Thoughts and Articles from Blend Interactive

I’ve been building websites in content management systems for almost 20 years now. And the majority of those sites have been built in what we might call a traditional, coupled CMS, where a single application is responsible for both the management and rendering of content. But like so many, I’ve been diving to headless, specifically building a new site in Optimizely’s Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) headless offering.

Development  |  Optimizely  |  Strategy

The decades between 1870 and 1920 brought a tremendous amount of change to America. While the Industrial Revolution really began in the late 1700’s with early innovations in mechanized manufacturing and factory processes, in the lead-up to the American Civil War, many goods were still created by hand, using armies of skilled craftsmen and women who would use their years of experience to turn out one item at a time.

AI  |  Strategy

How AI-powered search tools find and cite your content — and how a GEO audit identifies what to fix. What's involved, what it costs, and when you need one.

AI  |  Content and IA  |  Strategy

Design systems take time to build. The speed, efficiency, and consistency they bring only begin to shine once you’ve developed a solid foundation of reusable components. But as your organization evolves, so do your needs.

Design and Front-End  |  Strategy

How a web accessibility audit evaluates your site against WCAG 2.2 AA — what's involved, what it covers, and how to prioritize what to fix.

Accessibility

When it comes to our children, even the smallest health concern can feel overwhelming. A lingering cough becomes a source of panic. A late-night fever turns into a frantic search for answers. In those moments, clarity and reassurance matter more than ever. But too often, the first point of contact — a hospital’s website — adds more confusion than comfort.

Healthcare  |  Content and IA  |  Development  |  Strategy

Before committing to a redesign, most teams need to answer the same hard questions: Who is the site really for? What does success look like? What should happen first?

Content and IA  |  Design and Front-End  |  Discovery and Scoping

Designing a website for a children's hospital is unlike any other UX challenge. It’s not about selling a product or promoting a service; it's about providing care and support in a time of crisis.

Healthcare  |  Content and IA  |  Strategy

Web accessibility isn’t just a checkbox — it’s a commitment to inclusive, thoughtful design. As more of our lives move online, making the web accessible to all users is no longer optional. It’s essential.

Accessibility

Neurodivergent users face real barriers online that standard accessibility checks miss. Learn how designing for clarity and focus helps everyone.

Accessibility