Cinematic & Immersive Artist Portfolio

Idea and Core Concept

The «Show, Don’t Just Tell» Approach

The core concept for the redesign was to capture the energy of a live performance. Instead of asking users to read a biography first, the site immediately immerses them in the artist’s world through a high-quality background video. This visual-first strategy communicates the quality and professionalism of the soprano before a single word is read.

Modernizing the Classical

The goal was to break the stereotype of «stiff» classical music websites. By introducing sections like «Specials» and «Updates,» the site feels dynamic and current, signaling to booking agents and fans that the artist is active and evolving. The «Jetzt Buchen!» (Book Now) call-to-action is strategically placed to capture interest generated by the visual impact.

Design Choices

Video-Centric Layout

The design is anchored by the full-width video player in the hero section. This required a minimalist approach to the overlaying UI—navigation and text are kept clean to avoid obstructing the visual performance. The use of a high-quality WebM video ensures that the movement is smooth and atmospheric without being jarring.

Structural Clarity

The navigation is intentionally simple but comprehensive. Separating «Gallery» and «Specials» allows for a curated experience where standard press photos are distinct from unique projects or highlighted performances. The typography likely balances elegance with readability to ensure the «About» text stands out against the media-rich backdrop.

Interactive Trust Elements

The prominent placement of the press quote («…leuchtkräftige, tadellos geführte… Stimme…») serves as an immediate anchor of credibility. The newsletter section, featuring a mathematical captcha (e.g., «8 + 13 =»), was designed to be functional yet unobtrusive, ensuring audience retention without compromising the visual flow.

Challenges

Video Optimization & Performance

The biggest technical challenge was implementing the iris-hq.webm background video. Ensuring this file played smoothly across different devices and bandwidths—without causing significant layout shifts or slow load times—required careful optimization. Balancing compression with visual fidelity was key to maintaining the «premium» feel.

Divi Customization Constraints

While Divi provided the structural framework, achieving the specific «cinematic» look required breaking out of the standard grid. Custom CSS was essential to manage how the video container behaves on mobile versus desktop, ensuring the focal point of the video remains visible on vertical screens.

Form Logic & Captcha

Integrating the newsletter form with a custom math captcha within the page builder environment required specific logic to ensure it blocks spam effectively without frustrating valid users. Styling this functional element to blend seamlessly with the artistic design was a detailed CSS task.

Learnings

Impact of First Impressions

The redesign reinforced that a moving image (video) creates a significantly stronger first impression than a static hero image. It sets the mood instantly, which is crucial for a performing artist.

The Balance of Media and Speed

Working with heavy media assets taught the importance of modern formats (like WebM) and loading strategies. A beautiful site is only effective if it loads fast enough for the user to see it.

Simplicity in Navigation

Grouping content into clear, distinct buckets (like differentiating «Specials» from general content) helps guide the user journey more effectively than a single, long-scrolling «Vita» page.