Modist
A directory and membership platform for the automotive community needed to feel editorial, not like a listings site. Built a custom CMS with filtered search, gated membership content, and a Driver's Collection feature section that gave the brand a genuine editorial identity.
A Directory That Needed to Feel Like a Magazine.
Modist is an automotive shop directory and membership platform serving enthusiasts who care as much about where they take their car as what they drive. The existing concept needed a digital home that matched that standard. A generic listings layout wasn't going to cut it. The platform needed editorial weight, a filterable directory, and a membership layer that gave members access to exclusive content.
How I Got There
Every project starts the same way: understanding the business before touching the design tools. Here's how this one came together.
Discovery
Goals, audience, and competitive landscape before a single frame is drawn.
Architecture
Page hierarchy, conversion flows, and SEO structure mapped before design begins.
Design & Build
Figma to Webflow. Pixel-perfect, CMS-powered, and built to perform from day one.
Launch
Core Web Vitals audit, cross-browser QA, and a clean handoff so the team owns their content.
Generic Platform. Premium Audience.
The automotive enthusiast market has high standards for aesthetics and experience. A standard directory layout would immediately signal that this wasn't built for them. The design had to feel intentional and editorial without sacrificing the utility of a searchable, filterable directory.
Membership gating added a layer of complexity. The platform needed to serve two audiences simultaneously: anonymous visitors discovering the directory and logged-in members accessing the Driver's Collection. Both experiences had to feel native, not bolted together.
Editorial Identity First, Platform Second.
The Driver's Collection became the anchor for the brand's editorial identity. Designed as a feature section with its own visual language, it gave Modist a reason to exist beyond just listing shops. The directory was built on Webflow CMS with custom filtering so users could find shops by location, specialty, and type without a page reload. Membership functionality was layered on top, gating Driver's Collection content for registered members while keeping the directory open to all visitors.
A Platform That Feels Like a Brand.
Modist launched with a filterable shop directory, a fully gated editorial section, and a visual identity that holds up against the editorial standards of its audience.
6
Pages Built
3
CMS Collections
40+
Shop Listings