Case Study
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GO-Live Date
December 18, 2023
Trusted Web Experts
Charlie Stanley
Web Solutions Architect
Caleigh Pickard
Project Manager
Anna Stopa
Design & Layout
Martha Stopa
Design Strategy Consultation
Kenneth Kimbrell
Web Hosting Setup
Alex Hathaway
Cyber Security
Mehran Aziz
Web Developer
Zeeshan Aziz
Visualized Page Development
Nikki Vanderkooi
Content Strategy
Joanna Velasquez
Content Integration
Boris Zarev
Webpage Navigation
Michael Confalone
Training & Website Launch
Leanna Thesken
Marketing & Case Study
Deanna Frimann
Resource Allocation
Overview
About
Appalachian Electric Cooperative’s (AEC) mission is firmly rooted in transforming communities and empowering members through safe, cost-effective, and reliable services. Recognizing the need to effectively communicate their multifaceted identity, AEC partnered with Powerful. This collaboration was driven by the need to communicate AEC’s mission and values in a way that is both engaging and accessible.
A Dynamic Brand Narrative: Conveying AEC’s Core Message
The Video Hero: A Window Into AEC’s Impact
A standout feature in the redesigned website is the homepage’s video hero, prominently featuring the text “Power What Matters Most”. The video showcases various aspects of AEC’s community involvement and energy initiatives, creating an immediate emotional connection with viewers. This element serves as a powerful narrative and visual focal point, encapsulating AEC’s dedication to powering communities and enriching lives.
Synergy Between Visuals & Messaging
A picture is worth a thousand words, but in the context of AEC’s website, a video is worth exponentially more. This dynamic medium captures the essence of AEC’s impact and values in a way that static images or text alone could not. The video’s ability to convey emotion, showcase real-life impacts, and present a narrative in a concise yet comprehensive manner makes it an invaluable tool in AEC’s digital communication strategy.
Enhancing Member Experience
Visualizing Complex Information
Powerful focused on AEC’s most frequented pages, turning them into hubs of engaging and easy-to-understand information. Particular attention was given to pages like ‘Who We Are’, ‘Understanding My Bill’, and ‘Tree Trimming’. The visualized pages utilize full-width layouts, which provides a spacious canvas to present content in a more impactful way. Bold headers are strategically used to draw attention to key sections, while bullet points break down complex information into bite-size, easy-to-understand pieces. Additionally, icons are employed to visually represent different services and concepts, aiding in quicker comprehension and adding a modern aesthetic to the pages.
A Focus on Accessibility
The redesign is not just about looks; it is about enhancing accessibility. The new layouts are structured to guide the visitor’s eye through the content naturally, ensuring a seamless and intuitive navigation experience. The use of contrasting colors, clear typography, and interactive elements make the website more than just appealing, but also more accessible to a broader range of visitors, including those with disabilities.
Challenges
In the redesign of AEC's website, Powerful confronted the challenge of streamlining AEC's extensive content. The website needed to accommodate a wide array of information, including detailed service descriptions, community initiatives, member resources, and educational materials. Powerful's goal was to organize this wealth of information in a visitor-friendly manner, avoiding any potential confusion or information overload for members. Powerful also recognized the need to enhance the website's accessibility, especially for those with motor impairments who might find navigating traditional dropdown menus difficult.Solutions
To manage AEC's vast information effectively, Powerful implemented a mega menu in the website’s design. This menu offers a comprehensive overview of the website's content at a glance, enabling visitors to quickly locate and access different sections without feeling overwhelmed. By categorizing information logically and clearly in the mega menu, Powerful ensures that visitors can effortlessly navigate through the website's extensive content. To further address accessibility challenges, Powerful designed landing pages featuring large navigation tiles and descriptive icons. These features are specifically tailored to assist visitors with motor impairments, allowing for more straightforward and precise navigation. The large, visually distinct tiles facilitate easy identification and interaction, ensuring that all visitors, including those with disabilities, can navigate the website with ease.Results
The introduction of the mega menu and accessible landing pages significantly improves the ease of navigation, allowing visitors to effortlessly access a wide range of information. The redesign went beyond enhancing functionality; it played a crucial role in reinforcing AEC's image as a community-centric and inclusive cooperative. By prioritizing accessibility and clarity in the website's design, Powerful helped AEC demonstrate its commitment to serving and respecting every member of its community.Quotes
Client Testimonials
You have been amazing to work with, and truly the best project manager I think I have ever worked with. Your whole team was great and still is, as we have occasional questions and needs that come up. Thank you so much for all you did to make our site look and function perfectly. You all are the best, and we are thankful to have your team supporting us.
Director of Communications
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Quotes
Team Comments
This website redesign was a great one to be a part of! By harnessing the power of strong branding and integrating their iconic messaging and imagery, we transformed the website into a visually compelling masterpiece that radiates the client’s unique identity. The strategic use of negative space not only keeps the design clean and open but also emphasizes elements in those sections making it impactful, especially with the incorporation of large text. The AEC team was also very thoughtful and collaborative, making this project a joy to work on together!
Design & Layout
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