SketchWow Case Study

Overview

SketchWow is a high-performance landing page for an AI-powered sketch generation tool, designed with a focus on delivering a lightning-fast image-rich experience. The project's primary goal was to create a visually stunning showcase while maintaining exceptional page load times despite heavy image content.

My Role

As the Frontend Developer, I architected and implemented a highly optimized JAMstack solution, focusing on advanced image optimization techniques and performance-first development practices. I worked independently to create a landing page that balances visual impact with technical excellence.

Key Features / Achievements

Implemented advanced image optimization pipeline using Gatsby's image processing capabilities, resulting in 40% faster load times
Developed a responsive image delivery system that serves optimal image sizes based on device characteristics and viewport dimensions
Created a lazy-loading architecture that prioritizes above-the-fold content while efficiently managing background image loading
Built a performant animation system that maintains smooth 60fps scrolling even on image-heavy sections

Technical Implementation Details

Performance Optimizations:

Automated WebP image conversion with fallbacks
Responsive image srcsets for different viewport sizes
Progressive image loading with blur-up effect
Critical CSS extraction and inline injection
Deferred loading of non-critical resources

Responsive Design Features:

Fluid typography scaling system
Responsive image grid layouts
Adaptive content spacing
Mobile-first breakpoint structure
Touch-optimized interactions

Build Process Optimizations:

Automated image compression pipeline
Asset minification and bundling
Code splitting and dynamic imports
Cache optimization with content hashing
Preloading of critical resources

Stack & Tools

Built using Gatsby for static site generation and advanced image processing, with Netlify CMS for content management. The JAMstack architecture leverages Netlify's global CDN for optimal asset delivery. CSS Modules ensure style encapsulation and maintainable CSS architecture.

Results & Outcomes

The landing page achieved exceptional performance metrics despite its image-heavy design:

90+ Google Lighthouse performance score
Sub-2 second initial page load
First Contentful Paint under 1 second
Optimal image compression with minimal quality loss
Smooth scrolling performance across all devices

The project demonstrates that image-rich landing pages can achieve outstanding performance when built with the right optimization strategies and modern web technologies.