Montessori School of Columbia
Website strategy, redesign, and content writing for a local Montessori school in Columbia, SC.
Tools we have used:
The Client
The Montessori School of Columbia is the only dual-accredited school in South Carolina with accreditations from the SAIS (Serving & Accredited Independent Schools) and American Montessori Society (AMS).
MSC has approximately 140 students, ages 3-12, in six mix-aged classes on a quaint, 2.5-acre campus in the heart of the Rosewood neighborhood.
The Problem & Solution
The Montessori School of Columbia (MSC) came to us with a very outdated website that hadn’t had any significant updates in 5 years and wasn’t serving their needs. The administration wasn’t even able to update any of the content on the website or make changes when we first met, although we solved that for them in the initial consultation. Below is a summary of our findings.
- Website has not been visually updated in 5 years, which is causing lack of trust from users.
- Create a custom website design that exemplifies the uniqueness of the brand and appeals to modern users.
- Website is currently facing security vulnerabilities, which is causing increased risk of malware being shown to users.
- Secure the website and keep it secured by adding a proper SSL certificate and including a maintenance plan to keep the site up-to-date.
- School Administration cannot make content updates to the website, which is causing outdated content being broadcast to users.
- Create a site that can be easily updated by anyone with proper login credentials by using web development tools that are easily accessed and by providing the client with training videos if they want to do it themselves.
- Website is currently facing slow site speeds, which is causing users to bounce from the site.
- The goal of this project is to increase site speed by upgrading the backend infrastructure and optimizing for speed.
- School Administration cannot make content updates to the website, so they are unable to fully utilize their in-house photographer.
- The goal of this project is to allows admin to easily change out images on the site to show off the photographers photos by create a visual design system that is photo-centric and well-documented through video training.
- Website does not currently contain a clear call-to-action, which is causing users confusion on the next step.
- Create a next step for each user by identifying different user segments and visually creating an obvious next step for each.
- Website does not currently contain a lot of educational content on the Montessori Method, which is causing users to look elsewhere for this information.
- Captivate and keep a user onsite by providing them detailed information on the Montessori Method.
- Website is currently facing mobile responsiveness isues, which is causing users to become frustrated when accessing the site from their mobile device.
- Develop a fully responsive experience by creating and implementing a responsive design framework.
Objectives and Goals
Our mission was to modernize the website and expand the content through an in-depth analysis of user needs.
After our website strategy sprint was completed, we learned we needed to focus on two distinct users: prospective parents & current parents. This approach involved creating unique user journeys throughout the site depending on which user was engaging with the site.
We’ve summarized the goals more below.
- Design a modern, professional website that matches the unique brand identity of MSC and allows the school to show off its culture through photography.
- Develop and maintain a secure and fast, mobile-responsive website.
- Train MSC administration on how to update content and images.
- Create a content system to educate about MSC and the Montessori Method.
- Create user journeys for multiple users.
- Increase tour requests from the ideal parent profile.
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User Research
Presented here is a representative user persona for whom this site has been meticulously crafted. This extremely summaized section encapsulates our key findings, although it omits certain specifics intentionally to safeguard the interests of our valued client.
Paula Janson
Progressive Parent
Demographics
- Aged 30-50
- Professional/creative occupations
- Middle to high income
Interests
Frustrations & Fears
- Limitations of traditional education
- Lack of diverse options
- One-size-fits-all approach
Wants & Aspirations
- Child’s holistic development
- Critical thinking, empathy, and independence in their child
- Being part of an educational revolution
Key Purchase Drivers
- Quality, personalized education
- Progressive, diverse curriculum
- Value for money
"I want a school that nurtures my child's uniqueness and potential."
Information Architecture
Wireframes
Style Guide
High Fiedlity Designs
Please note, the nature of web design is fluid and constantly evolving. As such, you may observe modifications on the live site that differ from what is showcased in this portfolio. These changes are a normal part of the dynamic lifecycle of a website, reflecting the ongoing updates and enhancements we assist our clients with.
