The brief
After encountering issues with their many Squarespace-based websites, and dealing with mounting costs, UnSchools reached out to Leap for help.
Together with Leap, Sandy Dähnert of Green The Web, and Unschools, we overhauled the UX and UI to bring cohesion to the multiple websites.
The design was streamlined into a reusable system and with WordPress, their editing experience was simplified and built to last. All of this whilst reducing the digital carbon impact.
The flexible system allows for each website to list different product offerings and filter between them
The plan
A design system of reusable content blocks
A series of content blocks, with multiple layout options, was created to cover almost every element of the different websites content requirements. Alongside these blocks we designed a few dedicated templates for specific use cases, like the courses on UnSchools and Circular Futures.
These blocks were designed to offer plenty of layout options for content, with different colour palettes, whilst keeping a level of shared design aesthetic across the three websites. It was desired that visitors understood that the sites were from the same reputable source.
Creating a reusable WordPress system
The designs were then perfectly replicated into WordPress content blocks using Advanced Custom Fields. Common sections, such as the hero areas, navigation and the footer were also built as an editable, reusable system.
Each website has it’s own theme and style, but they all use the logic system from a core parent theme which is reused across the three websites.
Leyla Acaroglu’s personal website is much lighter than it used to be, whilst still allowing for lots of video content
The outcome
Each website is now on average ~93% lighter in page weight. A very dramatic reduction. This results in improved loading times across the globe and lower associated digital carbon footprint.
User journeys are shorter and simpler to navigate. Visitors can find the content they need faster, book onto a course in a few clicks, or watch Leyla’s keynotes to learn about Systems Thinking, Sustainability, and Disruptive Design more seamlessly.
View the UnSchools website