Merging the Past With the Future

Many times, our clients come to us with pre-existing websites that need to be either simply rethought, moderately redefined or completely reinvented. In the case of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), we recognized the client's need for a comprehensive website redesign that included a more robust database and new overall site structure to promote improved access and functionality across the rich content. 

We began by creating a content strategy report with top-level architecture and design documentation that allowed the client to seek funding for the project. The existing site was first migrated into a basic Drupal framework in anticipation of the shift to a comprehensive redesign, which included a full scale online shop, membership signup, donations, account management, and extensive media tools to incorporate and relate audio, video and digital images. In addition, the new site provides a platform for nearly a dozen blogs to which multiple authors and historians from both inside and outside of the organization contribute, thanks largely to a built-in workflow process with publishing permissions.

A more advanced exhibit framework will also be rolled out in the next phase, which will include an encoded document viewer and dynamic timelines.