The WMA is proud to present this
Winning Entry: College of Computer and Information Science at Northeastern University website
Winner Name: Sametz Blackstone Associates
Award: Outstanding Website
Through its unique approach to experiential, interdisciplinary education—and with its ambitious students and world-class faculty—The Northeastern University College of Computer & Information Science (CCIS) represents the best in what computer science (CS) education can be. However, the College was not getting credit for its impressive activities and endeavors as its out-dated web presence largely obscured the College’s dynamism. We collaborated to: • Shine a light on the innovation and creativity happening across the college; • Change the narrative of computer science—it’s a diverse population, and it’s for everyone! • Paint a clearer picture of the real-world value of an interdisciplinary / experiential CS curriculum; • Elevate their world-class—and growing—faculty, and their cutting edge lab work; • Walk the walk as a College (within a competitive landscape where most CS programs are departments); • Leverage Boston as an entrepreneurial, health-care, academic, cultural, and finance hub—the perfect backdrop to a progressive CS education. We achieved these goals via a collaborative process that focused not only on gathering insights and setting priorities, but also on building consensus, enthusiasm, and buy-in as we worked our way across various sets of stakeholders. The information from our discovery phase informed a comprehensive re-imagining of their website from an IA/UX standpoint. Contemporary design, content informed by a new messaging framework, and newly commissioned photography brought the College—its people and their work—to life. The new homepage now better showcases the breadth and depth of activity across the college; key facts and figures highlighting CCIS’ growth and impact are easily accessible across all sections of the site; research areas are greatly expanded to included access to related faculty, research projects, publications and more. Faculty pages provide access to affiliated lab pages and projects as well—critically important in recruiting the best and brightest Masters and PhD students—as well as additional world class faculty.