Bennett Day School
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
Before and After
