New Website in Production for LaSauce:
Sometimes the “shoemaker’s kids” myth is true—sometimes it isn’t.
After migrating Laine.lu (our CSR non-profit project around alpacas and bees), we took on another internal project that looks a lot like what our clients ask for every day: turning an aging website into a modern, credible, AI‑ready showcase—without breaking everything or rebuilding from scratch.
From an Old Website to an “AI‑Ready” Showcase
The web rewards change. It loves:
- fresh content,
- recent client testimonials,
- news and updates,
- and visible momentum.
But while the internet loves novelty, real customers value continuity. They chose you for what you stand for—and they want to see those values preserved, refined, and strengthened over time.
So the goal for LaSauce wasn’t a revolution. It was a controlled transformation: keep what makes the brand recognizable, modernize what signals “outdated,” and build a structure that supports future content.
Step 1 — A Brand Refresh That Stays Familiar
We started with the brand identity.
- The logo typography was updated from Hobo (dated and informal) to Magistral, with a cleaner, more modern feel.
- We introduced a subtle digital cue directly into the sauce boat design to align the visual identity with the brand’s positioning.
- We also moved away from a very bright, cartoon-like blue and chose a more sober blue gradient, designed to work consistently across RGB (web) and CMYK (print).
The result: the brand remains recognizable, but it now feels more current and more professional.
Step 2 — Switching the Site to English (for Users, Not for “Magic SEO”)
Moving the site content to English was a deliberate internet strategy—but not for the usual “English ranks better” misconception.
The primary reason is usability: browser-based automatic translation works significantly better when translating from English. That means international visitors get a better experience instantly, without needing a custom multilingual setup.
Step 3 — Keeping Legacy Content (Without Letting It Dilute the New Message)
LaSauce had valuable articles in its previous version—content that still helps readers, even if some services are no longer offered.
Instead of deleting them, we:
- archived the old articles,
- made them accessible via a dedicated submenu,
- and kept them available as a knowledge base.
This preserves long-term value while allowing the new site to stay focused on current offerings.
Step 4 — A Clear Focus on New Services and Recent Showcases
The new site is intentionally oriented toward what matters now:
- improved visibility of new services,
- stronger emphasis on recent work and showcases,
- better balance between:
- static content (core pages), and
- dynamic, high-value content (portfolio projects).
This makes it easier to publish updates continuously—without turning the website into a constant redesign project.
Step 5 — A Clean WordPress Build: No Page Builder, Minimal Plugins
We built everything on a license-free WordPress template to avoid dependency on proprietary page builders and to fully leverage standard WordPress capabilities.
Key choices:
- No page builder
- Plugins strictly limited to security and SEO/positioning
- The full site built with native Gutenberg blocks
- Only five small CSS additions were needed, mainly to:
- add a LinkedIn icon in the menu,
- “glue”/tighten certain section blocks,
- hide redundant information where necessary.
This approach improves performance, reduces technical debt, and makes the site easier to maintain long-term.
Project Summary (Use Case for Modernizing Without Starting Over)
- Project duration: 5 days (new visual identity + new content)
- Complexity: 1/5
- Satisfaction: 5/5
➡️ https://lasauce.lu
If you’re considering a similar upgrade—modernizing your website while preserving continuity, improving structure, and staying “AI‑ready”—get in touch and let’s discuss what this approach could look like for your own site.