NCSMA Website and Branding
I was hired by the North Carolina Scholastic Media Association during my sophomore year of college, after my web design professor recommended me for the role. At the time, I had no experience with Photoshop or Illustrator, but I was eager to learn. As I gained new skills, I had the opportunity to create everything from social media posts to branding for summer programs. I ended up staying on the payroll until I graduated and continue to help out even now!
Where We Started
When I started at NCSMA, the website hadn't been updated since 2009. The homepage was cluttered and dark, and the custom theme used for the site had no flexibility for edits, making it difficult to update or improve.
Limitations and Research
When it came to redesigning the website, there were a number of limitations I had to work within. I had to adhere to brand-specific fonts, colors, and existing content to maintain the integrity of the association. Since we were using Web.UNC, UNC’s version of WordPress, our options were restricted to a single theme and only a handful of plugins. Many of the design elements—like the hero image on the homepage with the header and button—required creative workarounds in the code to make them function as intended.
During this process, I spent a lot of time at the UNC library, consulting with librarians about the most effective ways to edit and optimize the website. Additionally, some embedded links didn’t work due to the outdated program, and social media embeds from platforms like Instagram couldn’t be integrated, as the system didn’t recognize anything created after 2010
Final Results
The website overhaul took about six months to complete. I started from scratch on a separate URL and, once the redesign was finished, transferred all the code over. I aimed for a minimalist design that was sleek and timeless, all while staying true to the brand's standards.
After the Website…
Once the website was complete, I continued creating content for NCSMA and eventually became the Head Graphic and Web Designer. I also took on the role of editor for our monthly emails. One of my favorite tasks was transforming our student officers' summer theme into the branding for our annual institute. I've had the opportunity to do this every year since 2020, and it's been one of the most rewarding aspects of my work.
Conferences in a Pandemic
One of the biggest changes to the conferences after the pandemic began was the creation of Zoom backgrounds. These were designed to lift people's spirits and foster a sense of connection while participants engaged virtually across the state.
Featured at UNC
The artwork has had a lasting impact, with its use extending years after its creation. In the summer of 2022, the Zoom backgrounds were even featured as backdrops in the Curtis Media Center at UNC!
