A structured information system designed to make local discovery fast, intuitive, and genuinely useful.
The Czech Pages is more than a directory. It required designing a clear, scalable data model, building a coherent content system and developing a retrieval layer that interprets user intent rather than simply matching keywords. My role spanned UX design, information architecture, front end development and the creation of a semantic search system that helps users find relevant businesses quickly, even with imperfect or ambiguous queries.
This project demonstrates how structured data, clean UX and search logic come together to deliver a genuinely useful local discovery tool.
Foundation
Data architecture and content mode
The core challenge was to create a platform that could grow without becoming chaotic.
I designed a structured data model that defines each listing through consistent taxonomies, metadata and attributes.
Key work included:
- Category taxonomy design
- Standardised metadata fields
- Multi tag classification
- Geo and contextual attributes
- Scalable schema for future categories
- Clean URL and slug conventions for SEO
This foundation enables more advanced filtering, semantic search and future features.
UX Structure
Designing for clarity, speed and minimal cognitive load
A directory succeeds only if users can find what they need with no friction. I built a UX framework prioritising clarity, scanability and predictable interaction.
Key UX decisions included:
- A mobile first layout
- A clear split between browse and direct search
- Card based listings optimised for quick scanning
- Predictable filter structure
- Breadcrumb and navigation logic that avoids dead ends
- Fast access to essential details
The result is a browsing experience that feels light, trustworthy and efficient.
Community Features
A user registration system for a community maintained directory
Because The Czech Pages is designed as a directory maintained by expats for expats, I built a complete front end registration and contribution system. Users can create an account, add listings and manage their own entries through a streamlined dashboard.
Key components:
- Front end user registration
- Secure login and profile management
- User dashboard for creating and editing listings
- Media upload and field validation
- Moderation workflow for all submissions and edits
- Notification flow for approval or revision requests
Listings only go live after moderation, ensuring accuracy and quality across the platform.
Verified owner badge
Business owners needed a way to mark a listing as officially managed without creating a pay to win ranking system. I implemented a verification badge that:
- Confirms ownership
- Helps users trust the information
- Has no impact on search position
- Does not boost visibility
- Respects the integrity of the ranking algorithm, which remains based on category, search intent and data relevance
This approach keeps the platform community driven, fair and transparent.
Semantic Search Layer
Understanding user intent, not just keywords
Traditional directory search breaks down when users type ambiguous or incomplete terms. I designed a semantic search layer that interprets meaning and retrieves the most relevant listings.
Technical work included:
- Mapping categories into semantic clusters
- Handling partial, imperfect and multilingual queries
- Defining fallback behaviours
- Optimising search performance within WordPress constraints
This dramatically improves the quality of results and reduces user frustration.
Visual and Front End Design
A clean, neutral interface that supports the content
The design is intentionally minimal so the content can take priority. The visual system is built around clean typography, generous spacing and an intuitive card based structure.
Work included:
- A neutral colour palette
- Typography for clarity and hierarchy
- Card layouts and iconography
- Smooth transitions and interaction cues
The interface feels modern, trustworthy and easy to navigate.
