Inspired by our work in the science sector, the Society for General Microbiology commissioned ico to radically enhance their Microbiology Online website.
This project asked us to draw on our experience of working with scientists and educators to create an online experience that is both informative and enjoyable. The site is an important educational resource for budding microbiologists, but its broader purpose is to inspire widespread interest in the subject. We were clear about our mission – to bring the subject to life, prompting curiosity and interaction.
On entering the new site, previous visitors will be struck by the bold use of colour, vivid imagery and large-scale graphics. And to encourage instinctive exploration, the interface is populated by a series of modules that guide users to specific topics and themes.
A key part of our design strategy was to simplify complex messages. We achieved this through visual storytelling. We have enlivened the information by introducing a suite of original illustrations and animations that were devised and produced in-house. A good example of this is the Microbe Passport, a novel interactive feature populated by cartoon-style microbes; it is designed to highlight the different ‘personalities’ of these diverse organisms.
The new site provides an engaging channel into many levels of factual content, for both students and teachers. It is further enriched and brought right up-to-date by an interactive quiz, access to podcasts and a series of downloadable resources.
As well as giving the SGM an exciting new online face, we have provided them with a functional tool that is easy to maintain and has the highest standards of accessibility.
