How Web Design Can Turn Longform Content Into a Visual Story
Web design, websites, user journeys—there’s nothing new about these terms. They’ve existed for decades now.
What’s changing is the approach. It’s how innovative web design companies turn content-heavy topics into interactive experiences, which today is everything. After all, better design means better engagement, better usability, and a better user experience.
You may be thinking. How important are user experiences actually? More important than you think. In fact, 57% of consumers won’t recommend a company with a poor user experience.
If you work in education or a content-heavy industry like museums, you know how challenging it is to turn your exhibits into engaging online resources. Whether you are dealing with in-depth whitepapers, showcasing an exhibit, or trying to illustrate large amounts of information—striking the right balance between informative and engaging isn’t easy.
How do you choose which facts to focus on? Which ones to turn into visual elements? When illustrating complex subjects, details matter. You need to convey the right information to your students, readers, customers, and end-users in general.
That’s where engaging web design comes into the picture. Using the right mix of modern design, interactive features, and UX best practices can turn any subject into an engaging experience that drives awareness, boosts sales, and positions your organization as a thought leader.
The Power of Telling A Visual Story
Modern web design gives you the ability to present information in a dynamic way. Data can be supported with graphs, images, and interactive tools. A great design company can even create custom illustrations to perfectly match the aesthetics needed for your project.
We already know that 65% of the population are visual learners. Visual experiences are easier to commit to long-term memory, they make it easier to illustrate the message, and they make it easier to trigger an emotional response.
If your audience is students of all ages, digestible chunks of information layered with illustrations and other images will provide a more enjoyable learning experience. Visuals can reinforce learning, connecting information to illustrations, making it easier for the student to pair facts with imagery.
For museums, studios, or anybody else creating an exhibit, a website like this could be the first step towards building interest in your exhibits. Using this as your base, you can start blending content with visuals, using it as a powerful proof of concept for what the exhibit may look like in person.
Visual Learning and Information Sourcing
Many people make the mistake of assuming a visual experience is less academic and factual. This isn’t the case at all. The better you can explain complex subjects, the easier it is for users to connect with the material itself.
For busy colleges and museums, accuracy is important. The design company should be verifying all information as the website is created. This not only guarantees accuracy, but it protects your reputation too, ensuring your exhibits use the most up-to-date information.
Depending on your needs, the sources can even be integrated into the design. Students will be able to access further research or education if needed, while potential clients can clearly see the expertise the presentation is built upon.
The accuracy of information is the secret backbone of a website like this. Having a team sourcing and verifying each and every fact is indispensable during this process.
Functionality That Keeps the Focus on the Experience
The biggest benefit of using a multimedia website for your content is the fact that it keeps the focus on the user experience. Younger students will benefit from more illustrations, while older students can expand their understanding with supplemental written content.
The core principles behind modern web design use visual cues to tell a story. “Simply put: less is more today.” With interactive design, you get all the tools you need to create an engaging experience for all types of learners.
If the purpose of a site is to persuade your audience towards an action, this will also drive the design and content of the website. Where to plug an organization, product, or service, and where to include any call-to-action buttons will have an effect on the design.
Web design provides you with powerful functionality and the flexibility needed to craft stunning content that directly ties into the outcomes you want.
See It for Yourself With the Mammuthus Visual Learning Experience
What good would any of this be without a proper example? We’ve got you covered there.
Mammuthus.com is our proof of concept for what an elevated visual learning experience can look like. This project consisted of custom illustrations, fresh content, and facts that were verified by our design team. The site is laid out in an engaging and eye-catching way, making the information appealing to students of any age.
A website like this could be used by a museum as an online companion to a physical exhibit or an introduction to a future exhibit. Science or history departments of a school or college can offer this to students as research, which would be more engaging and accurate than any Wikipedia article.
For a business, these ideas can take data found in whitepapers, ebooks, or textbooks and turn them into informative and persuasive websites to share with your audience or potential B2B clients. The possibilities are endless if you’re working with a design team that shares your vision.
Are you interested in seeing how you can leverage visual learning experiences to boost awareness, sales, and partnerships? Xhilarate can make it happen. Get in touch with our team of UX specialists today to get started.
About Xhilarate
Xhilarate is a design and branding agency in Philadelphia that creates visual brand experiences that engage people, excite the senses and inspire our inner awesome. We are the arsenal of innovation. Xhilarate is a design consultancy dedicated to creating innovative brand and interactive experiences with an unyielding passion to create the extraordinary.
For More Information
Russ Napolitano / East Coast
russ@xhilarate.com
215 983 9990