Last fall, Pratt launched the rebuild of its website, a year-long project spearheaded by the Communications and Marketing division that is a collaborative effort involving the Pratt community. As the project moves through the design and build phase, Director of Web and Digital Communications Sarah Hromack discusses the work completed to date and next steps in the process.
What work has been done on the website redesign so far? How is the project progressing?
During the Fall 2021 semester, Pratt’s Digital Communications team collaborated with Upstatement, the digital agency chosen to design and develop Pratt’s new website, on a series of research activities designed to obtain greater insight and generate community engagement in the project. During this “Vision” phase, which is now complete, the team listened deeply to many stakeholders across campus while conducting a series of over 130 individual and group interviews, as well as several digital surveys.
We were pleased to find a real sense of enthusiasm for this project. Faculty, staff, and students alike were eager to replace the existing website with a new, fresh design that serves the community’s need for autonomy in terms of storytelling about the many initiatives that make Pratt an exciting, dynamic place to teach, study, and work. Many also identified a need for better navigation and search features, as well as the ability to work with content in a more creative, flexible way.
What happens next?
Our greatest endeavor, moving forward, is to operationalize the project. Following the presentation and approval of a design concept at the end of last semester, the project is now undergoing technical development in its “Build” phase. The new website will allow some stakeholders to manage content independently, thus requiring the support of the digital communications team. Ongoing planning will ensure the successful adoption of the new website on campus—and beyond. The new Pratt.edu promises to be a visually exciting, content-rich web experience that highlights the work of Pratt faculty and students—all the things that make Pratt, Pratt!
How will the Pratt community continue to be involved in the process?
The project’s steering and advisory committees continue to meet regularly as the project progresses and are planning future training for faculty and staff. Please continue to read the news page on Pratt.edu as well as the Pratt Now e-newsletter, as project updates will be posted here as the project progresses. Questions or comments may be directed to newwebsite@pratt.edu.