The Living Coast

The Challenge

Brighton and Hove's stretch of coast was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—a pretty big deal that needed a proper digital presence. Brighton and Hove City Council had a brand identity but not much else. No content strategy, no information architecture, no clear idea of what the site needed to do.

They came to us via our friends at Sussex Wildlife Trust, which was a nice vote of confidence.

Our Approach

We started with discovery. Three months of workshops, stakeholder interviews, and user story mapping before we wrote a single line of code. The Living Coast brings together dozens of organisations—the council, wildlife trusts, community groups, local businesses—and they all had opinions about what the website should be.

Getting alignment took time. We ran collaborative workshops to identify shared goals and prioritise features. The result was a clear understanding of who the site serves (residents, tourists, researchers) and what it needs to help them do (find events, learn about conservation, get involved).

The build itself used WordPress—sensible choice for a site that would be maintained by council staff with varying technical ability. We focused on making the admin experience as straightforward as possible.

The Results

The site launched as a central hub for the Brighton & Lewes Downs Biosphere. It continues to serve as a resource for environmental events, conservation initiatives, and local engagement.

The real value was in the process. By the time we finished discovery, every stakeholder understood what the site was for and—perhaps more importantly—what it wasn't. That clarity prevented the usual scope creep and "can we just add..." requests.