The UW-Madison Extension Institute for Health & Well-Being does incredibly important work to catalyze positive change in Wisconsin communities to promote health and well-being. The Institute’s research-based programs are focused on food and nutrition security, chronic disease prevention, mental health promotion, substance use prevention and access to health care.
So when the UW-Madison Extension sought to remake their website into a vibrant, content-rich and easy-to-use website, they called Huston Design. They wanted an external partner to lead the design process for the development of an updated and redesigned website. They envisioned an essential and effective communication and engagement hub designed to share health and well-being programming, information and impacts.
As is typical with web projects, Huston Design adopted a collaborative and client-centric approach, working closely with the client. It started with a client discovery meeting at which Institute plans, goals, project vision and existing programming and site information was reviewed. UW branding guidelines were reviewed and would form the basis for design work.
Huston Design researched 2-3 benchmark SNAP-ED sites representing where the Institute planned to go. We also developed a focus group and stakeholder research plan based on what we needed to know, resulting in facilitation of five group conversations (three Institute “internal” audiences and two community “external” audiences) to gather input and requirements.
Insights were distilled into a working strategy document for Institute review and refinement. In addition we facilitated two strategy sessions (with key project stakeholders) to develop a final website strategy document, delivered to senior leadership. The final website strategy document served as the blueprint for the project.
A collaborative design process followed in which wireframe structures and content were presented, shared and refined based on client feedback. A similar back-and-forth ensued for design pages. The client turned final art files over to their in-house development team to create the site. Huston Design reviewed the finished product on the DEV site, recommending adjustments to render a finished product more inline with the approved design.
The Huston Design Proven Process For Website Design
Huston Design leaned into the UW-Madison Extension Institute for Health & Well-Being website redesign using a process that has been successful for clients for over 20 years.
The redesigned website made it easy to access information the way users want to access it across a range of tech savviness. Users could get quick answers and understanding, with the ability to “learn more” as desired.
The website made it simpler for users to engage: register for more information, sign up for programs, ask a question, reach out to Institute personnel, share content with friends and connect via email, social media and more.
The website made use of on-page content (versus PDF-reliant content) for search-engine optimization and easier content access across devices, in addition to improving on-site search functionality.
The site has become a key resource and tool in how Institute program team members find and share resources with the audiences they serve. Plus the educational value for the user has been enhanced with FAQs, education pieces, articles, infographics and video.
Huston Design worked closely with the UW-Extension website development team to implement and execute a website. The website is powered by a multi-site (100s) Wordpress install which requires the design and content to work in a fixed set of parameters.
Thanks to a great partnership between Huston Design and the Institute, we were able to develop a website that will be an essential communication channel aligned with a broader Institute strategic communication plan designed to share health and well-being programming and impacts for many years to come.
