A unified experience for a robust resource library.

Industry

Education

Client

Search Institute

The Search Institute, a renowned organization committed to fostering youth development, tapped our team to provide a unified direction for its scattered online presence and enhance resource accessibility. This transformative initiative involved merging disparate brand elements and optimizing the user experience through a scalable and contemporary design framework.

Check out the site

Check out the site

Check out the site

Challenge

Brand Fragmentation: The existing website showcased inconsistent branding and tedious user experiences, leading to a lack of cohesion.

Resource Accessibility: Navigating the growing library of resources was difficult due to a broken search function and poor taxonomy.

Complex Navigation: Users struggled to find relevant information due to unclear site structure and navigation paths.

Approach

Developed a cohesive digital strategy focused on:

Ph. 1: Tidying Up & Setting the Stage

Set the tone in first phase to apply consistent brand approach throughout all touchpoints

Audit & refine site to provide a consistent and modern UI throughout

Improved navigation for target audiences and clarified information hierarchy

Ph. 2: Resource Hub

Implemented dense taxonomy & modern search experience providing a a much simpler path to access content while also providing a growth plan for the expanding library of resources.

Ph. 3: Brand Updates

Leveraged framework created throughout initial phases to seamlessly implement brand updates to the site quickly

Results

Established consistent brand presence

Created intuitive access to resources with robust taxonomy & well-tested search patterns

Improved user experience with consistent patterns throughout

Updated sitemap & related CTAs for more intentional content discovery for educators and caregivers

Set foundation for future growth

Callout with abbreviated filters to be used on key pages where a user can casually explore additional resources before jumping in to more robust site search.

Callout with abbreviated filters to be used on key pages where a user can casually explore additional resources before jumping in to more robust site search.

Callout with abbreviated filters to be used on key pages where a user can casually explore additional resources before jumping in to more robust site search.

The resource hub leverages a robust new taxonomy that will support a growing library–while providing familiar search and filter patterns for quick discovery.

The resource hub leverages a robust new taxonomy that will support a growing library–while providing familiar search and filter patterns for quick discovery.

The resource hub leverages a robust new taxonomy that will support a growing library–while providing familiar search and filter patterns for quick discovery.

By addressing the Search Institute’s specific challenges, this project transformed their digital presence into a cohesive and user-centered platform. The result is a streamlined resource hub that empowers educators and caregivers while preserving the organization’s brand identity. This case study demonstrates the transformative power of thoughtful design in achieving meaningful impact for nonprofits.