Minnesota Literacy Council needed a fresh look and improved navigation that is based on audiences, not their own internal structure.
We collaborated with MLC’s staff designer to create a look consistent with their print materials. Their three audience types — volunteers, educators, and students — are each represented by a color, and the pages for each of those audiences are color-coded for a visual cue to where a user is within the deep website.
The site’s most-used feature is its affectionately-known “hotline,” a database of hundreds of programs for adult learners. The easy-to-search listings connect users with locations around the state that offer classes in ESL, GED preparation, citizenship, basic math, and much more.
A calendar shows all of the events the Literacy Council offers — from conferences to their monthly Beyond Books events to trainings for volunteer tutors. The volunteer section has its own searchable database of current opportunities to get involved.
The latest updates from MLC’s many social networking sites occupy a prominent yet not-distracting location on the home page, providing a glimpse of the work the organization is doing on a daily basis. Four blogs within the site offer tutor tips, connections for AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers, technology updates for instructors, and more.
In addition to the public website, there are several user portals with password-protected content for their staff, board, learning center volunteers, and VISTA members to find information and submit reports. Each of these user groups has its own level of access, keeping the sections private.