Bennett Day School

Objective

The new website for Bennett Day School in Chicago was a comprehensive project that aimed to consolidate their two separate websites—one for their Early Education Program and Lower School, and the other for their Upper School—into a single, cohesive online presence.

We enjoyed working with the client team, who brought a great design sense as well as technical savvy to help move the project along and in the direction they wanted it to go!

Approach

Website Audit and Strategy Development

Conducted a thorough audit of Bennett Day School’s existing websites and branding.
Engaged in discussions with the school to understand their goals for the new website.
Developed a recommended strategy and site map that would integrate content from both existing sites, outlining the architecture and relationship between different pages.

Site Map and Wireframe Creation

Collaborated with Bennett Day School to update the site map, combining elements from both websites.
Created a detailed blueprint/wireframe to guide the design of the homepage and overall site layout.

Design Iteration and Development

Presented multiple design iterations, settling on a design that featured curves, rounded corners, and subtle drop shadows, which the client loved.
Included a compelling headline to make the “Hero” area a meaningful call to action space.
Migrated content from the old WordPress sites to a new staging site, switching from Elementor to Beaver Builder for development.
Focused on creating a user-friendly experience, teaching the client how to use Beaver Builder modules effectively.
Kudos to our designer, Elana, for giving these designs some extra TLC!

Launch and Accessibility

Ensured a smooth website launch, checking and fixing any broken links identified in Google searches.
Implemented the Equalize Digital Accessibility plugin to adhere to best practices in website development and accessibility.
Introduced a custom Design TLC Accessibility plugin designed to enhance usability, particularly with Beaver Builder modules and menu construction.

Outcome

The deliverables for the Bennett Day School website project included:

A unified website that combined content from two separate sites into a seamless, accessible online platform.
A modern, user-friendly design with an updated site map and wireframe to guide content architecture.
Integration of blog content from HubSpot into WordPress, expanding the site’s resource offerings.
Implementation of new development tools and plugins to ensure a high standard of accessibility and usability.
Training and support for the client to manage and update their website using Beaver Builder.
This project not only provided Bennett Day School with a fresh and unified web presence but also set a new standard for website accessibility and usability practices in future projects