Background
John Lilley is a technologist, writer, and traveler, and two separate websites have been built for him on WordPress: a fully custom blog, and a simple personal website. Each served a different purpose, and each was approached differently as a result.
Project 1: A Fully Custom Blog
John wanted a completely custom blog, built from scratch rather than adapted from an existing layout or template. He provided detailed instructions for every layout, giving clear direction on exactly how he wanted the blog to look and function.
The blog was built on the GeneratePress stack, combined with custom code to bring John’s specific layout instructions to life, rather than working within the constraints of a pre-built theme design.
Project 2: A Clean, Simple Personal Website
The second project was a personal website for John, intentionally kept clean and simple. John selected the concept behind the design himself, and it works well: minimal, but with a clear idea behind it that reflects who he is and what he does in a straightforward way.
The site is easy to read and easy to navigate, helping visitors quickly find whatever information they’re looking for, without unnecessary complexity getting in the way.
Result
Two websites built for the same client, but for very different needs: a fully custom, instruction-driven blog built on GeneratePress and custom code, and a clean, minimal personal site with a considered concept behind its simplicity. Both reflect John’s specific direction and personality rather than a generic template approach.
