BRIC Arts & Media
by Bellweather
Award Level: Winner
Category Name: Best Cultural Institution Website
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“We knew for this client that we were going to have a lot of videos, assets and animations. We knew there were going to be a lot of complex server calls to build these pages. WP Engine, from our experience, has always been the fastest for these types of complex builds.”
—Emily Lessard, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Bellweather Agency
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Bellweather transformed BRIC Arts & Media’s site into a mobile-first, dynamic content powerhouse, inviting users to explore and participate in BRIC’s offerings like never before.
The challenge
For more than 40 years, Brooklyn Information & Culture (BRIC) has been a cultural and community leader in Brooklyn. In 2023, they aimed to reintroduce themselves as a cultural digital-first powerhouse through a website relaunch. The goal was to transform BRIC’s video-led, community-focused legacy site into a mobile-first content platform. The previous 5,000+ page website had content and data siloed across multiple platforms—videos were housed separately from events, which were housed separately from classes. Additionally, the design did not reflect the forward-thinking nature of BRIC and its artists, events, and audiences.
The solution
To reinvent data and design to deliver a brand-forward, mobile-first site, digital experts at Bellweather developed a new data strategy to consolidate 40 years of content. After conducting multiple workshops and working sessions with the BRIC team to ensure the data and backend suited their needs, the data strategy and information architecture were revamped to integrate content and events into a single WordPress environment, delivering an excellent UX alongside programmatic efficiencies for the client. The design and development brought the strategy to life through a brand-forward UI that significantly increases engagement. The final website positions BRIC exactly where it should be: at the forefront of cultural life in Brooklyn and beyond.
The results
The new site delivers a trifecta of results: happy client teams, more engaged audiences, and industry accolades. The digital overhaul extends beyond a traditional website to a dynamic content platform that seamlessly integrates video, making BRIC’s vast array of offerings easily accessible and engaging for a mobile-savvy audience. The new, user-friendly, accessible, and visually striking digital space prioritizes accessibility, improved navigation, and reorganized content to create a clearer hierarchy. BRIC’s mission and creative offerings are front and center, inviting users to explore, engage, and participate in Brooklyn’s vibrant cultural scene like never before. The site earned three Webby nominations in the Websites and Mobile Sites category, including Best Responsive/Adaptive Design for Mobile, Best Mobile Visual Design - Function.
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