The Prindle Institute for Ethics is the internationally-recognized, preeminent collegiate ethics center in the country. From a tranquil, LEED-certified limestone lodge set just off a quarry-turned-nature-preserve, Prindle supports undergraduate and graduate courses, scholarships, and publications; hosts conferences and events; publishes multiple ethics-based media outlets; consults with business and industry leaders; and provides community programming for all-ages from their DePauw University (Greencastle, IN) home.
I was blown away by just how much of a beautiful, easy-to-use website we got in such a short amount of time. The level of professionalism, expertise and creativity at every step was incredible to see.
– Christiane Wisehart, Assistant Director Academic and Digital Services, Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics
The Challenge
Prindle partnered with SmallBox to realize the Institute’s first standalone website independent of DePauw. This freedom created several challenges. First, all existing content had been built within a different content management framework, meaning that our work together would reimagine structure and hierarchy. Second, though they would be moving to their own domain, their strong relationship as a DePauw institution meant that the design and development had to work within DePauw’s established brand standards.
Prindle also needed to launch their new site at the beginning of the Fall 2018 semester, which meant the site needed to be complete at the close of the summer session.
Our Solution
Our solution reimagined Prindle’s web presence to create a dynamic homepage that embraces the DePauw brand palette (especially gold) while using original photography combined with a color overlay to create a polished look that showcases their wealth of content in a vibrant way. Since the previous version of the site could be difficult to navigate, we instituted a full-screen menu to guide users to every nook and cranny of the new site, allowing Prindle to showcase the full breadth of their offerings in a few simple clicks. Serif headline fonts and heavy dividers lend a print-feel to the site, embracing the multi-platform intellectual property that Prindle produces on a daily basis.
Though the tight timeline limited the number of page templates produced, we used a flexible WordPress CMS solution that allows Prindle to build custom subpage layouts with responsively-designed elements of their choosing – in any order! The site also integrates existing Jotforms application and submission forms, while embedding video content in a nearly full-screen theater-esque lightbox.
While it wouldn’t be morally wrong for you not to visit PrindleInstitute.org – it’s highly encouraged!
