Case Study for:
Garden Club of America – Public Pages

 The Company

The Garden Club of America (GCA) is one of the most influential nonprofit organizations in the United States, bringing together a diverse community of gardeners, conservationists, and civic leaders. Founded in 1913, GCA is committed to advancing the study and practice of horticulture, promoting conservation and environmental stewardship, and fostering civic improvement through education and community engagement. With a network of over 200 member clubs and thousands of dedicated members nationwide, GCA serves as a cornerstone for environmental advocacy and education.

 The Challenge

The existing GCA website was a well-built custom site but too outdated for 2024, lacking the modern features and design aesthetic required to showcase their important work. Some of the key challenges included:

• Complex Navigation: Visitors found it difficult to locate important information quickly, with navigation paths that were often not intuitive.
• A Design Ripe for an Update: The visual layout did not reflect the organization’s vibrant and forward-thinking approach.
• Limited Accessibility: Ensuring the new site met accessibility standards was essential to include all audiences

Luckily, our highly experienced team here at Colophon were the ideal web development team for a non-profit organization like the Garden Club of America.

 The Process

The CNM team, led by Ivan McAvinchey, followed our three-phase development process to ensure the success of this project. This included lots of collaboration with the GCA team and their stakeholders to create an eye-catching, practical solution for thousands of active members.

Below is a look at key steps in the process that made this happen:

1. Discovery and Strategy: The GCA team conducted a series of in-depth consultations with their members to understand the site requirements and current pain points. Our Colophon team was able to translate those requirements into a practical web solution to meet their goals, audience needs, and content priorities. This phase laid the foundation for the design and technical roadmap.
2. User Experience (UX) Design: We reimagined the site’s structure to streamline navigation and improve user journeys. This included creating intuitive menus and a robust search functionality to help users easily find resources, events, and membership information.
3. Visual Redesign: Inspired by GCA’s mission, we implemented a clean, nature-inspired design that reflects the organization’s dedication to horticulture and conservation. Our lead designer, Ramiro Modica, created a visually cohesive look that balanced professionalism with the warmth that the Garden Club embodies.
4. Testing and Optimization: Before launch, Ivan conducted rigorous testing to ensure compatibility across devices and browsers, as well as compliance with accessibility standards, to ensure a smooth launch.

 The Solution

The newly launched public pages of the Garden Club of America’s website are a testament to the transformative power of not only purposeful design and technology, but the GCA organization’s mission. We were proud of these key outcomes:

• An Enhanced User Experience: Visitors now enjoy seamless navigation, quick access to information, and engaging content that highlights GCA’s mission and programs.
• A Modern Aesthetic: The updated design is visually appealing and aligns with GCA’s prestigious brand.
• Improved Accessibility: The site meets modern accessibility standards, ensuring inclusivity for all users

Thanks to our wonderful partners at Garden Club of America for an excellent project! Please check out the new GCAmerica.org website and join your local club today!

And contact us here at Colophon for all of your website development, WordPress hosting, maintenance, and digital marketing needs in Charleston, SC and beyond!