The challenge

Create an engaging online platform that would serve as the foundation for growing and nurturing a community centered around an annual in-person event.

Through extensive workshops and brainstorming sessions, we identified these key objectives:

• Capture THU's vibrant community spirit in our digital presence
• Expand into online-only events, especially in response to COVID-19
• Develop a central community hub to attract and retain members
• Design a bold, creative, and unique user experience that embodies THU's values

The information architecture

After thorough testing of various options, we determined that dedicated pages were needed to highlight each key area effectively.

The wireframes

We explored multiple design variations to create an engaging and intuitive navigation system. Below are select examples from our iterative design process.

The design system

We developed a flexible design system that ensures consistency while encouraging creative expression across different pages.

Rather than imposing rigid rules, the system serves as a foundation that allows for creative interpretation across our various initiatives.

The main website

The final website serves as a central hub for the community, featuring news, events, and dedicated sub-pages for different initiatives.

Our base design system successfully extends across all pages while allowing for unique variations that maintain brand consistency.

The blog pages

The main channel for communication with the broader audience was the blog.

The event variations

Each event page was crafted to capture its unique look and feel while maintaining brand consistency.

Edit profile

The profile editor was designed to balance functionality with enjoyment, creating an interface that's both intuitive and engaging.

The 2022 main event website

The IRL main event represents the cornerstone of our community. We successfully adapted our design system to create a distinctive event variation while maintaining brand consistency.

Our goal was to deliver a seamless experience across both web and mobile platforms.

The 2022 main event app

We developed a companion mobile app that complements the main event experience. Built with React Native for both iOS and Android platforms, the app maintains the event's distinctive aesthetic while providing essential mobile functionality.

Conclusion

The project was a remarkable success, transforming THU's physical community into a thriving digital ecosystem. We successfully created an engaging platform that maintained the unique spirit of THU while expanding its reach globally.

Working with this extraordinary community was both challenging and rewarding. The experience provided valuable insights into building digital platforms that foster genuine connections and community engagement.

The initial concept has since evolved, and you can explore the latest iteration of our work at the THU website, where the core principles of our original design continue to shape the community's digital experience.