Project Summary
The Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging at Harvard Medical School is a leading research center dedicated to understanding the biological mechanisms of aging and advancing discoveries that promote healthier, longer lives. In addition to supporting groundbreaking scientific research, the Center serves as a hub for collaboration and education, bringing together researchers from Harvard and other leading institutions through its annual Symposium on Aging and ongoing research initiatives.
My Role
Having partnered with the Glenn Center for more than a decade to support registration for its annual Symposium on Aging, I had developed a strong understanding of both the organization's needs and its audience. When the opportunity arose to redesign the Center's website, I was honored that my firm was selected for the project. My role encompassed information architecture, visual design, accessibility, and WordPress development, with the goal of creating a modern website that would better showcase the Center's research while providing a significantly improved experience for visitors and administrators alike.
Design & Development Highlights
The redesign began with a comprehensive reorganization of the site's existing content. Rather than simply updating the visual appearance, I restructured the information architecture to present research programs, faculty laboratories, symposium resources, and educational content in a clearer, more intuitive way. The result is a navigation experience that allows scientists, students, and the public to locate information more efficiently while reflecting the depth and prestige of the Center's work.
Accessibility was a central consideration throughout the project. Careful attention was given to screen reader compatibility, typography, color contrast, and overall readability to ensure the site remains welcoming to the broadest possible audience. The visual design preserves the Harvard Glenn Center's established identity through consistent use of its brand colors while introducing a cleaner, more contemporary presentation that allows scientific content to take center stage.
Beyond improving the visitor experience, the project also modernized the site's underlying content management. Replacing a legacy PHP-based website with a flexible WordPress platform made ongoing maintenance substantially more efficient, allowing staff to update research, symposium information, faculty profiles, and news with far greater ease. The result is a website that is not only more attractive and easier to navigate, but also better equipped to evolve alongside the Center's continuing research and educational mission.