Strategy Meeting
Artifact info
Title:

Yoana Tchoukleva Website - Launch Strategy & Claude Editing Setup

Engagement:

Yoana Tchoukleva - Website

Client:

Yoana Tchoukleva

Meeting Date:
May 24, 2026
Next Meeting Date:
May 24, 2026
Hide This
May 1, 2026
Hide This
April 23, 2026
Hide This
People
James Redenbaugh
Yoana Tchoukleva
Artifact Image
Meeting Summary

🎯 Strategic Direction

James and Yoana reframed the path to launch given competing time pressures: James is heading to Portugal Wednesday for a major conference launch followed by his honeymoon, and Yoana just returned to work while juggling a new baby. Rather than rushing a Squarespace build before James leaves, they landed on a two-phase approach (02:32).

Two-Phase Launch Plan
  1. Phase 1 (Now): Launch the existing HTML/CSS/JS site hosted on GitHub [tag="github"], with Claude AI [tag="claude"] connected for easy editing during James's absence
  2. Phase 2 (Post June 12): Convert the site to Squarespace when James returns, or keep iterating on the current build depending on how Yoana finds the Claude workflow

Yoana noted she's open to either launching now or waiting until the Squarespace migration is complete. Decision deferred until end of week based on remaining progress (05:39).

🤖 Claude + GitHub Editing Workflow

James demonstrated live how easily he edits the site by simply chatting with Claude [tag="claude"] — asking it to add identities, suggest where to move content, and execute changes directly on the GitHub [tag="github"] repository. This workflow is particularly well-suited to Yoana's current lifestyle since she can voice-message Claude from her phone between baby naps rather than needing dedicated computer time (12:07).

Setup details:

  • Yoana will subscribe to Claude Pro at $20/month (15:25)
  • James will create a GitHub [tag="github"] account for Yoana and walk her through connecting Claude to the repo
  • Yoana will trial the workflow during James's trip and decide whether Squarespace migration is still desired

[technology="Collaboration Management Tools"]

✍️ Homepage & Content Refinements

Hero Section

The background video will be replaced with the static sunset photo that briefly flashes on load — Yoana prefers its feel and it avoids the video-loading awkwardness (07:26). James will look for a better Bay Area sunset option later using iStock credits.

Identities & Credentials

Yoana flagged that the top of the homepage feels busy with name, tagline, identities (attorney, lecturer, etc.), quote, and the black credentials banner stacking on top of each other. They agreed:

  • Keep multiple identities — "we're a verb, not a noun" (09:12)
  • Consider scrolling/marquee treatment if the line gets too long, especially on mobile
  • Possibly consolidate identities into the black banner to reduce visual stacking

📚 Publications Section

The filter bar will be removed since there aren't enough items to warrant filtering. Final category structure:

  • Selected Work (top)
  • Resolutions
  • Other Writing
  • Featured In — will include publication logos where possible (mostly podcasts like This Is Actually Happening and outlets like Sacramento Bee)

Claude will pull article titles directly from the source links Yoana compiled in the Google Doc 📄. Google Doc publications will link out to view-only docs (19:56).

Media Mentions Research

Yoana asked about finding TV news clips that feature her — a recurring challenge since her name isn't typically in segment titles. Claude outlined two paths James will email over: free DIY hunting on YouTube and station websites, or paid PR transcript services that index broadcast content (23:22).

🎨 Photo Updates

Yoana walked James through specific photo swaps documented at the bottom of the Edits to Website tab in the Google Doc 📄, with references in Figma 🔗 and Google Drive. Key replacements:

  • New Way of Being / Homepage: Photo of Yoana with "The function of freedom is to free someone else" graffiti
  • Conflict Resolution: Red shirt photo
  • Restorative Justice: Centerpiece with flowers (currently under Conflict Resolution — just move it down)
  • Policy Advocacy: TBD photo from Figma
  • Political Campaigning: Existing polling place / kneeling photo
  • Ritual Offerings: Flower composition or redwood trees photo (flower preferred)
  • Commission work: Image 4459 from the shared Drive folder
  • Hands-touching photo: Relocate or hold for later — Yoana wants to use it somewhere

Photos on the Offerings and Bio pages also need reformatting — current crops are cutting off important parts of the images (27:04).

Action Items

James Redenbaugh

  • Replace homepage background video with the static sunset photo (07:55)
  • Incorporate remaining text edits and complete the publications section restructure with proper categories and links (19:56)
  • Execute photo swaps using references from Figma and Google Drive; reformat photo crops on Offerings and Bio pages (27:04)
  • Set up Yoana's GitHub account and walk her through connecting Claude to the repo (16:16)
  • Email Yoana the Claude research on finding TV news clips, including paid PR service options (25:32)
  • Send final update before signing off for the Portugal trip (34:47)
  • Schedule follow-up meeting for the week of June 15 after returning June 12 (34:25)

Yoana Tchoukleva

  • Subscribe to Claude Pro at $20/month (15:25)
  • Trial the Claude + GitHub editing workflow during James's absence and evaluate whether Squarespace migration is still needed (13:18)
  • Decide by end of week whether to launch the current site now or wait for the Squarespace build (06:25)
Relevant Initiatives

Personal Website - Design & Development

Priority: 
High
Size: 
M
Planning Stage
Transcript