A bespoke web platform and content management system designed to reflect the prestige and heritage of a leading multi-family office.
View siteWhat we did
- Technical translation of high-fidelity designs into a responsive web experience
- Custom development of a secure and intuitive ExpressionEngine CMS
- Implementation of a streamlined content publishing workflow
- Integration of interactive elements to enhance user engagement
- Advanced SEO optimisation and technical performance tuning
- Secure hosting architecture using modern PHP and MySQL environments
About the project
Samara is a distinguished multi-family office dedicated to helping successful families grow and preserve their wealth across generations. Based in Canada but serving a global perspective, the firm operates with a philosophy rooted in stability, discretion, and long-term vision. To mirror this level of professional excellence, Samara required a digital presence that moved beyond a standard corporate brochure to become a sophisticated representation of their brand values.
Tinderhouse was commissioned to bring the Samara digital vision to life, working in close collaboration with the client’s designated design team. Our role was to take high-level creative concepts and transform them into a high-performance web platform. This required a meticulous approach to web development, ensuring that every pixel, transition, and interaction felt purposeful and premium. The project was not simply about aesthetics; it was about building a reliable engine that could support Samara’s communication strategy for years to come.
Because the wealth management sector demands precision, we utilised a minimum viable product strategy during the initial build phase to ensure the core architecture was bulletproof before layering on complex interactive features. This allowed Samara to establish their new digital identity quickly while maintaining the highest standards of technical integrity. By focusing on a clean, manageable backend, we provided the client with the tools to share their expertise without technical friction.
The Challenge
The wealth management industry is built on trust, and a website is often the first touchpoint for potential clients and partners. Samara faced several specific challenges that our development team needed to address:
- The existing web presence did not accurately reflect the firm’s stature or its modern, multi-generational approach to wealth management.
- A requirement for a content management system that offered total flexibility for the marketing team without risking the integrity of the design.
- The need for a highly responsive site that maintained its visual impact across ultra-high-resolution displays and mobile devices used by high-net-worth individuals.
- A complex design language that required expert technical execution to ensure fast loading times despite high-quality imagery.
- Maintaining a secure and stable environment to protect the firm's reputation and digital assets.
- The absence of an efficient publishing workflow, making it difficult for the client to regularly update the "Insights" and "Team" sections of the site.
Our Solution
High-Fidelity Technical Implementation
Our primary objective was to honour the creative vision provided by the client’s designers. We utilised a modern front-end stack to ensure that every aspect of the design was rendered perfectly across all modern browsers. This involved custom CSS architectures and JavaScript interactions that provided a smooth, premium feel to the user journey. As experienced mobile app developers, we applied our knowledge of responsive performance to ensure the web experience was as fluid on a smartphone as it was on a 5K desktop monitor.
Bespoke ExpressionEngine CMS
To manage the site’s content, we implemented a custom build of the ExpressionEngine CMS. This platform was chosen for its unparalleled flexibility and security. Unlike more common, rigid CMS options, our work as Expression Engine developers allowed us to tailor the administrative interface specifically to Samara’s needs. We built custom channel fields and entry types that guide the user through the publishing process, ensuring that every new piece of content automatically adheres to the site’s strict typography and layout rules.
Content Publishing Workflow
Understanding that the Samara team needs to share timely market insights and company updates, we developed a streamlined publishing workflow. This included structured data entry for team profiles and a sophisticated blog/insight system. By automating the relationship between different content types, we ensured that a change in one place would be reflected throughout the site, reducing the risk of outdated information and significantly lowering the administrative burden on the Samara staff.
Performance and SEO Optimisation
In the competitive field of financial app development and web services, speed and visibility are paramount. We engineered the site to exceed modern performance benchmarks, implementing advanced caching techniques and image optimisation. This ensures that the high-quality visuals do not compromise the user experience. Furthermore, we integrated a technical SEO framework that allows Samara to manage their metadata and social sharing attributes directly through the CMS, ensuring their brand remains visible and professional across all search engines and social platforms.
The Results
The launch of the Samara platform in 2021 provided the firm with a digital foundation that truly reflects their professional ethos.
Elevated Brand Perception: The site successfully positions Samara as a modern leader in the wealth management sector, enhancing their credibility with international clients.
Operational Independence: The marketing team can now publish and edit content with ease, removing the need for external technical support for routine updates.
Superior Cross-Device Performance: The site delivers a consistent, high-end experience, regardless of whether a user is on a desktop or a mobile device.
Robust Technical Foundation: Since launch, the site has maintained exceptional uptime and security, providing a safe haven for the firm’s digital communications.
Improved Search Visibility: The site’s technical SEO structure has led to improved rankings and a more professional presentation of the brand in search results.
Technical Highlights
Core Framework: ExpressionEngine CMS for high-security, custom content management.
Backend: PHP and MySQL for reliable data handling and scalability.
Front End: Custom HTML5, CSS3 (Sass), and modern JavaScript for a responsive, interactive UI.
Infrastructure: Secure, high-performance hosting optimised for global delivery.
Content Tools: Custom-built publishing channels for team management and industry insights.
SEO: Integrated metadata management and semantic markup architecture.
Need a Premium Digital Solution?
Whether you require a sophisticated corporate website or a complex MVP development project for a new financial service, Tinderhouse provides the technical expertise to bring your vision to life. Based in Kent, we work with global clients to deliver exceptional digital experiences.