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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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Optimizely Release Notes — May-June 2023
The following release notes highlight major or interesting changes in Optimizely's products from May and June 2023.
Umbraco Releases Version 12
An overview of Umbraco's newest release, Umbraco 12, highlighting the anticipated changes it brings to the user experience.
Episode 20: Implement the Back-end Functionality (w/ David Knipe) Off-site link
Corey and Deane discuss a high-level philosophy of back-end development. Then, David Knipe, Vice President of Product at Optimizely, joins to discuss back-end development — how developers and project stakeholders work together to make decisions, the difference (and balance) between technical perfection and audience needs, and the reasons why AI will help, but not take over, back-end development. Deane also equates developers to lumberjacks.
Overcoming the “Suck It Up, Buttercup” Mentality
As Mental Health Awareness Month concludes, Karla Santi shares a few thoughts to help fight stigma, raise awareness, advocate for anyone on our team with mental health conditions, and honor her loved ones.
Optimizely Release Notes — March-April 2023
The following release notes highlight major or interesting changes in Optimizely's products from March and April 2023.
Episode 19: Implement the Design (w/ Ethan Marcotte) Off-site link
Corey and Deane talk about how front-end development has evolved past the early days. Then, Ethan Marcotte, author of Responsive Web Design and Partner at Autogram, joins to discuss front-end development and how the world has impacted how front-end design is treated and approached. We also joke about whether Deane actually “invented” responsive web design. (He didn’t.)
Blend Interactive is an Inc. Magazine Best Workplace for 2023
Blend Interactive is excited and proud to announce its inclusion in Inc. magazine’s annual Best Workplaces issue — both as a part of Inc.'s Best Workplace 2023 and Special Category: Midwest Region. Blend is the only South Dakota company to be chosen this year.
How Audits Improve Your Site: Accessibility, Performance, and Design Audits
Much like we maintain our homes from season to season, our websites need periodic audits — to see what has changed and what has not. In this post, we focus on three specific types of audits: accessibility audits, performance audits, and design audits.
Episode 18: Select an Implementation Partner (w/ Tony Byrne) Off-site link
Corey and Deane discuss what clients should look for when selecting an implementation partner. Then, Tony Byrne, co-author of The Right Way to Select Technology and President of Real Story Group, joins to talk through the implementation partner selection process, including common mistakes, the value of domain knowledge, and how most projects should focus on technology first.
Web Analytics and HIPAA: How to Protect Your Site — and Your Users — From HIPAA Violations
Websites are built, for the most part, for humans. Yet, the humans who interact with our websites are largely anonymous. Blend's CTO Joe Kepley discusses how to balance the need for better information, with a user's right to privacy, especially with existing HIPAA standards.
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.

From Pixels to Purpose
A newsletter from our CEO, where personal stories meet practical insights on creativity and leadership.