Website redesign showcases storytelling, imagination at the heart of Humanities Division
UCLA Humanities
The vibrant new design was intended to reflect the values of curiosity, imagination and storytelling that are fundamental to the division’s mission.
| July 31, 2024
A newly redesigned website emphasizes the humanity at the heart of UCLA Humanities.
The division’s new site utilizes larger, brighter visuals and simplified navigation — not only for a more engaging experience for users, but also to better reflect the values of curiosity, imagination and storytelling that are fundamental to the division’s mission. The result is a much more contemporary look than that of the previous site, which had been online since 2015.
The redesign was brought to life by UCLA HumTech, and “ease of use” was one of the team’s main objectives throughout the project. For example, the site now features a single Funding Opportunities tab to make it simpler for undergraduates, graduate students and faculty to find scholarships, fellowships and grants — information that had been posted under various headings on the previous site.
Atop the new homepage, a looping video of the UCLA campus and the division’s guiding principle, “Word to World: The Essence of UCLA Humanities,” welcome visitors to the site. The homepage also features the latest news stories about Humanities faculty, staff, students and alumni — with eye-catching photos — and a section for upcoming events from across the division.
The site’s new landing page welcomes visitors with video footage of campus.
Beyond all of the design and navigation improvements, HumTech staff overhauled the site’s underlying technology, improving the site’s security and ensuring compliance with accessibility requirements.
As before, the new site includes information about the dean’s office, academic departments and research centers, and information for prospective students.
The HumTech team was composed of Shawn Higgins, lead designer; John Kardosh, backend developer; and Lloyd Nicks, digital services group manager; with Tom Garbelotti, CIO and director of HumTech, overseeing the project. Content for the new site was managed by Sean Brenner, director of strategic communications, and Barbara Van Nostrand, executive director of academic programs and student affairs.
Many of the lessons learned during the project will inform a new design package that HumTech can apply to future website redesigns for Humanities departments and research centers.