diff --git a/lib/directus.ts b/lib/directus.ts
index de55d87..7abe337 100644
--- a/lib/directus.ts
+++ b/lib/directus.ts
@@ -549,6 +549,21 @@ export async function getProjects(
         proj.translations?.find((t: any) => t.languages_code?.code === directusLocale) ||
         proj.translations?.[0] ||
         {};
+      
+      // Parse JSON string fields if needed
+      const parseTags = (tags: any) => {
+        if (!tags) return [];
+        if (Array.isArray(tags)) return tags;
+        if (typeof tags === 'string') {
+          try {
+            return JSON.parse(tags);
+          } catch {
+            return [];
+          }
+        }
+        return [];
+      };
+      
       return {
         id: proj.id,
         slug: proj.slug,
@@ -557,8 +572,8 @@ export async function getProjects(
         content: trans.content,
         category: proj.category,
         difficulty: proj.difficulty,
-        tags: proj.tags || [],
-        technologies: proj.technologies || [],
+        tags: parseTags(proj.tags),
+        technologies: parseTags(proj.technologies),
         challenges: proj.challenges,
         lessons_learned: proj.lessons_learned,
         future_improvements: proj.future_improvements,
@@ -567,7 +582,7 @@ export async function getProjects(
         image_url: proj.image_url,
         demo_video_url: proj.demo_video,
         performance_metrics: proj.performance_metrics,
-        screenshots: proj.screenshots || [],
+        screenshots: parseTags(proj.screenshots),
         featured: proj.featured === 1 || proj.featured === true,
         published: proj.status === 'published',
         created_at: proj.date_created,