UR Department of Linguistics
SERVICES
Art Direction, Website Design, Content Strategy
Linguistics, unlike language acquisition, is the study of this remarkable human ability on several important fronts from documenting endangered languages and studying how sounds are produced, to analyzing sentence structure and building computational models of meaning.
With decade-old content and scattered social channels holding it back, the University of Rochester’s Linguistics Department underwent a multi-phase digital revitalization, modernizing the site, relaunching their Instagram, and putting research and students front and center.
Project Roadmap
Rather than attempting a full redesign all at once, the work was sequenced into four fast-moving phases designed to deliver immediate value while steadily building a cohesive, sustainable digital presence. The first two phases focused on utility and clarity. Launching a centralized Graduate Student Resources Hub resolved long-standing pain points
around access to information, while the redesigned Research section restructured content around people, labs, and active work rather than static descriptions. New information architecture and dynamic layouts made research output easier to navigate and more compelling to external audiences, reinforcing the department’s academic credibility and impact.
The final phases shifted from fixing problems to shaping identity. The Instagram relaunch established a consistent visual and editorial system that could be sustained over time, turning social media into an extension of the department’s voice rather than an afterthought.
"This has noticeably impacted our research visibility and attracted top applicants to our programs."
Maya R. Abtahian, Director of Graduate Studies and Associate Professor
