DEREK BARKA
MEET DEREK
PARTNER, CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
As Chief Technology Officer at SilverTech, Derek defines and drives the agency’s technology vision—helping clients harness data, digital platforms, and emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges and build meaningful, lasting customer relationships.
Known for finding solutions to the toughest and most complicated technology challenges, Derek combines innovation with deep expertise across enterprise architecture, cloud infrastructure, custom development, and big data. He brings a security-first mindset and a sharp focus on privacy and compliance, enabling organizations to build secure, scalable, and future-ready digital ecosystems.
Derek serves as a strategic adviser to both SilverTech’s technology partners and clients. He works closely with platform providers—often consulting on product roadmaps—to ensure solutions align with real-world business needs and deliver maximum value. He also helps client organizations develop and execute digital roadmaps that make the most of their existing systems and data, integrating legacy technologies with modern platforms where and when it makes sense to drive growth, stay competitive, and support long-term success.
Throughout his career, Derek has played a key role in shaping the tools and platforms that power modern digital marketing. He is a recognized authority and thought leader in the martech space—recently named a Kentico MVP and Progress Sitefinity Champion. Derek holds numerous certifications, including Kentico Developer, Kentico Marketer, Sitefinity Developer, and Sitecore Developer.
Digital Marketing Services Backed with Empathy
1/29/25
Empathetic Website Development
In today’s digital landscape, creating a website that resonates with its audience is more important than ever. This is where empathetic design comes into play. Empathetic design is a well-established concept that emphasizes understanding users of a website by anticipating their needs, preferences, and pain points. As we dive deeper into the world of web design and development, we must also consider another critical aspect: the experience of content managers and marketers who maintain these sites.
Understanding Empathetic Design
Empathetic design focuses on the end user, crafting experiences that are intuitive and user-friendly. It’s about designing for the audience that will be interacting with the website. This approach ensures that the navigation is seamless, the content is engaging, and the overall user journey is smooth. In a world where user experience can make or break a brand, empathetic design is not just a bonus; it is a necessity.
The Bigger Picture: Content Managers and Marketers
While the focus on users is vital, it’s equally important to consider those behind the scenes—content managers and marketers. These individuals are responsible for keeping the website up to date, engaging visitors, and analyzing performance metrics. However, many web development agencies overlook their needs during a project, leading to frustration and inefficiencies.
This is where we need to shift our perspective. Empathetic design must extend beyond just the user experience to encompass the workflows of the teams managing the website. After all, a beautiful website is only as effective as its ease of management.
SilverTech’s Approach: Empathetic Development
At SilverTech, we believe in a holistic approach to web development—what we like to call empathetic development. Our strategists take the time to understand how our clients operate in their day-to-day jobs. We engage with teams to learn about their skill sets, preferences, and challenges. This insight allows us to tailor our development process to ensure that managing content is as straightforward and efficient as possible.
By integrating tools and features that align with a team’s existing workflows, we enable marketers and content managers to do their jobs more effectively. This not only boosts productivity but also enhances job satisfaction, as teams can focus on strategy and creativity rather than grappling with cumbersome website processes.
Conclusion
Empathetic website development is about more than just the end user; it’s about fostering an environment where both users and content managers thrive. By prioritizing the needs of all stakeholders, we can create websites that not only look good but also function seamlessly for everyone involved. At SilverTech, we are committed to this philosophy, ensuring that our clients are empowered to succeed in their digital endeavors.
