Jewel Staite
Jewel Staite has had a diverse career, playing various characters on screen. She is best known for her roles in sci-fi classics such as “Firefly” and “Stargate: Atlantis,” as well as in shows like “The LA Complex,” “The Killing,” “The Magicians,” and “Quantum Leap.” Currently, she stars as a lawyer on the CW’s “Family Law,” though she jokingly admits her legal expertise doesn’t extend to real life.
Besides acting, Jewel has a deep passion for food, whether cooking, hosting, discovering new recipes, or exploring the world’s best restaurants. Her love for all things culinary is evident. Jewel shares her life, food adventures, and personal stories through her blog, where she celebrates life’s simple pleasures, from cherished recipes to her experiences on the road.
Leaping Into a Fabulous New Homepage
Originally, Jewel Staite’s editorial process on her website was problematic and cumbersome. There was no clear, singular focus on adding and managing content. When Jewel came to WebDevStudios, she desired a refined, easy, and intuitive editorial process. Our team knew the WordPress Block Editor was the solution. We utilized our own WebDevStudios block theme (aka WDS BT) system as the framework.
“I can guarantee you that you don’t have to think about it too hard. When I say I am the most technologically inept human, I am not exaggerating. It’s just not something my brain can process very easily. This is super simple. If I can do it, anybody can do it.”
– Jewel Staite
Everything's Shiny with the BT theme
WDS-BT is a modern WordPress block theme developed by WebDevStudios, designed to offer a streamlined and flexible approach to website customization. With its clean design and intuitive interface, WDS-BT utilizes the latest WordPress features to give you comprehensive control over your site’s appearance and functionality. This means you can adjust and personalize various aspects of your theme without needing to switch themes or delve into the code, simplifying the process of maintaining and updating your site.
A key feature of WDS-BT is its integration with WordPress Block Patterns. These pre-designed layouts consist of multiple blocks that can be easily inserted into your posts or pages. They provide a useful starting point for creating complex designs, allowing you to bypass the need to build each section from scratch. Block Patterns are highly adaptable, enabling you to modify content, styles, and arrangements to fit your unique requirements.
Using Block Patterns helps establish consistent and visually appealing layouts across your site efficiently. Whether you’re new to WordPress or an experienced user, these patterns make it easier to achieve a professional look with less effort and time, enhancing the overall design and functionality of your website.
Migration and Website Redesign
To give Jewel Staite’s website a fresh start, our team was required to migrate all content from her former website to a new WordPress installation. At WebDevStudios, we have the capability to migrate from any platform—from custom sources to other open-source platforms, such as Drupal.
However, this particular project was a WordPress to WordPress migration. One of the most important aspects of this migration was to include all the content from the WP Recipe Maker plugin used on the previous site.
Combining the new branding we created for Jewel Staite with the streamlined experience provided by WDS BT, we developed a website redesign that delivered a more modern and cohesive frontend design. Now, the backend editorial process is simple and user-friendly, while the frontend look complements Jewel Staite’s acclaim, prestige, and public perception.
“Aesthetically, I love that the website looks and feels like you’re sitting in a peaceful living room. That’s what I wanted. I wanted a serene, warm space that kind of felt like my house where you can sit and have a tea and read and explore and find a recipe for dinner. I love that the aesthetic is all of that. It just feels like a beautiful, relaxed space.”
– Jewel Staite
Behind the Scenes on Jewel Staite’s New Website
WebDevStudios recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jewel Staite to discuss the development of her new website. In an engaging and insightful interview, Jewel shared her vision for the site, highlighting her goals and preferences for its design and functionality. The conversation, captured on video, delves into the creative process behind the website, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how WebDevStudios worked to bring her ideas to life. The video interview not only provides an overview of the project but also showcases the collaborative effort between Jewel Staite and the WebDevStudios team in crafting a digital experience that reflects her unique brand and personality.