As the Crow Museum of Asian Art officially joined The University of Texas at Dallas, University Web Services was tasked with launching a new website. The Crow Museum website redesign aimed to reflect the museum’s distinct identity while aligning with the larger UT Dallas brand. I served as lead project manager, guiding a collaborative effort focused on visual storytelling, institutional consistency, and long-term sustainability.

Project Goals

• Highlight the Crow Museum’s collection through immersive, high-quality photography
• Blend Crow Museum branding with UT Dallas identity standards
• Promote the museum’s new location within the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum
• Transition to UT Dallas’ centralized content management and hosting platform
• Improve usability and accessibility through web best practices

Strategy and Process

To bring the vision for the Crow Museum website redesign to life, we followed a strategic, user-centered process rooted in collaboration and best practices. Each phase—from stakeholder discovery to technical implementation—was designed to ensure the site would be visually compelling, brand-aligned, and easy to maintain.

Stakeholder Engagement

We began by conducting interviews and workshops with museum staff, university leadership, and communications stakeholders. These sessions provided essential insights. They helped us understand priorities, audience needs, and the impact of the museum’s integration into the University.

Brand and Design Integration

The website uses distinctive visual elements—such as color palettes and patterns—that reflect the museum’s collection. Each page features a striking “hero” image, immediately drawing visitors into the experience.

To maintain cohesion with the UT Dallas brand, we used standardized wordmarks and fonts. These were blended with the museum’s artistic aesthetic. A featured story highlights the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum, helping contextualize the museum’s future on campus.

Highlighting the Athenaeum

The Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum opened in 2024 as UT Dallas’ new cultural district. It houses a second Crow Museum location and several gallery spaces. The website introduces this expansion and the museum’s growing role in arts and culture on campus. It shows how the museum connects art, education, and public engagement.

Migration to Centralized Infrastructure

We migrated the site to UT Dallas’ centralized content management and hosting platform. This improved site performance, accessibility, and security. It also simplified content management for museum staff.

Web Best Practices

Accessibility and performance were core priorities. The team ensured WCAG compliance and tested mobile responsiveness. We aimed for a seamless experience across devices and screen sizes.

Outcome

The Crow Museum website redesign successfully balances visual impact and institutional alignment. It gives the museum a strong digital presence to showcase its collection, mission, and expansion into the O’Donnell Athenaeum. The launch supports UT Dallas’ broader vision for a vibrant, integrated cultural identity—both online and on campus.