, and feedback loops to ensure both sides were aligned. Additionally, customizing a third-party plugin like Bookly Pro to meet the brand’s aesthetic while maintaining its core functionality required in-depth plugin overrides and careful styling to avoid breaking updates.
✺ DESIGN PROCESS
As the lead designer and frontend developer on the project, I was responsible for shaping the visual direction and user experience of the website redesign for Chez Mari Hair Salon. Our journey began with an initial meeting with the clients, where we discussed their requirements, goals, and vision for the redesign. We worked together to narrow down the scope, keeping in mind the 12-week project timeline to ensure the design would be achievable within that timeframe.
I began the design process with trend research on platforms like Pinterest and design inspiration websites. From there, I created a style guide that included font pairings, color palettes, and the overall aesthetic direction we wanted to take. We presented this guide during an in-person client meeting, and once it was approved, I moved forward with low-fidelity wireframes in Figma. These evolved into high-fidelity designs once the layout and structure were finalized.
DEVELOPMENT
With the design approved, our frontend lead Emmy began the development process, and the rest of the team worked on building out the site using a custom PHP theme on WordPress, based on my designs. Throughout development, I stayed involved by refining the visuals directly in the coded site and adding subtle animations to enhance the overall user experience.
CHALLENGES & OUTCOME
One of the main challenges we faced was working with a headless WordPress CMS using a PHP frontend. This setup was completely new to our team. With only 12 weeks to complete the project, we had to carefully plan each phase to stay on track and deliver a complete and functional product on time.
Another challenge was client communication. Our client had no technical background, so we needed to be especially mindful in how we explained our progress and decisions. We made sure to communicate clearly and in non-technical language to help the client feel confident and included throughout the project.
Overall, it was a valuable experience that allowed me to apply both my design and frontend skills, and I’m proud of the impact I made on the final outcome.
01
Adapting to a new headless WordPress + PHP setup
02
Managing timelines in a 12-week delivery cycle
03
Communicating with non-technical clients
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