Wave Hill Welcoming visitors into a unique landscape

Industries

Services

Research & Strategy
Branding
User Experience
Web Design
Development

Wave Hill is a public garden and cultural center that provides a beautiful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of New York City life. Its 28 acres feature intimate paths and expansive views over the Hudson River, making it a perfect location to connect with nature and art.

Surveys of Wave Hill's audiences show majorities love it as-is. In fact, frequent advice to Wave Hill is simply to not change at all. But in an ever-changing cultural scene, organizations must grow and cultivate new audiences. We redesigned Wave Hill’s website to do just that, capturing the essence of a special place online and showcasing the many facets of the organization.

Section 1.Expressing a sense of place

Our main challenge in redesigning the Wave Hill website was to convey the beauty and dynamism of an in-person visit. We went beyond photos and videos to create a sensory experience that mirrors the feeling of being there. The layout is open and airy, shadows of leaves and flowers appear throughout the pages, daily weather conditions are front-and-center, and an (optional) audio clip plays sounds of birds singing as you browse the site.

Section 2.More than just a pretty face

Beyond the gardens, Wave Hill has robust and dynamic programming for visitors of all ages and abilities. From contemporary arts to outdoor yoga to environmental education, there’s something for everyone.

Our initial research and surveys showed that events and programs were the top reason people visited the Wave Hill website. So, we put programs at the forefront– highlighting what’s going on, building a intuitive calendar, and designing a bespoke Season Guide to promote all there is to do at any point in the year (yes, even in winter!)

08 Wave Hill More Than Just A Pretty Face Side By Side 1

Section 3.Seeding growth through gifts and membership

With public funding covering only 20% of operating costs, individual support is vital to Wave Hill’s future. We worked within their third-party donation platform to restyle transactional elements and forms to create a cohesive experience.

We also collaborated with their development team on an improved narrative for their landing page, and implemented that story through media rich, dynamic design.