Maggie Kelly Designs

Michael Thomas Coffee needed more than a website redesign—they needed digital solutions that improved both the customer experience and internal business operations. Through user research, information architecture, and UX-focused design, I developed a new e-commerce website that streamlined online ordering, subscriptions, and merchandising. I also designed and built a separate wholesale platform with custom membership functionality and integrated payment solutions to support business growth while reducing operational inefficiencies.

This project highlights the real-world problem-solving process that I bring into the classroom. Students often think design is primarily about visual aesthetics, but projects like this demonstrate how designers use research, strategy, user experience, and technology to solve complex business challenges. By sharing examples from projects such as Michael Thomas Coffee, I help students understand how design decisions impact customer behavior, operational workflows, and overall business success. Students gain insight into the collaborative process of working with clients, identifying user needs, and creating digital experiences that deliver measurable value.

As Michael Thomas Coffee expanded its wholesale operations, the company required a dedicated digital platform that could support a growing network of wholesale clients while improving operational efficiency. The objective was to create a secure, membership-based wholesale ordering system that streamlined purchasing, payment processing, shipping coordination, and customer communications within a single integrated platform.

I designed and developed a custom WordPress website tailored to the organization’s unique business requirements. The solution included a private client portal with role-based access, custom login functionality, and an ACH payment processing system that significantly reduced transaction fees compared to traditional credit card processing. By integrating order management, shipping workflows, packaging coordination, and automated notifications, the platform improved the overall user experience while reducing administrative overhead, operational costs, and processing time.

This project demonstrates how strategic web design and digital systems can solve complex business challenges by aligning user needs, technology, and organizational objectives. It serves as a valuable example of how design professionals leverage research, problem-solving, and technical implementation to create scalable digital solutions that deliver measurable business impact.