In April 2009, Interlochen launched a new website. The result of more than sixteen months of planning, the site offers a new look along with improved navigation and expanded functionality.
Visitors familiar with the previous incarnation of the Interlochen website will immediately notice the updated design, which combines clean, modern functionality with a color palette that pays homage to Interlochen’s scenic natural beauty.
Shawn Williamson, a graphic designer in the marketing department at Interlochen Center for the Arts developed the new color palette, finding inspiration in the work of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, an Austrian painter, architect and sculptor. “The common theme in all of Hundertwasser’s work was the utilization of bright colors and organic forms. He used these elements to reconcile humans with nature,” said Williamson. “I think this approach is perfect for a place like Interlochen, where our natural surroundings are an important part of the artistic and human experience.”
The new site offers much more than just an updated look. It is built on an open-source content management platform called Drupal. It is a simple but powerful tool that enables staff and faculty across campus to create and manage web content, including multimedia. As an “open-source” tool, the software is not licensed or controlled by a specific company. This arrangement reduces project costs while still providing access to a top-tier content management system. Other websites built on Drupal include Popular Science, Sony Music, MTV UK, The Onion, The New York Observer, California Institute of the Arts, and Warner Brothers Records.
To complete the project, Interlochen selected a web development firm, Palantir, of Chicago, Illinois. Palantir’s portfolio includes the Art Institute of Chicago; Washington University College of Arts and Sciences; Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University; Kohl Children's Museum; University of Chicago Law School, and Foreign Affairs journal.
“We are privileged to have collaborated with Interlochen on this redesign,” said Tiffany Farriss, president of Palantir. “Together, using Drupal, we developed a unified Web presence that brings together the multiple facets of a world-class arts institution.”
