DMVBizConnect
Brand strategy, product development, and build for the DMV community business directory.
DMVBizConnect is a free local business directory for Washington DC, Maryland and Northern Virginia, grown out of the DMV Business Connect community of entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals. I led brand strategy and product development, and built the platform on a heavily customized premium WordPress theme with the Maps API and custom scripts.
The Approach
From a Group to a Platform
The DMV Business Connect group already had the people - entrepreneurs, small business owners and professionals across three states. What it lacked was a place where they could be found. DMVBizConnect turns that community into a searchable, always-on directory.
Search That Feels Local
Every screen is built around discovery - search by what and where, browse by state and city, and explore 400+ businesses on a live map powered by the Maps API. Listing pages put call, website and directions front and center.
Built to Scale, Not Just Launch
A premium WordPress theme pushed well past its defaults with custom scripts - an AI chat assistant, claim-your-listing flows, SEO structure and paid listing plans. Real owner-submitted listings always come first.
Design System
Two lockups, nothing else.
Light surfaces
Dark surfaces & overlaysNavy leads. Red calls to action.
#0F1B2DHeader, nav, primary surfaces#C8102ECTAs, highlights, badges#0D2340Dark sections#5F6672Body text and meta#F0F6FCLight surfacesNavy into red. Used rarely.
Bricolage leads. DM Sans explains.
Bricolage Grotesque → DM Sans → sans-serif
600 / 800 · sentence case · tight tracking
400 body · 500 UI · 700 labels and buttons
Sentence case in all body copy.
#DC2626#16A34A#CA8A04#2563EB