Barcud: Designing a new website during a pandemic

Designing and delivering a website is no easy feat. Designing and delivering a website during a pandemic poses even more challenges. So, when Tai Ceredigion and Mid-Wales Housing Association merged to become Barcud in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, they knew they would need plenty of creativity and agility. They were undergoing a complete brand transformation. And they needed a feel that was fresh, distinct and different.

Brief.

The merger and rebrand called for a brand-new website. And, thanks to lockdowns and quarantines, the brand’s digital presence would be all the more important.

Luckily, we knew exactly what to do.

“We were looking for a company with innovative ideas,” says Barcud’s  Communications Officer, Janice Thomas.

“We needed a company who could design and deliver a website during a pandemic, while taking into account all the different digital platforms.

“The company would need to have the capacity to fulfil a tight deadline, and would be able to approach the project with a positive, ‘can do’ attitude.

“A company based in Wales was also important.”

#ThinkPurple Solution.

In true #ThinkPurple style, our Lead Creative, Kieran, worked closely with Barcud to understand what the client wanted to achieve.

To make sure we designed and delivered the best possible website – despite the pandemic – Keiran also used in-depth analytics from both current sites. This provided the concrete evidence that would inform key decisions throughout the entire process.

Or, as Janice puts it:

“Websites can be frightening things for muggles, and Kieran put us at ease!

“He worked with us,  took our ideas on board, and provided justified reasoning behind why things would and would not work.

“Kieran had the added complexity of working with two different organisations as the merger had not been completed.  This inevitably meant different ideas and priorities. But he dealt with everything in a very professional, calm, and diplomatic manner – even at the eleventh hour!”

The result is a new organisation with a clear, easy to navigate and fresh-looking website that sets Barcud apart from all other housing associations.

“It’s different to all other housing association websites”, says Janice.

“We’ve been praised on how easy it is to navigate, and how clean and sharp it looks. It’s everything we set out to achieve and we’re very happy with the outcome.”