Hope Media Group – Full Stack Platform Overhaul

At Hope Media Group, I spearheaded the design and development of a modern, scalable digital platform that streamlined content management, enhanced user experience, and empowered the team to publish and manage media efficiently. This project combined full-stack engineering, CMS architecture, cloud infrastructure, and interactive frontend design to create a cohesive and robust solution.

Project Overview:
The goal was to replace outdated, fragmented systems with a centralized headless CMS and a responsive, performant web interface. The platform needed to support multiple brands and projects while enabling non-technical team members to manage content seamlessly.

My Role:
As the primary developer on the project, I managed the entire technology stack: from backend APIs and database design to frontend interfaces and deployment pipelines. I collaborated closely with designers and stakeholders to ensure the final product met both functional and aesthetic goals.

Key Contributions:

• Built a dynamic, headless CMS system using Directus, allowing content editors to create, edit, and publish content without requiring developer intervention.

• Developed custom APIs to connect the CMS with the frontend, ensuring fast, reliable data delivery.

• Designed and implemented responsive, interactive UI components with Tailwind CSS and custom design systems, ensuring a polished and consistent user experience.

• Integrated advanced page transitions and animations with Barba.js and Framer Motion, giving the platform a modern, smooth feel.

• Secured the platform with JWT authentication and HttpOnly cookies, protecting sensitive administrative functions.

• Managed cloud infrastructure using AWS ECS, CloudFront, and Pulumi, enabling scalable deployments and efficient content delivery.

• Optimized database queries and performance, improving page load times and responsiveness across devices.

Achievements & Impact:

• Enabled full editorial independence, reducing content publishing time from hours to minutes.

• Delivered a multi-brand, multi-project CMS, streamlining operations and content management across the company.

• Improved platform performance and stability, handling high-traffic periods without downtime.

• Created a visually compelling, user-friendly interface that strengthened brand presence and engagement.

• Implemented scalable infrastructure that allowed the company to add new projects and brands seamlessly.

Technologies Used:
Next.js, React, Node.js, TypeScript, Tailwind CSS, Directus CMS, AWS (ECS, CloudFront, S3), Pulumi, PostgreSQL, Redis, Barba.js, Framer Motion, Docker.

Outcome:
The project transformed Hope Media Group’s digital operations, enabling faster content production, improved user experiences, and a scalable system ready for future growth. It stands as a showcase of combining technical expertise with design-driven development to create a high-impact, fully integrated media platform.