Case study

A decoupled, REST API-powered website for ustwo

Creating a custom API for content delivery with a React frontend and WordPress backend for digital product agency ustwo.

1. About ustwo

ustwo is a group of award-winning digital product studios with strong design and tech credentials. They work with clients to create beautiful websites, build digital products and services and launch new ventures. They are employee-owned and a certified B Corp company.

2. The project

ustwo wanted a decoupled website with a React frontend built by their in-house team. As well as creating a custom API for delivering ustwo’s content, we also had to ensure structured data was delivered to the front-end, as well as enable progressive enhancement across platforms.

Human Made was engaged 6 weeks into a 12 week project to provide a solid backend CMS with WordPress. This meant a fast turnaround time to get the first version of the website launched.

“Working with Human Made was great – they got to know and understand us super quickly, and made real efforts to integrate with our team. It was hugely useful for us to rely on their specialist knowledge and expertise, which was apparent from the get-go, so that we could focus on developing the frontend. We aim to work flexibly, and we saw that Human Made promised that – for us, they more than delivered.”

MATTHEW EDWARDS, MARKETING MANAGER, USTWO

3. Custom API for data usability

It was Human Made’s responsibility to ensure that data was delivered to the frontend via the API and that it was available in a structured, reusable format.

We used our experience leading the WordPress REST API project to build a custom API that was tailored to the client’s needs. This delivered all of the data from ustwo’s custom post types.

4. Custom page builder

To ensure that all data was semantic, we produced a custom page builder that allows editors to enter content in a structured way. This structured data is output in a JSON format, which makes it usable by any frontend technology.

By collaborating effectively with ustwo’s in-house design and frontend talent, we were able to focus solely on WordPress as a CMS for data collection and delivery, culminating in the production of ustwo’s new WordPress-powered website that showcases their specialisms.