Winsor School
The Winsor School, an academically challenging all-girls institution in the heart of Boston, embarked on a mission to enhance its online presence with a new, dynamic website. Recognizing the importance of a robust digital platform to engage current and prospective students, parents, and alumnae, Winsor selected us as their website agency of record a year ago. This project not only included the creation of a microsite for their capital campaign but also culminated in the launch of a full-scale website for the school. With collaboration from the talented team at E&A Co, the new Winsor School website is a project we are particularly proud of, showcasing elegance, uniqueness, and a strong impact.
Gold Award Winning Website
The new Winsor School website was awarded the Gold Award by the MarCom Awards in 2024. The MarCom Awards is a prestigious international competition that celebrates outstanding achievements in marketing and communication. Winning Gold signifies that our work exceeded industry standards and stands as a benchmark of excellence among 6,500 entries worldwide.
What the client had to say
“You all are just such a joy to work with, and both of the sites are a huge hit. I’ve never seen anything go over as well as the website has.”
-Janelle Browning, Director of Strategic Communications
Objective
The main objective was to develop a website that reflects The Winsor School’s esteemed reputation while offering a modern, user-friendly experience. The project entailed creating a design that resonates with the school’s identity, implementing advanced functionalities to integrate seamlessly with Blackbaud’s database for school directories, athletics, and calendars, and ensuring the website’s structure was flexible and easily maintainable. The overarching goal was to provide the school with a solution that offers a high degree of customization without compromising on design and functionality.
Approach
Design TLC spearheaded the project with a focus on design, user experience, and impact. Our design philosophy centered on creating a unique visual identity that complements The Winsor School’s character. Partnering with Edit Barry of E&A Co for impactful marketing messaging and writing, and E&A’s Allison Le for creative design direction, we crafted a website that truly reflects the spirit of the school.
To enhance the functionality and integration, our lead developer Tom helped us successfully implement our Blackbaud API to WordPress website process. This approach allowed us to develop a highly flexible and customized website design while maintaining seamless connectivity with Blackbaud’s existing directory, athletics, and calendar systems. This integration not only provided a robust backend infrastructure but also ensured a more affordable and scalable solution compared to Blackbaud’s website product.
We worked with the communications team at Winsor to make recommendations for improved user experience and accessibility, ensuring the website is inclusive of all website visitors.
Throughout the project, we maintained close collaboration with various Winsor School staff members, fostering a partnership that ensured all input was considered and addressed. We developed a structured system for gathering, reviewing, and implementing new content and images, which streamlined the transition process and minimized disruptions. Additionally, we leveraged AI tools to extract and organize content from the existing Blackbaud site, enabling efficient content migration and alignment with the new website’s structure.
To empower the Winsor team with control over the content and design, we created a system of saved modules and rows within Beaver Builder. This strategy allowed school administrators to actively participate in the development process, ensuring that every page met their expectations and requirements while granting them the ability to make updates easily in the future.
Outcome
The launch of The Winsor School’s new website marked a significant milestone in the school’s digital journey. The final product is an elegant, user-friendly site that not only enhances the school’s online presence but also provides a flexible, scalable platform for future growth. The seamless integration with Blackbaud’s systems ensures that all directory, athletic, and calendar data remain up-to-date, reducing the need for manual updates and providing a consistent experience for users.
The collaborative approach taken during the project resulted in a website that truly represents The Winsor School’s identity and values, and which earned a 2024 Gold MarCom Award. The involvement of the school’s staff in the development process ensured that the final product met their needs and expectations, leading to high levels of satisfaction and ownership. The use of AI and structured content management strategies contributed to a smooth transition and efficient project management.
Overall, the new Winsor School website is a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and technical innovation. It stands as a valuable tool for engaging the school’s community, attracting prospective students, and showcasing The Winsor School’s commitment to excellence in education.
Before
New Website
