Our redesign of the Goldsmiths University website recently won Gold at Heist for Best University Website. For over 25 years the Heist Awards for education marketing have celebrated outstanding work from across the sector. This year more than 90 institutions entered work into the awards across a broad range of categories. We were delighted that our redesign helped to secure Gold for the University, with kind comments from the Heist judges.
Famed for their creative approach to teaching and research, the University recently embarked on a complete overhaul of their visual identity. To support the brand’s launch, we were tasked with the ambitious goal of designing the best university website in the world.
We started by mapping the range of informational possibilities from across the site, considering the message, who it was for, how it would be accessed and where it would be seen. Our aim was to create a series of patterns to support each content type. Patterns would use components of the brand toolkit in unique and interesting ways; expressive elements for inspiring content; readable elements for informative content; and oversized elements for signposting.
The redesign has led to results that have exceeded expectations set by the University. In addition to the Heist Award, the design received Special Mention on Awwwards and CSS Design Awards and was shortlisted for two BIMA Awards. Learn more about our approach to this project on our case study.
In addition to the main Goldsmiths website, we further created a set of digital brand guidelines for the University. The microsite has helped the University to understand our approach to the redesign and has enabled staff to develop new patterns in-line with the style and rules developed for the initial release. The digital brand guidelines offer advice and guidance on typography, grids, iconography, pattern creation and photography.
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