www.delawareestuary.org

The Story

The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s website had evolved into a tangled web. It was overgrown, hard to manage,
and nearly impossible to navigate. Over time, it had “ballooned” into a sprawling system with overlapping navigation menus, and content spread across an inconsistent hierarchy that made nearly everything hard to find. With an overwhelming amount of information burying critical content, and no clear path for users, PDE’s stunning photography and impactful programs were overshadowed.

Beyond user experience challenges, the backend of the website was equally difficult to manage. Administrative usability issues were taking valuable time away from engaging their audience. Recognizing that it was time for an overhaul, PDE sought out D3 after seeing our award-winning work, engaging us to redesign their website in time for their 30th Anniversary. 

Our Journey

This project stood out for its sheer scale. With the extensive volume of content PDE manages, from scientific research products to educational and programmatic resources, our first step was to take a highly strategic approach to organization and usability. The D3 team worked collaboratively with their team to restructure the site, ensuring the navigation allowed users to deeply explore their work without being bombarded with options. 

We shared the goal of bringing clarity to complexity and designed a scalable system that allows users to move through the content naturally. Custom sub-navigation modules let visitors dive further into topics like freshwater mussels, stormwater management, and coalition building. The bright, welcoming design brings energy to the experience, highlights PDE’s captivating photography, and presents detailed scientific information in an engaging and digestible way. 

For D3, improving the administrative experience was almost as important as the design. The new WordPress site gives PDE’s team the tools they need to easily manage and expand their content to support ongoing growth. 

The final product dramatically improved the website experience and performance. Visitors can quickly find what they need or delve into the details on programs, meeting minutes, and educational tools. The new site structure improves SEO and visibility across search engines and AI tools. Ultimately, the new site strengthens PDE’s ability to connect with donors, volunteers, and the communities they serve, making it easier to continue their important environmental mission.  

Nonprofit, science, and technology companies with a heavy emphasis on documentation or a wide breadth and depth of programs can trust D3 to organize, design, and produce website strategies for large-scale projects