Project Overview
IOOS needed a modern public website that made a complex national ocean observing network easier to understand while giving staff a more maintainable way to publish programs, news, events, newsletters, documents, and regional information.
The Challenge
- The legacy WordPress site was visually dense and difficult to maintain because content and presentation were tightly coupled. The redesign needed to make an extensive archive easier to navigate while preserving access to existing resources.
Our Approach & Key Contributions
Information Architecture & Experience Redesign
Reorganized the site around six primary public navigation areas and designed new homepage, About, Data, Communications, IOOS in Action, Community, and Regional Association experiences that guide visitors from overview to specific resources.
→ https://wordpress-388196-1857488.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/IOOS-Website-Redesign_Main.jpg
WordPress Rebuild & Structured Publishing
Rebuilt the site on the existing WordPress ecosystem using Elementor and a GeneratePress child theme for designed landing pages while separating repeatable projects, events, news, newsletters, and other content from presentation for easier editorial maintenance and future portability. Migrated and reorganized legacy content around the new site structure.
→ https://wordpress-388196-1857488.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/IOOS-Website-Redesign_Screenshot_Project-Template-Verified-scaled.jpg
Custom WordPress Admin & Editorial Workflows
Built an IOOS-branded publishing workspace with content shortcuts and recently edited pages, posts, and drafts. Reorganized the admin navigation, tailored overview columns to each content type, and added direct cell editing with rich-text, date, selection, and media controls where appropriate. Kept important update and security notices visible while reducing promotional clutter.
→ https://wordpress-388196-1857488.cloudwaysapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/IOOS-Website-Redesign_Screenshot_Custom-Admin-Workspace.jpg
Tools & Technologies
Outcomes & Results
The redesigned website gives visitors clearer access to IOOS resources and staff a dedicated WordPress workspace for publishing and updates.
Visitors can find data, programs, regional associations, and archived resources through clearer navigation. Staff can reuse content templates, return to recently edited items, and update common fields directly from their content lists.
Key Metrics
Related Services
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