Brookstone School

Engaging Visuals, Design, and Branding

• The homepage opens with a dynamic video montage showcasing various aspects of school life, including athletics, community spirit, student achievements, and more.
   
• The entire site is beautifully branded in the school's “Brookstone blue,” giving it all a cohesive and visually appealing look and feel.
   
• Users can easily navigate to different school divisions, ranging from preschool to 12th grade, providing a comprehensive overview of the school's offerings.
   
• Mobile-friendly icons and fast facts provided quick access to essential information.

Content and Resources

• News, events, and social media integration make it easy to stay updated about what's happening around campus. Plus, a well-organized mashup of the latest news and events keeps the community informed. through "Brookstone at a Glance."
   
• Users can learn insights and updates directly from the Head of School, while Core Values give users a glimpse into the guiding virtues that define Brookstone.

Navigation

• The navigation bar features a keyword quick search, making it easy to find specific information. Quick Links also provide direct access to giving pages, parent resources, the alumni database, and more essential links. Congratulations to Brookstone for its recent launch!

Felsted

Felsted has launched a beautifully designed website that captures the school's 450+ year legacy while blending it with a modern-day online experience. Located just an hour from London and Cambridge, take a look and see how this site complements this boarding school’s elegance and charm with:

Inspiring Design, Visuals, and Interactive Elements

• A Mix of Tradition and Modernity: The website features a blend of formality with more modern design elements that include bursts of color and subtle animations.
   
• Consistent Imagery: The imagery has a consistent look and feel throughout the site, helping to brand the visuals from page to page.
   
• Creative Design Elements: A host of interesting design features, like the vines stretching vertically down the site, add a unique touch of creativity.
   
• There’s an innovative use of greens and yellows as secondary colors in content boxes and design elements that add vibrancy to the site.

​​Comprehensive Content and Storytelling:

• Student and Parent Stories: A dedicated section shares success stories from students and parents, highlighting the school's impact and preparation for graduation.
   
• Supporting Social Proof: The site provides extensive information about life at Felsted, its boarding program, and its global influence to offer a comprehensive view of the school.

Personalized User Experience

• Custom Admissions Timelines: A custom timeline clarifies the admissions experience, as users can select their entry point and receive a custom-formulated admissions process, making it easier for prospective families to understand the journey.

Austin College

Austin College has just launched its new website, and it's a fantastic showcase of how curiosity can take you anywhere. The site features a strong theme of discovery and exploration, encouraging users to engage with content and learn more about what the college has to offer. Keep an eye out for some spirited kangaroos!

Don't miss:

User Experience and Navigation

• Calls to Action (CTA): The CTAs are designed to encourage users to explore Austin College more, whether by learning about graduate outcomes or signing up for a campus tour.
   
• Fast Facts and Community Insights: Users can quickly access fast facts and read testimonials from various voices within the community, which provides a well-rounded view of the college.
   
• Expandable Menu and Search Bar: The navigation menu expands to include a search bar, allowing users to search by keyword or access quick links for faculty, staff, new students, and alumni.

Strong Branding, Messaging, and Interactive Visual Elements

• Color Scheme and Shield: The site prominently features Austin College's branding, with yellows and reds, and incorporates the college's shield into many design elements.

• Action-oriented language throughout the site plays on the ideas of discovery, tying together how the college prepares graduates to engage with the world. There's a strong sense of potential and excitement for what comes next.

• Spirit: The college's kangaroo mascot makes an appearance throughout the site and adds a playful touch to the design.
   
• Custom Photo Sliders and Pop-Ups: The site includes interactive photo sliders and pop-ups for posts. Through interactive slideshows, users can explore various aspects of the college, making the browsing experience even that much more dynamic and engaging.
   
• Social Media Integration: The homepage features integrated social media posts to keep the community connected and up-to-date with Instagram content. Congratulations to AC on a beautifully designed website that reflects the spirit of discovery and community!

Elmwood School

Elmwood School has unveiled a fresh and vibrant new website, perfectly encapsulating its tagline "Lifted and Unstoppable." The line greets users alongside a dynamic highlight reel of the girls' school in Canada, setting the stage for an engaging online experience.

Check out its key features:

Engaging Visuals and Design

• Dynamic Panels: The site features panels that fade in from left to right and slide down, creating an interactive and visually compelling experience.
   
• Vibrant Colors: Pops of pinks and yellows capture the essence of growth, connections, and a love of learning. The site also uses secondary shades of greens, yellows, and pink to add to its vibrant and welcoming feel.
   
• Footer Design: The footer adds a touch of elegance by including a subtle gradient over images of happy students and highlighting the school’s distinguished accolades.
   
• Post Grids: These call out the school's history, leadership, mission, values, and career opportunities, providing a comprehensive overview in a visually appealing format.
   
• Interior Pages: Content on interior pages is well organized within navigational elements and accordions, allowing for more detailed information without cluttering the page.
• Custom Content Blocks: These blocks explore more of Elmwood's signature experiences, showcasing how each learner is 'uplifted' throughout their time at the school.

Comprehensive Content and Information

• News and Social Media Integration: The homepage transitions seamlessly into a roundup of news from across campus and Instagram posts, keeping the community updated and engaged.
   
• Fast Facts: The site includes quick facts and figures about academics, athletics, extracurriculars, and general school information, providing a snapshot of Elmwood's offerings.
   
• Inside Elmwood: This page hosts news stories and featured photo galleries and provides an opportunity to get in contact with the school, making it a hub of information and engagement.

Interactive Features

• Campus Map: An interactive campus map with clickable content allows users to learn more about the different facilities and areas across the campus.
   
• Pop-Ups for Admissions: Pop-ups are used effectively to promote admissions opportunities and application deadlines so prospective students have the information they need.

Congratulations to Elmwood School on launching such a dynamic and informative site!

Westminster Schools Augusta

Westminster Schools of Augusta’s exciting new website features many interesting textures and design elements, all of which combine dynamic visual elements with practical, comprehensive resources and information for families.

Explore the site for a closer look at:

Engaging Design and Visuals

• Parallax Scroll Effect: The site features a parallax scroll effect, giving users a glimpse of the school's seal as they navigate through sections for the lower, middle, and upper schools.
   
• Textured Design Elements: Various textures and design elements add layers of depth as users scroll.
   
• Anchored Main Navigation: The main navigation is anchored by the school's seal centered in the frame, providing a stable and visually appealing focal point.

Informative Content and Fast Facts

• Educational Experience: Fast facts form the foundation of the site's content, showcasing achievements in academics, athletics, arts, faith, and enrichment. Take a scroll, and they'll fly in from the right-hand side to create an interactive experience.
   
• College Slideshow: A slideshow features the various colleges and universities where graduates are continuing their education — impressive!
   
• Latest Instagram Posts: The site integrates social media and features the latest Instagram posts to keep the community updated.
   
• Pop-Out Information Panel: This interesting pop-out panel allows users to request more information by submitting their contact details via a form that expands from the bottom of the page — interesting touch!

Robust Athletic Page

• Athletic Achievements: The athletic page goes into detail about the accomplishments of the school's athletic teams, including region and state championships.
   
• Values and Team Spirit: The page also highlights what it means to be a Wildcat and the values upheld by the sports teams with every play.

University of Chicago Labs Schools

The University of Chicago Laboratory School has launched its new website with a bold and welcoming message: "You Belong Here." As the "first laboratory school in the country," the new site sets the tone for a kind, diverse, and exciting community from the very beginning.

Key features include:

Welcoming Message and Theme:

You Belong Here Motif: The site consistently reinforces the sense of belonging and community, and by partnering with Finalsite Advantage for additional support during its redesign, the site’s messaging and brand hit the mark. The theme highlights the school's commitment to diversity, academic excellence, lifelong learning, and a dynamic, inspiring student body that wants students to succeed.

Interactive Design and User Experience

• Parallax Design: As users scroll down, they encounter a parallax design that provides fast facts about the school in an engaging and visually appealing manner.
   
• Infographics and Image Sliders: Infographics and image sliders offer a visually rich way to convey beautiful photos and important fast facts.
   
• Custom Post Treatments, Accordions, and Full-Width Container Panels: Individual and slider treatments make the content even more dynamic, help organize information efficiently, and make it easy to navigate.
   
• Custom Image Buttons and Content Cards: These elements make navigation intuitive and visually appealing, especially on a mobile device.
   
• Block Quotes: Thoughtfully placed block quotes add emphasis and highlight key messages throughout the site.

Rich Media Integration

• Engaging Video: Toward the bottom of the page, a video reinforces the "You Belong" theme and encourages users to engage further with the site's content.
   
• News and Social Media Updates: The news panel provides updates on alumni news and social media posts, keeping the community informed about the latest happenings around campus.

The Marine Zone

• Resource Hub: The Marine Zone is a dedicated area featuring resources for parents, guardians, students, faculty, staff, and alumni. It offers easy access points to essential information, making it a valuable tool for the entire school community. So convenient!

Comprehensive Admissions Information

• Why Lab?: The robust admissions page answers the critical question, "Why Lab?" It highlights what makes the Laboratory School special through additional fast facts, testimonials, and detailed information about joining the community.
   
• Inquiry Form: Prospective families can fill out a branded and embedded inquiry form using Finalsite Enrollment. Detailed admission pages provide more information about the admissions process, important dates, and information for prospective families.

There is a lot to explore on this beautifully designed and highly informative site. Congratulations to the University of Chicago Laboratory School on this successful launch!

The Harvey School

The Harvey School has launched a vibrant new site that beautifully reflects the school's commitment to supporting students as unique individuals while also encouraging them to become whomever they aspire to be.

Emphasis on Individuality and Enthusiasm

• Supportive Content: The site emphasizes seeing students as individuals, with design elements and content blocks that showcase this uniqueness and enthusiasm for learning. There's also an approachable and casual language, effectively communicating with users at their level and supporting a sense of enthusiasm for learning.
   
• Engaging Shapes and Colors: The use of triangles, rectangles, and circles in the secondary color palette makes content blocks pop, providing a refreshing contrast to more standard website designs.

Informative and Mobile-Friendly Content

• Fast Facts Panels: Centered panels share quick facts about academics, arts, athletics, and electives, giving users a comprehensive overview of what The Harvey School offers.
   
• Recent News and Social Media: Opportunities to engage with the site content through recent news stories and social media integration keep the community connected.
   
• Overlapping Content Blocks: Unique design elements, such as overlapping content blocks and calls to action, create a dynamic visual experience that renders well on mobile devices.

Comprehensive Admissions Information

• Clear Admissions Process: The admissions pages clearly outline the process, acknowledging the pressures prospective students and families might feel. It encourages users to visit, join an event, inquire, or apply.
   
• Finalsite Enrollment: The application process is easy with Finalsite Enrollment. The page's embedded inquiry form is supported by recent news stories and a friendly admissions staff, all ready to help.

Resources for Families

• Information Hub: A handy section for new families provides information about upcoming events, first-day details, course selection, and athletics.
   
• FAQs: The FAQ section covers orientation, lunch, dress code, and computer requirements, making the transition to the first year seamless and stress-free.

Congratulations to The Harvey School on launching such a dynamic and supportive website!

The Carroll School

Creative and Engaging Design

• Animated Elements and Content Panels: The site features animated flower petals, rotating bursts of light, and other creative touches that add vibrancy and interactivity. Interconnected panels allow users to explore the school's mission and values, providing a seamless and engaging user experience.
   
• Rotating Design Elements: Toward the bottom of the page, CTAs are highlighted with rotating design elements such as stars, flower petals, and colorful shapes, encouraging user engagement. Very creative!

• Animated Navigation Menu: The navigation menu expands with a color gradient that takes over the frame, adding to the site's creative and interactive feel.

Unique Presentation and Layout

• Confidence and Community: The website presents what the school stands for, emphasizing a place where students can be confident and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
   
• Text-Based Designs and Grid Layout: The grid layout and text-based designs help users explore more about the school's approach, teaching staff, program benefits, and support systems.

Dynamic User Experience

• Parallax Design: As users scroll down, the parallax design presents fast facts about the school, creating a dynamic and immersive experience.
   
• Welcoming and Innovative Space: The overall design promotes a welcoming, creative, and innovative environment that supports students' needs.

Comprehensive Information and Resources

• Campus and Application Information: The site provides extensive information on how to learn more about the campus, visit, and apply, which makes it easy for prospective families to get involved.

• Educational Resources: There's a great collection of resources to help educate prospective parents and students about supporting their child's education and understanding the school's offerings.

Congratulations to the Carroll School on launching such a beautiful and innovative website, and congrats to all the schools that went live in July!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.