Fastspot Completes Redesign of Bucknell University Website
10.09.2008
Fastspot has created a new Website for Bucknell University. It is a key element of the university's communications strategy to increase national awareness of its academic and intellectual stature.
The Website primarily targets prospective students and their parents using a creative approach highlighting the Lewisburg, PA, school's strong academic programs and resources, its Division I athletic programs, its small class sizes, and its intimate and classic campus environment.
"Our conceptual approach for the site focused on accurately conveying these key attributes of the Bucknell brand: intellectual and academic achievement and creating world leaders. For example, we developed 'Pathways' as an editorial and creative vehicle to tell specific 'big picture' stories about the University," Halvorsen explained. "We believe the site now conveys a more sophisticated, worldlier impression of Bucknell.
"Among our favorite features of the site is 'Pathways,' located on the landing page, where we've integrated video, compelling photography, and content to tell stories that have become 'pathways' for students during their time at Bucknell. We're also proud of the clean and crisp layout of the interior pages as well as the site's overall intuitive and easy-to-use navigation," she added.
Fastspot was selected for the redesign following a national search of interactive design agencies, and the redesign process began more than a year ago, involving all sectors of the campus community, according to Roberta Sims, Associate Director of Digital Communications for Bucknell.
The new site is the culmination of focus groups, an analysis of peer school Websites, a review of the site's architecture, usability testing as well as testing the overall impression of the final design with prospective students and parents, a content audit, and technical and programming work to implement the design into Bucknell's content management system.
Last year, the Website, one of the University's primary communications tools, received more than 21 million hits from visitors located around the globe, or more than an average of 404,000 pageviews each week.
Fastspot has a growing national reputation for its expertise in interactive design with colleges and universities, such as its work for the Maryland Institute College of Art, Albany Law School, and the Cleveland Institute of Art. The firm is currently working with Indiana University and Dickinson College.