Using audits to drive change, Mechanics Bank launched with a new CMS and an improved design that follows web best practices. Find out how. 

Thoughts from Blend Interactive

One of Blend’s core values is a dedication to advocacy and progress — to expand upon and give back to the community that fuels us. This is where those thoughts live.

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Episode 17: Plan for Hosting (w/ Elias Lundmark) Off-site link

Corey asks Deane a brutally honest question: as non-developers, why should we care about hosting at all? Then, Elias Lundmark, product manager for cloud hosting at Optimizely, joins us to talk about website hosting in common terms — cloud versus on-premises, the reality (and politics) of “five 9s,” and the things you need to understand before choosing a hosting provider or vendor offering.

March 15, 2023 | The Web Project Guide Podcast

On Homemade Tools

Whether building websites and applications or repairing tractors, tools are at the center of life. Director of Development Bob Davidson believes in “the right tool for the right job,” but sometimes the right tool is not at hand. Sometimes it makes sense just to make your own.

March 13, 2023

Optimizely Release Notes — January-February 2023

The following release notes highlight major or interesting changes in Optimizely's products from January and February 2023.

March 1, 2023

When is Headless the Right Solution: A Guide to Going Headless

If you’ve looked into building or upgrading a website in the last few years, you may have heard about “headless” content management systems (CMS). But what is a "headless" system? And, more importantly, when is it the right solution?

February 28, 2023

ChatGPT, Bard, and the New Wave of AI: What it Means for the Web

The path to computer intelligence hasn't proven quite so direct. On the surface, brains and computers seem very similar, but it's clear that computers aren't thinking yet. 

February 22, 2023

Episode 16: Select a Content Management System (w/ Cathy McKnight) Off-site link

Corey and Deane talk about a Donald Rumsfeld quote, and about the concept of “unknown unknowns.” Then, Cathy McKnight, Chief Problem Solver and lead analyst for The Content Advisory, joins us to talk about selecting a content management system — the process for choosing a system, how a CMS selection analyst can help keep vendors honest, and what to do if you’re selecting on your own.

February 21, 2023 | The Web Project Guide Podcast

An Introduction to Sprints and Sprint Planning

Life is full of complicated projects — event planning, construction, and, yes, building a website. This introduction to sprints and sprint planning will illustrate how we keep it all moving forward.

February 13, 2023

Upgrading from Umbraco 7 to 11 — The Editor Experience

On September 30th, Umbraco will stop support on Umbraco 7. What does this mean for the overall editorial experience, and what can you expect as you begin upgrading?

January 25, 2023

Episode 15: Determine System Requirements (w/ Joe Kepley) Off-site link

Corey and Deane discuss the three parts of selecting a CMS: requirements, tool, and development team. Then, Joe Kepley, chief technical officer at Blend Interactive, joins us to discuss the world of translating design and IA into code within a content management system — including balancing groundbreaking design with realistic engineering — and the need to tie high-level project goals into the real nuts and bolts of code.

January 17, 2023 | The Web Project Guide Podcast

Optimizely Release Notes — September-December 2022

The following release notes highlight major or interesting changes in Optimizely's products from September through December 2022.

January 9, 2023

Beyond Blend.

Blend doesn’t just write here: we also write books, create videos, and dive deep into our individual disciplines. Check out some of our external sources of knowledge.

The Web Project Guide

A phase-by-phase look at the web design and development process, providing context to each step.

Coding with Bob

A YouTube series by our director of development, focusing on .NET coding and Optimizely development.

Eating Elephant

A blog about content strategy, information architecture, and understanding user needs.