RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
SURVEYS & FOCUS GROUPS
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
CONTENT STRATEGY AND DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT AND DESIGN
We began our journey in higher education in 2006 when we took a meeting with the University of San Diego to discuss an update to their campus map. It had just been created in 3D and the university wanted to know if we could develop ideas for it. 2 years and lots of learning later produced one of the first interactive campus maps to use live R25 data in real time to update parking, events, traffic, and other information.
From that beginning we launched a collaborative relationship with the university to develop all major websites through 2012, and develop content for the College of Arts and Sciences and Student Affairs, including feature planning and development, video production, and event concept and development.
"The College of Arts and Science website has 44 departments, and each need their own website. colab developed a strategy and template system that satisfied each department’s desire to have a unique presence, yet still connect visually and thematically to the College website."
DR. MARY BOYD, FORMER DEAN/COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
Collaborative from the beginning
Each project began with an extensive research and analysis phase, collaborating with deans, department heads, and staff:
We conducted over 30 focus groups and online surveys with current undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, staff, and university leadership.
We visited high schools to understand the decision-making process of juniors and seniors, and their awareness of USD.
Our competitive analysis reviewed over 40 peer universities, colleges, and schools.
Creative briefs established goals and objectives, and guided each project's creative direction.
For each project we collaborated with the university's IT department, who was responsible for front-end development, CMS management, and content migration.
Our research for the School of Business Administration website included conversations with School stakeholders and students, and resulted in a communications strategy that drove the design direction and content strategy.
Our involvement with the university allowed us collaborate on the majority of the university's websites:
USD MAIN WEBSITE
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE ADMISSIONS
TORERO LIFE
USD SCHOOL OF LAW
USD SCHOOL OF PEACE STUDIES
USD SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP AND EDUCATION STUDIES
USD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
THE MAIN WEBSITE
We collaborated with USD's ITS department to undertake our largest project together yet - the complete redesign of the main website. Over 200 sub-domains and an antiquated site architecture meant that a great deal of research, planning, and auditing was necessary. We worked with the university to construct a new web presence architecture, comprised of all public and private domains managed by the university, and evaluated content sources and requirements for the new CMS.
Our research took us to local high schools, alumni group socials, and faculty meetings. We interviewed senior administration members and staff. From this process we were able to craft a main website that served the needs of the entire university while at the same time significantly improving Admission's ability to connect with prospective students and parents.
