Areté Preparatary Academy
Rebuilt the website for the launch of new school grades, showcasing all programs available and enhancing the open house sign-up and site navigation experience.
Problem Statement
Areté Preparatory Academy, an independent high school, was expanding into middle school. With the launch of middle school, they needed to update their text-heavy website with more enticing content, accessible navigation and purposeful call-to-actions that provide clear and useful information for prospective families to sign up for the open house and ultimately to enroll in the school.
Solution
To redesign a website with engaging content highlighting the unique education pedagogy of the school, showing clear navigation to desired information, and providing intentional call-to-actions for enrollment inquiry.
My Role
This was a website redesign consulting project. I was the sole designer and site builder for this project working with the head of school, a small team of teachers and parents for copy & asset creation and a developer.
Duration
Website creation: 5 months (Dec 2019 - May 2020)
Continue to support site updates until May 2021
Design Tools
WordPress. Canva. Photoshop.
The 5Ws of Areté Prep
Parents with children 12 to 18 years old who are identified as “gifted” or “twice exceptional” (2Es) learners with strong interests and passions that don’t fit within the traditional education curriculum and pedagogy.
WHO?
A learning environment that is student-centered, passion-driven where students are given high level of agency to drive their own education. Learning differentiation, social emotional support and mentorship are important part of the school offerings with philosophy/critical-thinking at the core of the teaching.
WHAT?
When students feel not being challenged, not inspired by the subjects and not finding their voices at schools, their parents want to look for a different, non-traditional education environment to support their children’s interests and passions.
WHEN & WHERE?
To have a more personalized education experience to pursue one’s interests.
To develop critical-thinking skill with deep understanding of subject matters
To be a curious learner who loves to learn.
WHY?
User Flow & Site Map
User Flow
Task: Looking for alternative schools for their MS/HS-age child.
Starting Point: Online search/social media/WOM, etc. to find non-traditional education
Visit Areté Website
Navigate through the site to learn more about the school to see if it is the right fit
Decide to either sign-up for an open house, attend events or contact the school
Leave the website
End Point: Receive appropriate next step per on-site action
Website activites only:
Site Map
Visual Design Elements
Brand Style Guide
I created the brand style guide based on existing logo. This provided the creative usage and design guidelines for Areté Prep’s website as well as any marketing assets.
Final Design
Final Website
Final website was launched in 2020 with new information architecture, content, visual and interactive design and navigation.
See a brief demo recording of the launched site ==>
Update: The school changed name in 2021 and current website has been updated by the client.
View my other projects!
"Every great design begins with an even better story" - Lorinda Mamo