At a Glance.
The GRASP (General Robotics, Automation, Sensing & Perception) Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania is an elite academic and research center. They required a university website redesign that could handle complex data hierarchies—linking faculty, students, and research publications—while presenting a modern, forward-thinking face to the world.
We delivered a custom WordPress higher ed web design that automates content relationships, improves accessibility, and firmly establishes GRASP as a digital leader in the robotics field.
The Challenge: A Disconnected Digital Ecosystem.
Like many academic institutions, GRASP Lab faced a common “higher ed” problem: they had an abundance of incredible content (breaking research, accolades, news) but no cohesive way to display it. The previous website suffered from:
- Siloed Information: Faculty profiles, research groups, and their associated publications were disconnected, requiring double-entry of data.
- Outdated UX/UI: The user experience did not reflect the cutting-edge nature of a world-class robotics lab.
- Accessibility Issues: The site struggled to meet modern accessibility standards required for university compliance.
- Poor Discoverability: The site was not optimized for search engines, missing opportunities to rank for key academic and research terms in Philadelphia and beyond.
The Goal: Create a unified, automated, and visually stunning platform that serves prospective students, current faculty, and the global scientific community.
The Solution: A Data-Driven WordPress Redesign.
We approached this project not just as a visual refresh, but as a structural overhaul of how the lab manages data. Utilizing WordPress as a CMS, we built a custom architecture tailored to the specific needs of a research-heavy university department.
1. Dynamic Faculty & Research Directories
We moved away from static pages and built a dynamic relational database within WordPress.
- Smart Profiles: Faculty pages now serve as comprehensive “micro-sites,” displaying biographies, contact info, and a live feed of their latest work without manual updates.
- Automated Aggregation: When a faculty member is tagged in a news post, research paper, or student project, that content automatically appears on their personal profile.
2. Custom “Research Group” Ecosystems
Research groups are the lifeblood of GRASP. We designed a custom template that gives each research group its own distinct landing page.
- This structure allows individual labs within the university to have autonomy while maintaining brand consistency with the parent UPenn identity.
- Features include team member rosters, active project lists, and group-specific news.
3. Inclusive & Accessible Design
Adhering to the University of Pennsylvania’s strict brand and accessibility guidelines, we ensured the site is fully ADA compliant. The redesign features high-contrast typography, screen-reader-friendly navigation, and responsive layouts that work flawlessly on mobile, tablet, and desktop.
The Result.
The launch of the new GRASP Lab website marked a significant upgrade in the school’s digital capabilities.
- Streamlined Management: Administrators now spend 50% less time updating content thanks to the dynamic cross-linking of faculty and research data.
- Increased Engagement: The intuitive navigation and mobile-responsive design have led to longer session durations and deeper exploration by prospective students.
- Brand Alignment: The site visually aligns GRASP with the prestige of UPenn while carving out its own identity as a hub for innovation.
