Champlain College
“I have worked on many large and small website projects over the years, and have engaged numerous agencies to support that work, and without reservation, I can say that Corey and his team are the best web design and development firm I have ever worked with. ”
Champlain College needed a modern web presence that represented their core institutional values: innovation, forward-thinking, and a student-first approach to education. Their previous website was outdated, difficult to manage, and lacked focus, with meandering content, confusing navigation, and a disjointed visual language.
In 2019, I began consulting with the Marketing department and the Web team to identify and implement quick wins for improving the design of their existing website. By 2022, the College issued an RFP to several agencies and ultimately hired me and my team to lead a comprehensive two-year project to redesign and develop a best-in-class higher education website. This complex initiative involved managing numerous stakeholders and coordinating with various teams.
Navigation Model
The wireframes served as a testing ground for structure, flow, and clarity. They helped us evaluate how content and navigation could better support both ‘On-Campus’ and ‘Online’ students within a single, cohesive system. Features like the audience-specific ‘For You’ menu emerged from this phase, allowing us to prototype and refine a more intentional, personalized experience.
A streamlined information architecture resulted in a nav model that creates a cleaner and clearer browsing experience. Our mobile-first approach allows for quick and easy access up and down the architecture.
“Corey has been meticulous and conscientious at every stage of the process, from discovery through delivery... There is a seamless integration of project management and product: Corey brings his A game to every meeting, every comp, every process, every deliverable. The work is as thoughtful as it is thorough—always balancing the needs of external audiences and internal stakeholders. A true collaborator, Corey is a partner I trust to deliver excellent work, on time and on budget every time.”
A Quiet Confidence
One of our primary objectives was to present Champlain’s offerings in a way that felt clear, accessible, and grounded in student needs—not marketing noise. We proposed streamlining content to reduce overload, replacing bulky text and chaotic navigation with a more focused, intuitive structure. Instead of shouting for attention, we created purposeful interactions that guided users calmly and confidently—offering just enough, without trying to say everything to everyone.
To highlight next steps and avoid dead ends, clear calls-to-action were strategically placed throughout the College's website.
Headline-driven content creates a more scannable experience.
To ensure consistency and ease of management, we identified and structured various content types for both the front end and backend. This approach led to a more consistent and user-friendly experience for our audience. Additionally, we established a consistent visual language, including type, color, and layout, for both online and offline materials.
Simple and filterable listing of Champlain College offices allows for quick access to their location, contact information, and website.
Easily browse Champlain College's people with quick access to their contact information and profile in a modal overlay.
Design-focused Content Management System
I laid the foundation of the frontend and oversaw the backend development in collaboration with my development partner, Jake Camara, and Champlain College’s internal Information Services team. This project resulted in a more streamlined, user-friendly, and visually consistent website, enhancing the experience for both prospective and current students.
The results of this comprehensive project have provided Champlain College with a modern, scalable, and cohesive web presence that effectively represents their values and meets the needs of their diverse student body.
