Maynard Institute of Journalism Education

The Maynard Institute’s existing website was built on Jekyll, with a design system that felt outdated and difficult to maintain. They needed a modern framework that would better showcase their work and support their mission to increase visibility and impact. The new site needed to make information easy to find, content easier to navigate, and resources easier to access. Visitors—whether newsrooms, individual journalists, or community members—needed clear pathways and intuitive navigation to quickly reach the programs and services most relevant to them. Above all, the website needed to center the community the Maynard Institute serves, presenting offerings in a way that was approachable, well-structured, and reflective of the organization’s values.

We rebuilt the site on a custom WordPress theme designed to be flexible, scalable, and easy for the Maynard Institute’s team to manage over time. Editors now have intuitive block-based tools that give them freedom to update content while preserving design integrity. We also created a clear information architecture and content structure—making programs, resources, and opportunities easier to find and understand.

Interactive features and smooth animations were added to create a modern, engaging experience for visitors, while foundational SEO and integrations like Mailchimp help extend their reach.

Accessibility was an important part of our approach. The site was designed and built to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards, ensuring it would be usable for as many people as possible. Our team implemented features such as semantic HTML for screen readers, clear heading structures, ARIA labels for assistive technology, strong color contrast, keyboard navigation, and mobile responsiveness, making it easier for visitors to engage with their resources on any device.

Working in close collaboration with partners—Sarah Beauchemin of Protagonist Content on content strategy, and Jessica Poulin of Column & Row on SEO—we aligned messaging, structure, and visibility to support the Maynard Institute’s goals. The end result is a website that empowers their team, welcomes and supports their community, and strengthens their ability to advance equity and representation in journalism.

• Audience-forward approach — Every layout and visual element is designed to quickly answer the question, “What’s in it for me?”, ensuring relevance for both consulting clients and program applicants.
• Balanced legacy and modern appeal — Honors the Maynard Institute’s history while highlighting current programs, opportunities, and future growth.
• Scalable design system — Built with Gutenberg block flexibility, allowing their team to adapt layouts, create new content types, and expand features.
• Future-ready framework — Designed to seamlessly incorporate new services, marketing programs, and premium offerings in later phases.
• Accessibility at Level AA — Clear typography, strong color contrast, intuitive hierarchy, and user-friendly navigation make the site inclusive for all visitors.