Designing for engagement with +21% time on page

The challenge

With multiple audiences to serve, Kier needed a flexible and scalable CMS capable of showcasing their wide range of projects. Reflecting the refreshed ‘Beyond Building’ brand, the project had a very tight schedule, starting in July and launching by September, requiring agile teamwork.

A key goal was implementing a robust, intuitive CMS empowering content editors to build and publish pages quickly without technical support.

Our approach

Streamlined content management

Given the importance of brand expression and content flexibility, we built the new site with content management as the core. Leveraging Umbraco's adaptability, we implemented a component‑based structure and customizable features to evolve with Kier’s changing content needs. A new workflow framework ensured content creation, updates, and approvals could be managed efficiently by internal teams.

Ensuring design flexibility

To deliver high design flexibility, we developed a complex 1–2–3 column grid system enabling dynamic, modular page layouts. Custom controls allowed content editors to apply the refreshed brand iconography, a key part of Kier’s new identity. This setup gave our development team freedom to build bespoke pages tailored to Kier’s extensive case studies, projects, services, and thought leadership.

Time efficient

Time was critical, so we collaborated closely with Kier to speed delivery. We created an interactive HTML prototype early on, letting Kier test layouts, assess usability, and provide feedback before CMS integration. This early insight shaped the final build, ensuring the website was visually engaging and fully aligned with Kier’s brand vision.

The results

Marking the start of our partnership, collaborating closely with Kier was key to this project's success. Since the site went live, new features have been added, and we continue partnering with Kier, exploring further improvement areas.