A Masterclass in Web Transformation
The Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) needed more than a redesigned site—they needed a digital transformation that matched the energy, creativity and innovation happening inside their walls every day. Their existing site was rigid, costly to maintain and no longer reflected the CIA experience.
So, thunder::tech was met with a tall order: Create a modern, intuitive site that felt just as imaginative as the school's future students.
The new site had to do it all:
Our team set out to completely reimagine the Cleveland Institute of Art’s website, rebuilding their digital presence from the ground up. The process began with deep user experience research—interviews, surveys and focus groups with students, faculty, staff and leadership—to better understand what users needed and how the new site could better reflect the CIA experience. Those insights became the foundation for every decision that followed.
From there, we replaced their outdated, rigid platform with a custom-built WordPress site—one that’s flexible, scalable and far more cost-effective. By moving away from a restrictive subscription-based CMS, CIA gained full control over their content. Now, staff can update and manage everything from a centralized dashboard, with changes automatically reflected across the site which saves time and reduces the risk of error.
To make the user experience more dynamic and personalized, we developed a system of micro-interactions and REST endpoints that adjust content based on the user type—whether they’re a prospective student, current student, alum or community member. This personalization tailors everything from navigation to calls to action, making the site feel more intuitive and engaging for every visitor.
On the back end, we engineered the WordPress CMS with custom post types, repeaters, and integrations that power everything from embedded video to e-commerce. Meanwhile, front-end development brought the visual templates to life with a strong focus on responsiveness, accessibility and performance. Third-party tools were integrated for payments, virtual tours, donor tracking, and more—all stress-tested during quality assurance the week before launch.
Since launch, the site has seen a dramatic improvement in performance. In the first year post-launch:
These numbers reflect a site that’s working harder for CIA’s goals: attracting prospective students, engaging donors and supporting the campus community.
With a strong foundation for growth, a modern design that brings the CIA brand to life and a user experience that drives action, the new website has become a central part of the Institute’s digital strategy—and earned thunder::tech a 2025 Silver ADDY Award for excellence in higher education web design.
Together, we can turn that blank space into a masterpiece. Reach out today!