When a client receives a finished website, I want them to be able to update the copy and content without having to touch the code or risk breaking the layout. Web builders such as WordPress or Wix or Webflow have a more intuitive editor for clients to update content when they need to. However since I code my websites, I needed a different option.

As I was researching different CMS (Content Management System) options, I became interested in Strapi. Strapi would provide the interface and database for storing content and copy, and I could build the website to connect to it to use that content.

In order to learn how to use Strapi, I decided to create a minimal blog app.

For the design, I began by browsing Unsplash for my hero image. The image I chose struck me as a good choice for a hero section, with the vast white space in the middle and aesthetic items along the sides.

I asked ChatGPT to give me the copy and brand of the website based on the image, and used that as the basis for the design.

Since Margin Notes was a about space and clarity, I made sure to let the elements on the page breathe with plenty of whitespace. I used light colors sampled from the hero image and a gentle serif font to convey that calm, comfortable, thoughtful feeling.