Professor of Nerdlesque

Overview: Jo Jo Stiletto is a burlesque producer, performer and historian, who is known as the Professor of Nerdlesque—the leading authority on all things nerdy in burlesque.

Problem: Redesign the Jo Jo Stiletto website and blogging platform to be more user-focused both for the reader and content creator. The site should be responsive, and the content should be presented in a way to help the client pursue a book contract. Also design an identity system to communicate both the cheeky nature of the client specialty as well her academic take on the subject.

Solution: A responsive website built on the WordPress blogging platform. The site utilizes a calendar plug-in to promote and archive events, a contact form for ease of communication, and social sharing functionality on blog posts and events to proliferate content.

Results: The client saw strong results in the form of increased press inquiries and increased blog readership. The client now uses the site as an essential tool in promoting her writing career and her events.

Original Site

Jo Jo Stiletto’s original site was built on the Drupal platform and was not responsive. The visual focus seemed to be on Jo Jo’s events, rather than her writing. The information was organized in a confusing way where the blog post titles were given undue visual hierarchy.

Homepage (Visit Site)

I redesigned the homepage to better organize the information and to bring focus to Jo Jo Stiletto’s area of expertise. I added a sidebar with a teaser for both her blog and her events. I also included an area for Jo Jo to showcase news in the “nerdlesque” world, call attention to her recent press, and highlight a performer. I built the site in WordPress utilizing Advanced Custom Fields so that the client can easily update the content.

Margaret Darcher Jo Jo Stiletto Responsive WordPress Website

Blog (Visit Site)

The blogging platform is one of the most important aspects of the site. Since the client is is a writer and authority in her field, the content she creates should be easy for her users to access and delightful to read. I designed the blog with minimal styling as to bring focus to the content.

Margaret Darcher Jo Jo Stiletto Responsive WordPress Web Design

Identity Collateral

I created an identity system of component parts that the client could use in a variety of ways. I gave her a kit of parts including a logo with both horizontal and vertical versions, a stiletto graphic and alternative “professor of nerdlesque” type treatments. I designed both business cards and postcard leave-behinds for the client to use for networking.