Sector(s)
Team Members
On May 28, 2024, the revamped website of Hogeschool Leiden was officially launched, a project that took nearly two years.
This project was realized by Finalist, in collaboration with various partners like Ontwerpwerk, Valsplat, Computest, and Swink, and of course, with staff from Hogeschool Leiden.
This case study outlines the development process of the new website, the challenges overcome, the innovative solutions applied, and the final result.
About the project
Concept and Structure
The initial steps involved creating wireframes, user stories, and a clear menu structure. The vision for the website was established in the summer of 2023.
Design
Led by Ontwerpwerk, the design process involved stakeholders to develop the new corporate identity and design, resulting in a visually appealing and functional website reflecting Hogeschool Leiden's values and vision.
Development and Technical Realization
Finalist developed the website using the agile method with eight scrum sprints. The development team worked closely with all parties involved to implement various functionalities.
During the development process, several technical tests were conducted to ensure the website's quality, including performance tests, a UX study by Valsplat, an accessibility scan by Swink, and a PEN test by Computest. Finalist also conducted multiple automated tests.
Content Management and Editing
A team of editors and content migrators collaborated with faculties and departments to transfer content from the old website to the new one. This involved rewriting, restructuring, and supplementing content to match the new website's style and structure.
In total, over 3,100 pages in seven fixed formats were migrated, supported effectively by the Drupal CMS. To facilitate the process, Finalist provided several editorial training sessions and a "train the trainer" course.
Images and Videos
To bring the new corporate identity to life, Hogeschool Leiden hired four photographers to create new visuals. Additionally, they produced four target group-specific videos to effectively engage various audiences.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
At Finalist, we developed a proven approach for a successful SEO migration. For the SEO migration for Hogeschool Leiden, a strategic and thorough approach was required to ensure the new website performs optimally in search engine results like Google.
The most important improvements
The new website features a user-friendly navigation structure, making it easy and quick to find relevant information. The new corporate identity and design give the website a modern and fresh look.
The website is designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring an optimal experience for all visitors, including those with disabilities. Additionally, it offers an excellent user experience on mobile devices. The added micro-animations enhance and clarify the navigation.
By conducting a thorough SEO audit and identifying weaknesses on the old website, we improved search engine rankings. Technical enhancements, such as optimizing the URL structure, improving the site structure, and implementing canonical tags and 301 redirects, are expected to lead to significantly higher positions in search results.
The new website is much more sustainable, reducing CO2 emissions per page from 1.65g to just 0.23g. Additionally, Finalist donated 20 trees to Hogeschool Leiden after the launch, making the website fully CO2-neutral.
Although the website is now live, continuous work on content optimization and technical development ensures it remains relevant and up-to-date with user needs.
Why Drupal was chosen
The old website of Hogeschool Leiden no longer met the requirements for user experience, accessibility, and sustainability. It was clear that a new website was needed, with several objectives:
- User-centered design: The website needed a visitor-focused structure with clear sections for various audiences such as prospective students, current students, staff, and external partners.
- New branding: The website had to reflect the new corporate identity and story of Hogeschool Leiden.
- Accessibility: The website had to be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
- Mobile first: The website needed to be optimized for mobile devices.
The project began with a European tender process that lasted nearly six months.
Finalist won the tender as the technical partner for the website's development. In the tender Finalist explained the benefits of using Drupal as CMS, and how it has proven to be a successful digital backbone for numerous higher education institutions.
Technical Specifications
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