Project Case Study
Expatolife
A large WordPress travel site where I worked on the front end. I maintained the responsive templates, improved PHP theme files and JavaScript, and kept things running through regular content updates.
Overview
Expatolife is a large WordPress travel site I worked on as a front-end developer. The site had been running for years with a substantial content library. My job was maintaining and improving the responsive templates, making front-end changes to PHP theme files and JavaScript, and keeping things stable through regular content updates and new page layouts.
Problem
Working on an established site with years of content means you can't break what's already there. Template improvements need to be careful, since any change affects a large number of live pages. The front end also needed to stay responsive and performant as new content types and layout variations were added over time.
My Role
I maintained and improved the WordPress front end: PHP theme templates, JavaScript, and CSS. I also supported the site structure and general maintenance as the content library grew.
Key Features
- Responsive templates across a large library of article and guide pages.
- Front-end improvements to PHP theme files, JavaScript, and CSS.
- Custom layout adjustments for different content types.
- Ongoing maintenance for a live, high-traffic site.
Technical Decisions
- Worked within the existing WordPress and PHP theme structure to avoid introducing instability.
- Kept JavaScript light and focused rather than adding client-side complexity that could affect page speed.
- Tested changes on representative content pages before rolling them out across the full library.
Challenges Solved
- Making template improvements without breaking existing pages or affecting the publishing workflow.
- Maintaining consistent front-end quality across a large and varied content library.
- Supporting regular content updates and new page layouts without accumulating technical debt.
Technical Considerations
- Responsive templates ensure a good reading experience on any device, which matters for a travel site with a large international audience.
- Lightweight front-end changes keep content pages performant as the library grows.
- Structured headings and clear content hierarchy make article pages easier to scan.
What I Would Improve Next
- Audit and clean up accumulated legacy theme code.
- Improve Core Web Vitals scores on heavier article page templates.
- Build more consistent component patterns for repeated page elements.