THE CHALLENGE
SAIT Polytechnic is one of Canada's leading polytechnic institutions, providing training for more than 65,000 learners each year. Their website is a key component in the life of SAIT, a critical resource for prospective and current students, and a key business tool.
Our challenge was to improve navigation, design and information access while successfully dealing with over a thousand pages of content.
THE SOLUTION
SAIT suffered from a typical website problem common to most large educational institutions: conflicting navigation, inconsistent brand messaging, and a site structure that continued to go off the rails. Media Dog worked to renew the foundation of SAIT's website in a number of key areas:
Standardized navigation
A major problem with the previous version of the site was that the navigation frequently changed, leaving site users disoriented and lost in a matter of a few clicks. The new site avoids those problems with a consistent navigation that provides a clear and efficient pathways to the right content.
Design consistency
A strong grid structure not only creates clarity for users, it helps SAIT update the site, heading off the problems of the previous version of the site. Header graphics allows for a variety of images that demonstrate SAIT's diversity of students, activities, and academics. The modular, grid-based design not only makes it simple for site administrators and content creators to add to the site, it also utilizes the strength of the CMS which deploys page elements individually.
External CMS integration
A particular challenge of building this site was integrating the technical elements, design and content into an external content management system. Media Dog developed thorough documentation for SAIT to help content creators and site administrators best utilize the CMS.
THE RESULTS
The new site's consistent design and navigational structure provide a solid foundation for SAIT to build on both now and into the future. With a clear navigation structure, a consistent application of SAIT's visual identity, and a flexible and modular design approach, the site will aid in SAIT redefining itself as Canada's leading polytechnic educational institution.
