The goal
A modern TYPO3 website with everything that goes with it
With the relaunch, the Haus der Geschichte pursued the goal of further developing its website. Current requirements for web design and usability as well as the increasing mobile web usage had to be taken into account with a responsive design. The web design was to be seamlessly linked to the corporate design of the print products.
Due to the expertise available in-house, the implementation was to be carried out using the open source content management system (CMS) TYPO3.
An important goal was to clearly emphasize the service aspect. Users should be able to find their way around the new website quickly and easily. Users should be able to access the information they are looking for in just a few clicks and conveniently use the services provided by the museum. In addition to increasing the attractiveness of the online offering for the very heterogeneous target group, a solution also had to be found for the future handling of the previously separate websites for the individual special exhibitions.
The museum visit begins with the first click
Based on the briefing and the objectives of the Haus der Geschichte, the Stuttgart-based internet agency began with the conception. However, it quickly became clear that they had to go one step further and so the internet agency Frank und Freunde worked out a new central and overarching goal: the website should present the Landesmuseum as a cultural highlight, make the place tangible on the web and make the user curious about a visit. In short: The website must lead the visitor into the museum. And so Frank und Freunde expanded the objective of the relaunch to include this central aspect and developed a holistic digital strategy geared towards this.
The pages of the special exhibitions, which were previously implemented as microsites, were integrated into the main website to strengthen it. The design concept allows the independent exhibition designs to be brought together under the museum brand.
The content structure of the new TYPO3 website was adapted to the target groups and, in addition to an area for "normal" museum visitors, also offers a clearly designated educational area. Direct and intuitive navigation significantly improves usability. Based on the existing corporate design of the Haus der Geschichte, Frank und Freunde designed a TYPO3 website that not only offers a future-proof basis for further developments thanks to its concisely communicated brand, but also impresses with its simple and easy-to-learn maintenance by the editors.
Connection between web design and architecture
For the web design, FUF was inspired by the extraordinary color scheme of the room and the architecture and spatial effect of the museum. This already created a striking connection between reality and the web, which positively supported the entire digital brand development. The three corporate design colors red, purple and yellow, which immediately catch the eye on site, are used in the main navigation and at central points in the page structure of the new TYPO3 website.
Large images are used as eye-catchers to divide the extensive information on exhibitions and the museum into sections.
In order to accommodate the increasingly mobile usage behavior of users, the web design was developed responsively, from the small smartphone screen to the tablet to the large desktop.
The identity of the museum is digitized
The development of a digital brand is becoming the linchpin of modern corporate communication with the increasing use of the internet, especially mobile internet use. The central points of contact with customers and visitors are increasingly shifting to the digital space. Just like companies and brands, public and cultural institutions that fail to present themselves effectively online are therefore almost completely disappearing from users' perception.
By building a digital brand, the developed image can be transferred to the web, whereby the corporate website becomes the central building block of brand perception and makes the corporate identity tangible online. This creates lasting benefits - not only for recognition value, but also in terms of important core factors in online marketing.
With this in mind, Frank und Freunde took on the challenge of transferring the Haus der Geschichte and its appearance from reality into the digital space. Taking into account the print design and the striking architecture, a digital brand was created for the Haus der Geschichte that is highly recognizable.
Thanks to this synthesis of museum building and corporate website, visitors set foot in Stuttgart's Haus der Geschichte as soon as they click on the site. This positive development is also reflected in key figures such as click rates, reach in the social media environment and positive ranking developments in search engine optimization.
The success
Digital self-confidence for the Haus der Geschichte
Thanks to the successful TYPO3 relaunch, the Haus der Geschichte has now also found a place on the web that matches its significance. The brand and the unmistakable visual appearance have been digitized, creating a strong connection between the website and the museum. The user gets an insight into the museum experience, including its impressive exhibitions, from the very first visit to the site.
The unique corporate identity of the Haus der Geschichte is at the forefront and increases the recognition value. The museum now also communicates its new and strengthened self-confidence to the outside world via the web.
Project facts
House of History Baden-Württemberg
URL: www.landesgeschichten.de
4 months Implementation period
Germany's first political-historical state museum
Linking architecture and web design
House of History
Founded in 2002, the Haus der Geschichte Baden-Württemberg is the first political-historical state museum to tell the history of south-western Germany. In addition to the permanent exhibition on the history of the state, the museum delights its visitors with changing special exhibitions on special topics. With its striking and modern architectural style, the Haus der Geschichte is part of the ensemble of museum and government buildings on the Kulturmeile in the heart of Stuttgart.
The target group
With its changing exhibitions, the Haus der Geschichte appeals to history buffs of all ages. The website's target group is correspondingly diverse and ranges from museum visitors, teachers and pupils who use the educational museum offerings for school education, to media representatives who report on the Haus der Geschichte and its exhibitions.
Technology facts
Responsive web design with Bootstrap.
TYPO3 6.2.
Individual extension development with Extbase.
Glossary
Corporate design (CD): A company's public image, determined by the design of various communication media and channels.
Corporate identity (CI): Unique identity of a company that is made up of design, communication, behavior and corporate culture.
Digital brand: Transfer of the brand image and brand identity into the digital space, taking into account SEO, social media and usability criteria.
Extbase: Framework of PHP classes for creating TYPO3 extensions.
Bootstrap: Open source framework that provides templates for web design elements based on HTML and CSS.
Special feature //
Integration of temporary action websites
The special exhibitions form a central part of the identity of the Haus der Geschichte, each of which has a completely independent exhibition design. It was a particular design challenge to integrate these into the typical appearance of the Haus der Geschichte.
The design of the special exhibitions is presented in large presentation areas within the new web layout, so that the website forms a neutral framework in which the designed exhibition elements come into their own without falling out of the concept of the presentation or diluting the corporate design.