Unifying experiences and engaging students
The University of Mary Washington needed a digital presence to match its academic reputation. Its fragmented site confused users, so we aimed to create a unified, more usable experience to support enrollment.
Project overview
Understanding the brand through moodboards
To align with UMW’s identity, we collaborated with Mindpower to develop moodboards that captured the spirit of the university. This visual exploration ensured every design choice reflected the school’s dynamic campus life and academic distinction.
Audience-centered information architecture
Recognizing the diverse needs of UMW’s users, we restructured the information architecture to create clear, user-specific pathways. Prospective students, current students, faculty, staff, and alumni could all navigate the site efficiently, finding relevant information without unnecessary clicks.
Mapping the experience
We created detailed wireframes to establish a clear visual hierarchy and user flow. Every decision was centered around simplifying navigation, showcasing campus life, and encouraging prospective student inquiries.
Visual design and page navigation
The new design brought the UMW campus experience online, incorporating vibrant imagery and engaging layouts. The visual elements were carefully chosen to evoke the same warmth and excitement students experience in person.
Simplifying academic exploration
One of the core features we introduced was a dynamic program finder. Prospective students can now easily explore UMW’s 60+ majors and programs, filtering by interests and academic goals.
Design system, content scalability.
We built a design system in WordPress using Block Editor, giving UMW flexible components for easy updates. This keeps visual and functional consistency as new pages are added.
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