Margin Notes

Case Study

Overview

Margin Notes is a minimal blog concept built to explore how client-editable content can be managed in a custom-coded website.

The goal was to find a way to give clients a simple editing experience without relying on visual website builders like Wix, WordPress, or Webflow.

The Problem

When building websites from scratch, one of the main challenges is content management for clients.

Clients need to be able to update text and images without touching code or risking layout issues. While platforms like WordPress and Webflow solve this through built-in editors, custom-coded sites require a different approach.

This project explores an alternative solution using a headless CMS.

The Approach

During research into CMS options, I focused on Strapi as a potential backend for managing content.

Strapi provides a structured interface and database for storing content, which can then be accessed by a custom frontend. This allows full control over design while still giving clients an accessible way to update their site.

To learn how it works in practice, I built a minimal blog application connected to Strapi.

Design Direction

The visual direction was intentionally simple, with a focus on space, readability, and calm structure.

• The hero image was selected from Unsplash for its strong composition, using large areas of negative space and balanced visual elements
• The concept and copy were shaped around that image to create a cohesive tone
• A light color palette was derived from the hero image to maintain visual consistency
• A soft serif typeface was used to reinforce a calm, editorial feel
• Generous whitespace was used throughout to prioritize clarity and readability

The design direction was driven by the idea of “quiet content”—a layout that supports reading without distraction.

Result

The final concept demonstrates how a custom-coded website can remain fully flexible for developers while still providing a simple editing experience for clients.

It also serves as an exploration of how visual restraint, structured content, and CMS integration can work together in a minimal blog environment.