In September 2008, California Academy of Sciences reopened in a new, breathtaking building designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano. The new Academy is the greenest museum in the world (LEED platinum certified) and houses an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and a 4-story rainforest all under one roof.
Hot Studio has been partnering with the Academy for multiple-phase website redesign projects since 2007. The first phase of the work, the redesign of the main calacademy.org, was successfully launched in the beginning of 2008 to raise awareness of the new Academy. It has been updated to communicate this exciting transformation and to engage and inspire the public as as an international center for scientific education and research.
One of the most recent project was TEACHERS, a site designed especially for teachers to meet their specific needs around field trip planning, classroom resources and professional development opportunities such as classes and workshops. It is also a science educators’ destination site where teachers can learn the latest science news and share their ideas. Tanya Herrgott, Senior UX architect at Hot Studio, interviewed the Academy Education Department and also local teachers to grasp a clearer understanding of user needs, goals, challenges, and context. Through close collaboration with the Academy Education Department and Web Services Team, Hot Studio came up with an exciting new design for the site.
The new design is warm, inviting and approachable for busy teachers who are juggling many tasks and an overwhelming amount of information. Easy-to-use, intuitive design makes the information easily accessible and allows teachers to find the right lesson plan for their students by searching through grade or topic. Some playful touches like butterflies, post-it notes, and snapshots of teachers and students make the site friendly and engaging. The overall site experience captures the essence of the California Academy of Sciences as a forward-thinking institution igniting lifelong curiosity, appreciation and love for the natural world.
Teachers Home
Searchable Classroom Resources
Teacher’s Lounge (Blog)
To get inspired more, or to inspire the next generation of scientists, dive into www.calacademy.org/teachers and subscribe to Teachers’ Lounge!
