OCAD U
A student-centric, boldly designed admissions website
OVERVIEW
The university of the imagination
OCAD U partnered with Evolving Web to replace its website’s Admissions section with a stand-alone site, making it more intuitive, assistive, and visually appealing to all their prospective students.
OCAD University is Canada’s largest art, design, and digital media university and the third-largest in North America. It is dedicated to art and design education, practice, research, knowledge, and invention across various disciplines.
SOLUTIONS
Boost engagement & attract applicants
To help OCAD U achieve their goals, we took a user-first approach from the outset. We started by looking at the website’s audiences and understanding their priorities. Then, we developed a design and UX strategy that could drive engagement and guide users through the admissions process.
Our work included designing organized program pages, creating visible calls to action, streamlining portfolio preparation, and developing "at-a-glance" content for application details. We also enabled a dynamic program selector and integrated forms for prospective students to interact with the University via the Slate CRM.
ART DIRECTION
Windows into OCAD
Our artistic direction for OCAD U focused on highlighting student achievement, attracting potential students, and distinguishing the school from other art and design institutions. The concept, "Windows into OCAD," illustrates how the university offers students windows into various creative possibilities as they develop their identities. Imagery reflects the student experience, conveying inspiration, excitement, prestige and professionalism. We used black and white, OCAD U’s primary brand colours, with green for calls to action and pink for hover states. The use of squares and sharp edges connects to both the main campus building and the OCAD U logo.
RESULTS
One-of-a-kind platform aimed at adolescents
The new OCAD U website offers a streamlined user experience and bold artistic direction. It features simplified navigation for quicker access to information and improved content accessibility. Eye-catching calls to action stand out, avoiding cluttered, text-heavy pages. The bold design, with impactful typography and interactive features, encourages exploration and conveys creativity. A dedicated portfolio preparation page clearly explains the process, boosting students' confidence. Additionally, the adaptable homepage aligns with the admissions cycle, highlighting key application steps.
- Studio—Evolving Web
- Client—OCAD University
- Strategy—Suzanne Dergacheva, Alexandra Ungureanu
- Creative Direction—Etienne St-Denis
- Art Direction—Shane Collier, Terri Gasselsdorfer
- UI Design—Shane Collier
- UX Design—Annika Oeser
- Project Managers—Ken Hwang
- Developers—Robert Ngo, Oleh Shevchuk, Efrain Herrera, Firat Faik Ikiler
- Solutions Architect—Franz Fernandes Vanderlinde
- QA—Adam Sofineti
- Campus Photography—Adrien Williams
