Smithsonian Institution Website “Refresh”
As Web Content Manager at the Smithsonian Institution, I took a lead role in a pan-institutional project to redesign the Smithsonian’s website, http://si.edu.
My focus was on improving usability by redefining information architecture and navigation enhancements. I planned and executed task-based user testing to gather data and inform decisions. The refreshed website won the 2011 Webby People’s Voice Award in the Cultural Institutions category.
Smithsonian Mobile
I led a project to develop a mobile service (website and native apps for iPhone, Android and Blackberry) to enhance the Smithsonian visitor experience by providing detailed visitor information “at your fingertips.” The mobile service aims to be the ultimate guide to the Smithsonian by leveraging user-generated content, location-based tools, tagging, and other Web 2.0 features.
Newsdesk: Press Room of the Smithsonian Institution
I oversaw the redesign of the Smithsonian’s newsroom website, from contracting, requirements gathering (user surveys, stakeholder interviews, content assessment), design and development to site launch in April 2010.
Science at the Smithsonian
I played an integral role in conceptualizing the new website, and used WordPress to develop the site on a minimal budget. Voice of America recognized Science at the Smithsonian as “website of the week” in 2009.
The Torch
I developed The Torch, the Smithsonian’s online news source for staff, using open-source products to complete the project on an extremely aggressive time-line of four-weeks and with a zero-dollar budget. This website received honorable mention in PR News magazine’s 2010 Platinum PR Awards competition.