The Buell Foundation

User experience rooted in research

We began the project with extensive stakeholder interviews in order to understand the needs of their external audience and the internal team managing the site. 

Based on these conversations, we identified three primary goals: 

• Improve the user experience for grant seekers trying to understand the grantmaking process, apply for grants, and access valuable resources.
• Create a new visual identity that better represents their welcoming, energetic, and professional brand.
• Make it easy for Foundation staff to update the site with new content while maintaining design consistency.

With these goals in mind, we began bringing their new site to life.

Improved information architecture & navigation

Information architecture and navigation are two of the most essential aspects of good user experience, so we knew we needed to reorganize content into a clearer, more purposeful hierarchy. 

To do this, we reorganized the site into six essential sections:

• About the Foundation
• Apply for Grants
• Impact
• Advocacy
• News
• Resources

For the larger sections, we implemented a custom mega menu, which helps bring visual hierarchy into the menu, while also encouraging user exploration.

A seamless experience for grantseekers

A core focus of the project was improving the user experience for grantseekers, especially those new to the Buell Foundation. We restructured key pages in the grantmaking section, including How to Apply, What We Fund, the Application Guide, and FAQs, to make the process clearer and more welcoming. 

Scalable, intuitive CMS

The site is built on a custom WordPress content management system (CMS), which is a great choice for clients looking to pair design consistency with an easy-to-use back-end interface.

The core of the site is built around custom page templates, which allow the Buell team to easily update text and images without accidentally changing the overall look and layout of the site.

We paired the page templates with a eight custom post post types, which gave the Buell Foundation staff a structured way to add new content to specific parts of the site.

Refreshed brand identity

We refreshed the Foundation’s brand identity with new typography, color palette, and design elements. The new identity incorporates architectural drawing motifs inspired by their founder, Temple Buell, an architect who helped shape many beloved public spaces across Colorado. We also increased the use of photography to create an experience that feels more personal and approachable.

Integrated resource hub

As a leader in Colorado’s early childhood ecosystem, the Buell Foundation wanted a better way to share knowledge and tools with the community.

To accomplish this, we built an integrated resources section that enables foundation staff to add new resources, organize content by category and audience, and surface materials that support grantees and the broader field.