This document discusses building a front end website without knowing the content management system (CMS) that will be used. It recommends using a static site generator like Middleman, which is Ruby-based and supports Sass, Compass, CoffeeScript, and ERB templates. The document stresses prototyping interactions early, vetting design decisions, getting client approval, and setting a baseline of functionality to aid future implementation before the CMS is selected.

1. Designing for a
Strange CMS
Doug Pfeffer
dougpfeffer.com
Twitter: @pfeffunit

2. Plone?

3. Digital Strategy + Design

4. KCRW
“We didn’t redesign a website - we built a
responsive, modular streaming audio web-app”

7. A Front End Build Without
Knowing Anything

10. Static Site Generators
staticsitegenerators.net
staticgen.com

11. middlemanapp.com
Middleman

12. • Ruby based
• SASS support
• Including Compass (sprite tool, tons of
helpers, etc)
• CoffeeScript
• ERbfor dynamic pages and simplified HTML
syntax

17. http://localhost:4567

18. Build it!
• Prototype interactions early
• Vet design decisions
• Get client approval
• Set a functionality baseline
• For those doing the final implementation

19. Thanks!
Doug Pfeffer
dougpfeffer.com