Revitalizing the digital gateway of an experiential learning college
OUR SERVICES:
PROJECT PLANNING
STRATEGY
UX TESTING
CONTENT STRATEGY
WEB DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
Designers:
Aida Viziru & Laura Stobbe
Vancouver Community College (VCC) has been a cornerstone of Vancouver’s education landscape, offering accessible and practical programs. VCC.ca serves as its main digital hub, connecting prospective students and the community to the college’s programs and resources.
The last significant redesign of the website occurred in 2013, making it difficult for the college to effectively showcase its offerings and stand out in an increasingly competitive environment.
Our targeted approach helped VCC refresh the homepage to enhance usability, reduce user frustration both in-house and externally, all while boosting engagement and creating a dynamic online presence to support the college’s growth.
PROJECT GOALS
- Drive conversions and increase inquiries
- Boost brand awareness
- Streamline information for prospective students and the VCC community
- Improve processes for in-house site maintenance
Refreshed homepage design
Approach & solution
Guided by user research insights, our design modernized VCC.ca with a flexible, modular structure to enhance usability and create visual impact.
Our work was a collaboration with VCC’s Digital Marketing & User Experience in-house team which included multiple skillsets: communications, content writing, design & UX research, marketing, and web development.
Strategy & research
To help identify pain points and refine user needs, a comprehensive discovery phase informed the redesign process and included:
Stakeholder consultations
In-depth workshops with VCC’s Communications and Student Services teams, as well as senior leadership groups to ensure alignment with both strategic and institutional objectives.
Data analyses
A comprehensive review of heatmaps, analytics data, and an existing competitive analysis, benchmarking VCC against competitor institutions, as well as previous in-house UX student interviews.
Content & processes audit
Our team led an audit of the homepage content, along with current site maintenance and content strategy processes.
Usability testing
We conducted usability testing with current and prospective students at key intervals throughout the process, using a mix of moderated Zoom sessions and unmoderated online surveys. The sessions provided valuable feedback that informed all design iterations.
Design enhancements
A. Streamlined user flow for conversions
Why VCC feature
Located prominently, this section highlights the benefits of studying at VCC. It conveys the college's unique attributes — welcoming, practical, and industry-relevant — compelling prospective students to explore further.
Visual guide to the application process
Understanding that prospective students often found the admissions process unclear, we developed a simple visual guide to help demystify each stage.
Program spotlight
To promote VCC’s diverse offerings equally, this section showcases a new program each week, so VCC can highlight its range and attract interest from students who may be considering multiple academic paths.
B. Brand differentiation
The new design visually embodies VCC's brand attributes, creating an immediate impression that aligns with its distinct, accessible approach to education and sets it apart in the competitive landscape.
C. Community messaging
Given the frequency of important announcements, areas on the new homepage are dedicated to time-sensitive communications, like events, campus closures or essential security updates, to ensure VCC’s community has quick access to timely updates.
D. Future-proof design
The refreshed homepage was designed for flexibility, anticipating VCC’s upcoming campaign and brand refresh. This adaptability supports current needs and future growth without requiring a full overhaul.
VCC Rebrand
In February 2024, VCC underwent a rebranding process which impacted the logo and colors of the homepage, while our original design and page flow have remained largely intact.
By integrating research, stakeholder insights, close collaboration with the in-house team, and direct user feedback, this redesign delivered on VCC’s goals, creating a dynamic, user-centered homepage built to adapt and grow with the college.