Website redesigns in higher education are rarely simple. They involve multiple audiences, distributed content ownership, and systems that have evolved over many years.

Over time, it becomes harder for prospective students to find what they need, harder for internal teams to manage content, and harder for the site to reflect the institution clearly.

A redesign is an opportunity to address those challenges in a structured way. We work with colleges and universities to improve how information is organized, how content is managed, and how systems support the institution over time.

Common Challenges

Most higher education websites face a similar set of issues:

• Content spread across departments with inconsistent structure
• Navigation that reflects internal organization rather than user needs
• Difficulty maintaining accessibility across a large number of contributors
• Outdated templates and components that are hard to extend
• Systems that do not integrate cleanly with courses, events, or other data

These challenges tend to build gradually, which is why a redesign often becomes necessary.

Information Architecture and Content

A redesign starts with understanding how people use the site and how content is currently structured.

We work with institutions to:

• clarify primary audiences and their needs
• reorganize navigation around those needs
• define content types and relationships
• identify content that should be revised, consolidated, or removed

The goal is to create a structure that is clear to users and manageable for internal teams.

Platforms: Drupal and WordPress

Platform selection is an important part of a redesign.

We work in both Drupal and WordPress, choosing the platform based on the complexity of the institution and the level of governance required.

• Drupal is often a strong fit for large, distributed environments that require structured content, multilingual support, and control across multiple departments or sites
• WordPress can be effective for teams that need a more streamlined publishing experience, provided it is implemented with care around security and maintainability

In both cases, the platform should support how your organization works, not the other way around.

Integrations and Campus Systems

University websites are closely tied to other systems.

This often includes integrations with central campus APIs and systems for:

• course catalogs
• events
• news
• people directories

We design these integrations so that content flows cleanly between systems, reducing duplication and making it easier to keep information accurate.

Accessibility and Governance

Accessibility and governance are central to higher education websites.

Through our work with universities, we have come to approach this as an accessibility-first agency. Accessibility is built into design, development, and ongoing publishing practices.

We also focus on governance. That includes defining roles, workflows, and patterns that allow distributed teams to publish content while maintaining consistency across the site.

A Phased Approach

Redesigns are often best approached in phases.

We typically move through:

• discovery and research
• information architecture and UX
• design and prototyping
• development and integration
• testing and launch

This allows for input from stakeholders at each stage and helps keep the project aligned with institutional priorities.

After Launch

A successful redesign should make the site easier to manage and evolve.

That includes:

• clearer content structures
• more consistent templates and components
• improved workflows for editors
• a platform that can adapt over time

We also provide ongoing support, helping teams maintain accessibility, monitor performance, and continue improving the site after launch.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a higher education website redesign take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the institution. Smaller projects may take several months, while larger, multi-site environments often take longer and may be phased.

Do we need to change our CMS?
Not always. In some cases, existing platforms can be improved. In others, a redesign is a good opportunity to move to a system that better supports long-term needs.

How do you handle multiple stakeholders?
We structure projects to include input from different groups while maintaining a clear direction. This helps balance competing priorities.

Can accessibility be addressed during a redesign?
Yes. A redesign is one of the best opportunities to address accessibility at a structural level rather than through isolated fixes.