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SMBJanuary 2026

Comme des Fous

The website of the participatory media outlet Comme des Fous

98/100
PageSpeed score
+42 pts
Performance gain
0 disruption
For the editorial team

Project presentation

Comme des Fous is a participatory media outlet that wanted to modernize its website by adopting a Headless architecture. The main goal was to improve the user experience while delivering top-tier performance.

I migrated the existing site to a Headless architecture using WordPress as the content CMS and Next.js for the front end. This decoupling separated content management from rendering, unlocking far more flexibility and a major performance boost.

The new site delivers a smooth, responsive experience with drastically reduced load times. Editors kept exactly the same WordPress admin interface they were already used to, making the transition seamless.

I also preserved all of the existing content and the WordPress site structure — only the front end changed — ensuring continuity for the outlet's loyal readers.

Objectives

  • Migrate the existing site to a Headless architecture
  • Improve site performance and speed
  • Deliver a better user experience

Results

  • Load-time score from 56 to 98 on PageSpeed Insights
  • Smooth, responsive user experience
  • Editors' admin interface unchanged
  • All existing WordPress content preserved
The technology trade-off
Options considered
  • — Rebuilding the classic WordPress (PHP) theme
  • — Full rewrite off WordPress (another CMS or custom build)
  • — Migrating to headless WordPress: WordPress kept as back-end, Next.js front
Decision

Headless WordPress — WordPress kept for the editorial team, Next.js for the public site.

Why this choice

The editorial team knew the WordPress admin inside out and the site carried years of content: leaving WordPress meant a full editorial migration and retraining. A classic theme rebuild couldn't reach the performance targets. Headless delivered both: admin unchanged, all content preserved, and a PageSpeed score up from 56 to 98.

“Agathe confirmed her Headless WordPress skills with a complete rebuild of commedesfous.com, with a user interface that works as well on desktop as on smartphone. Impeccable design, unmatched ergonomics, fast page loads. Agathe is attentive, responsive and meticulous. I highly recommend her.”

Joan Sidawy
Joan Sidawy
Architect & Community Manager, Comme des Fous