Video and Web

Creating a live digital guide for timber frame construction

Timber Development UK approached us to create a practical website to host the Quick Start Timber Frame Design Guide.

The resource needed to introduce timber frame construction to designers, developers and builders, especially SMEs who were new to this method of construction. It also needed to support larger housebuilders and industry professionals who wanted a quick route to key chapters, references and technical links.

Rather than creating a conventional brochure website, we built the site as a standalone digital guide. It could sit independently while also providing Timber Development UK and the Structural Timber Association with a useful resource to link to on their own websites.

We created an executive-summary-style homepage to help users navigate the information easily.

Structuring the guide around chapters

The website needed to make technical information easy to follow.

We created an executive summary-style homepage, followed by individual chapter pages for each section of the guide. Every chapter used a consistent template, helping users move through the information without needing to learn a new layout on each page.

Clear chapter navigation allowed visitors to read the guide in order or jump straight to the section they needed. That made the site useful both as an introduction and as a quick reference tool.

A clear house style to keep consistency throughout the project.

Creating a clear house style

The project also needed a recognisable house style, even though it did not require a full logo or brand identity.

We created a visual direction that gave the guide a consistent, professional feel across the homepage, chapter cards, navigation, content pages and footer. The dark blue palette, bright yellow accent, bold typography and timber frame line pattern helped give the website its own identity while keeping the design clear and practical.

The house style also helped the guide feel connected to the construction sector. Strong chapter panels, subject-based photography, and architectural details gave the site a technical feel without making it cold or inaccessible.

That visual system gave the resource enough character to stand alone, while still allowing it to sit comfortably alongside Timber Development UK and Structural Timber Association branding.

Clear chapter navigation allowed visitors to read the guide in order or jump straight to the section they needed.

Making technical content more accessible

Timber frame construction involves detailed technical, regulatory and industry information, so the design had to organise the content without making it feel overwhelming.

We used strong chapter cards, relevant subject-based imagery, and clear page layouts to make the material more approachable. Each section could include links to further resources, giving users a practical route into deeper guidance when they needed it.

The visual style remained clean, professional and functional throughout. It gave the website an industry-appropriate feel while keeping the focus firmly on the guide content.

Creating a flexible content management system

Timber Development UK and the Structural Timber Association needed a website they could update as the guide developed.

We built the site with a simple content management system, allowing the team to edit chapters, add links and expand the resource over time. That turned the project into a live report rather than a fixed document, giving the guide room to grow as references, regulations and industry guidance changed.

Video & Web also provided hosting, with ongoing maintenance and support to keep the website secure, up to date, and running smoothly.

The result

The Timber Frame digital guide website gave Timber Development UK and the Structural Timber Association a clear, flexible platform for an important industry resource.

The finished site presents the guide in a way that feels professional, accessible and easy to use. Its chapter-based structure, mobile-friendly layout, and editable content system help new users understand timber frame while giving experienced professionals a quick route to relevant information.

By combining clear information architecture, clean design, a practical house style and flexible content management, the project turned a technical guide into a digital resource that can continue to evolve.