From Jazz Stages to Himalayan Base Camps — Building a Website as Big as the Story
Some projects arrive and you immediately think — this one's going to be interesting.
When graphic designer Tom got in touch needing Squarespace expertise for his client, the brief was unlike anything I'd worked on recently. Jimmy Madison is a musician, mountaineer, and author. His autobiography, Drummer Boy, takes readers from jazz stages to Himalayan base camps. Quite a life. Quite a story to bring to life online.
The challenge: matching the energy of the story
A website for a book is one thing. A website for this book needed to work harder.
Jimmy's story moves — between worlds, between extremes, between the cool rhythm of a jazz stage and the thin air of a high-altitude base camp. A standard, static layout wasn't going to cut it. The site needed to feel as dynamic as the journey itself.
Working alongside Tom's graphic design, I built the Squarespace site with a custom scrolling effect that gives the page real movement and energy. It pulls you through the content in a way that feels intentional rather than functional.
The detail I'm quietly proud of
Every project has that one small thing that makes it feel considered rather than just built.
On this one, it was the drumstick.
Rather than letting it disappear on mobile — which is what happens to decorative elements on most sites that haven't been properly thought through — I built it so the drumstick repositions itself in mobile view. It's a small thing. Most visitors won't consciously notice it. But it's the difference between a site that feels complete and one that feels like it was designed for desktop and adapted reluctantly.
Those details matter. They're what makes a site feel like it was made for the story, not just around it.
The feedback
Tom's response said it better than I could:
"Kati was great to work with — very responsive and knowledgeable. The site came together quite quickly after I provided all the assets. My client is thrilled."
That last bit — my client is thrilled — is exactly what you want to hear when you've been brought in to support someone else's client relationship. Tom trusted me with that, and I don't take that lightly.
A note for graphic designers
If you're a graphic designer who'd rather stay in your lane — and hand the Squarespace build to someone who genuinely knows the platform — that's exactly what I'm here for. You keep the client relationship, I handle the technical build and make sure the design vision actually lands on screen.
You can see the finished site at drummerboyjimmymadison.com — and if you've got a project you'd like to talk through:
Hot Lizard Designs is a Squarespace web design studio based in Perth, WA. Kati works with small businesses, creatives, and graphic designers who need a specialist to bring their vision to life online.