Skip to content
Story & Structure
Work About Us
Contact

Core Craft Development.

The Foundation of Exceptional Digital Experiences

Core Craft Development isn't just about implementing a CMS—it's about architecting systems that empower your team, delight your users, and scale with your ambitions. We build Craft solutions that are fast, flexible, and built to last.

Talk to Us About Core Craft Development
Have a project that needs serious engineering? We reply within one business day.
Start a conversation

Why Craft? Why Story & Structure?

Craft is the CMS for Professionals

After eight years working exclusively with Craft, we've seen it evolve from challenger to champion. It's not the easiest CMS. It's not the cheapest. But for organizations that need flexibility without chaos, power without complexity, Craft delivers.

We're Craft Specialists, Not Generalists

While other agencies juggle five different platforms, we've gone deep on one. This means:

  • Faster development because we know every shortcut
  • Better architecture because we've learned from hundreds of implementations
  • Fewer surprises because we've already hit (and solved) the edge cases
  • Direct support from Pixel & Tonic because they know us by name

Core Craft Services

01

Craft CMS Development

Content Management That Scales With Your Ambitions

From marketing sites to content platforms serving millions, we build Craft CMS implementations that are powerful yet intuitive. Your content team gets the flexibility they need. Your developers get clean, maintainable code. Everyone wins.

What we build:

  • Multi-site marketing platforms
  • Publishing systems for media companies
  • Corporate websites that marketing can actually update
  • Content APIs for headless architectures
  • Membership platforms with gated content
Explore Craft CMS Development
02

Craft Commerce Development

E-Commerce That Actually Works

Craft Commerce is e-commerce for developers who've been burned by WooCommerce, frustrated by Shopify's limits, or exhausted by Magento's complexity. We build commerce experiences that convert visitors and scale smoothly.

What we build:

  • B2B platforms with custom pricing and workflows
  • Multi-currency international stores
  • Subscription and membership commerce
  • High-volume retail platforms
  • Complex product configurators
Explore Craft Commerce Development
03

Custom Craft Development

When Off-the-Shelf Isn't Enough

Sometimes Craft needs to do something it wasn't designed to do. That's where custom module development comes in. We extend, enhance, and sometimes completely reimagine what Craft can do.

What we build:

  • Custom modules for specific business logic
  • Plugin development for reusable functionality
  • API integrations with third-party services
  • Advanced workflow automations
  • Performance optimizations at the code level
Explore Custom Craft Development

Our Difference

  • 01

    Architecture First, Code Second

    Before we write a line of code, we map your content model, plan your infrastructure, and document your integration points. This upfront investment saves weeks of refactoring later.

  • 02

    Performance Is Not Optional

    Every Core Craft project includes:

    • Performance budgets for each template
    • Database query optimization from day one
    • Caching strategies that make sense
    • Monitoring after deployment
  • 03

    Developer Experience Matters

    We build systems your team will actually enjoy working with:

    • Clean, documented code that follows Craft and PHP best practices
    • Composer-based deployment for reliable updates
    • Environment-based configuration for easy promotion
    • Automated testing for confident deployments
    • Clear documentation for future developers
  • 04

    Content Author Empowerment

    A CMS is only as good as the experience it provides content creators:

    • Intuitive control panels that don't require a manual
    • Live preview that actually works
    • Structured content that maintains consistency
    • Flexible page building without breaking designs
    • Revision tracking for peace of mind

Development Process

Every project is different, but here's a typical timeline for the work we do.

  1. 01
    Discovery & Architecture

    Week 1 - 2

    We dive deep into your requirements, examine your current systems, and architect a solution that balances ambition with pragmatism.

    • Content modeling workshops
    • Technical requirement gathering
    • Integration point mapping
    • Performance requirement setting
    • Timeline and milestone planning
  2. 02
    Development Sprints

    Week 3 - 10

    Iterative development with regular demos and feedback loops. You see progress weekly, not just at the end.

    • 2-week sprint cycles
    • Weekly demos and reviews
    • Continuous integration/deployment
    • Regular performance testing
    • Ongoing documentation
  3. 03
    Optimization & Polish

    Week 11 - 12

    The difference between good and great happens here. Performance optimization, accessibility improvements, and final polish.

    • Front-end performance optimization
    • Database query refinement
    • Accessibility audit and fixes
    • Security hardening
    • Load testing and optimization
  4. 04
    Launch & Stabilization

    Week 13 - 14

    Smooth deployments with rollback plans, monitoring setup, and knowledge transfer.

    • Production deployment
    • DNS and infrastructure migration
    • Monitoring and alerting setup
    • Team training and handoff
    • Post-launch support

Common Core Development Scenarios

  • 01

    "We're Leaving WordPress"

    You've hit WordPress's limits. Constant plugin conflicts, security concerns, and a Gutenberg editor that makes everyone cry. We'll migrate your content, rebuild your functionality, and give you a CMS that grows with you.

    We can also help migrate from Magento and Shopify.

  • 02

    "Our Agency Disappeared"

    Your agency built a Craft site and vanished. No documentation, no handoff, no response to emails. We'll audit what you have, document what we find, and get you back on track.

    Explore our rescue services →

  • 03

    "We Need Enterprise Features"

    Multi-site, multi-language, complex workflows, enterprise integrations. Craft can handle it all, but it takes experience to do it right. We've built enterprise Craft systems that rival any traditional CMS.

    See our enterprise capabilities →

  • 04

    "It Needs to Be Fast"

    Your current site takes 6 seconds to load. Your bounce rate is through the roof. Speed isn't just nice to have—it's business critical. We make Craft sites that fly.

    Explore performance optimization →

Why Choose Story & Structure for Core Craft Development?

  • 01

    Proven Process

    • Predictable timelines that we actually meet
    • Regular communication and transparency
    • Iterative development with frequent feedback
    • Comprehensive documentation and handoff
  • 02

    Technical Excellence

    • Clean, maintainable, documented code
    • Performance-first architecture
    • Scalability built in from day one
    • Security best practices throughout
  • 03

    Real Partnership

    • Direct access to your development team
    • We join your Slack and standups
    • Knowledge transfer, not vendor lock-in
    • Ongoing support after launch

FAQ

  • 01

    How long does a typical Craft project take?

    Most projects run 8-14 weeks from kickoff to launch. Simple marketing sites can be done in 6 weeks. Complex platforms might take 20+ weeks. We'll give you a realistic timeline after our initial discovery call.

  • 02

    Can you work with our existing design team?

    Absolutely. We excel at the technical implementation of designs from agencies, in-house teams, or freelancers. We'll collaborate directly with your designers to ensure pixel-perfect implementation. Learn more about designer collaboration →

  • 03

    Do you provide hosting?

    We can architect and manage your infrastructure, but we typically recommend enterprise cloud providers (AWS, Google Cloud) for production hosting. We'll help you choose the right solution and can manage it if needed. Explore our DevOps services →

  • 04

    What about ongoing maintenance?

    Every site needs maintenance. We offer monthly retainers for updates, optimization, and feature development. Many clients start with a project and transition to ongoing support.

  • 05

    Can you migrate from our current CMS?

    Yes. We've successfully migrated sites from WordPress, Drupal, Magento, Shopify, and various proprietary systems. We preserve your content, URLs, and SEO value. Explore migration services →

Get Started

Ready to Build Something Exceptional?

Tell us about your project. Whether you're starting fresh, scaling up, or rescuing something that's gone sideways - we'll give you an honest assessment, not a sales pitch.

Start a Conversation