01
Challenge
Balancing recruitment, credibility, and culture
DDS Companies is a leader in construction and utility services, but their digital platform did not reflect their market position. As the company grew to over 500 employees, the existing website became a bottleneck for both business development and recruitment.
The site failed to effectively communicate high-level technical expertise to clients while simultaneously struggling to attract the next generation of the workforce. A lack of clear user pathways and outdated design elements made it difficult for stakeholders to find relevant information. To support their continued growth, DDS required a modern platform that balanced professional authority with a strong focus on company culture
The goal: Create a digital home that validates their professional expertise while proving that DDS is a great place to work.
02
Solution
A modern, people-first digital experience
We designed a platform that balances professional service authority with a heavy emphasis on workforce culture. By streamlining the user journey and prioritizing authentic storytelling, we created a digital home that serves the needs of utility partners and the employees who drive the business forward.
Key highlights of the transformation:
- Intuitive Design: We simplified the navigation so users can find exactly what they need in fewer clicks, whether they are looking for a service quote or a job opening.
- Dynamic Visuals: Inspired by the sharp angles of the DDS logo, we introduced a new visual style that adds movement and energy to every page.
- Enhanced Careers Hub: We transformed the careers section into a recruitment engine that highlights company culture and makes applying for roles seamless.
- Technical Excellence: Beyond the look and feel, we built the site on a flexible WordPress foundation. We ensured it is fully accessible to all users (meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards) and equipped it with modern tracking tools to measure growth and performance.
The Result: A professional and functional platform that supports the continued growth and operational excellence of DDS Companies.
Homepage
Movement with Purpose: This preview showcases the “energy of the angle,” a visual design system inspired by the DDS logo that creates a sense of forward momentum. It features angular design elements pulled from the logo that lead the eye down the page and dynamic content blocks that bring their 500+ person team to the forefront. Every element is designed to validate DDS’s expertise and celebrate their culture in real-time.
Services
Streamlining the Search for Services: To help users find what they need faster, we implemented a persistent anchor navigation that gives visitors an instant “table of contents” for all DDS services. This UX-focused feature eliminates the need for excessive scrolling, allowing clients to jump directly to specific expertise with a single click.
Project Modal
Seamless Exploration via Project Modals: We used interactive modals to allow users to dive into project details without ever leaving the main gallery, eliminating the “back-and-forth” of traditional page loading. This UX strategy reduces mental effort and keeps the user journey fluid, encouraging deeper exploration of the DDS portfolio through seamless navigation between projects.
Careers
Empowering the Workforce: This video highlights a recruitment hub designed to do more than just list job openings; it serves as a digital tribute to the 500+ professionals who drive DDS forward. By integrating high-definition team imagery and personal success stories into a seamless layout, we’ve created a space where current employees feel a genuine sense of pride and ownership. This “people-first” UX ensures that while we are attracting new talent, we are also validating the hard work of the existing team, showing the world that at DDS, the people are the primary competitive advantage.
Mobile Primary Pages
Performance on Every Screen: We optimized the mobile experience to ensure that DDS’s “people-first” culture translates perfectly to smaller screens. By prioritizing high-impact imagery of the team and using touch-friendly layouts, every scroll is designed to keep the human element front and center, ensuring a seamless, high-performance connection even on the go.
Who We Are
Strategic Content Flow: We structured the “Who we are” page to tell a cohesive story, moving users from high-level company history to the real-life faces behind the work, to company values. By organizing content in this way, we create a natural rhythm that builds trust and guides the reader through the company’s legacy, culture, and expertise without overwhelming them with information.
