A higher ed digital experience, built with non-technical content editors in mind

Portland State University

Client Info

Portland State University (PSU), ranked among the most innovative public research universities in the country, offers 123 undergraduate and 117 postgraduate programs across seven colleges. They needed to transform their fragmented digital presence of 340+ microsites into a cohesive, manageable platform that non-technical staff could maintain.

Industry

Higher Education

Top challenge

• The previous website was decentralized with more than 200 microsites that had various URLs and visual styles.

• The multiple sites had different guidelines for the approval of workflows and IT security protocols.

• Non-technical content editors were unable to easily add a new site and design new pages without reliance on the central web comms team.

• Menu structures between pages, programs, and admission information required consistency for easier navigation.

• A deeper understanding of persona groups was needed to enhance information architecture and develop content-based on user journeys.

• A common design language across all sites, that still provided for individual distinctions, was needed for a cohesive visual identity.

Top solution

• The development of a cohesive brand strategy provided content editors with clear guidelines and ensured a more consistent user experience.

• A uniform governance model based on layering up of publishing permissions ensured documented and consistently administered procedures.

• Utilizing the Drupal Paragraphs module, 500 content editors gained access to a component-based, modular design system that leveraged Atomic Design to provide flexible tools for creating and editing page layouts.

• A single publishing site, with more than 200 multi-sites functioning as subscriber sites, allows for vast enhancements in efficiency and scale, while providing a centralized location for site maintenance, security updates, and compliance; reducing reliance

• A facilitated workshop synthesized in-depth intelligence on end users, serving as the basis for content strategies and persona journeys.

• The development of a custom Cost of Attendance Estimator enables prospective students to input data concerning their field of study, residency, and credit hours per semester to arrive at an estimate of college costs.

This site is built as a foundation for success. Promet’s unwavering commitment to the success of not only meeting each requirement but delivering excellence is a testament to the integrity of the Promet team and brand. Your work lays the basis for PSU’s success for the next several years in attracting and retaining students. My belief is we are on track to be exceptionally successful.

Kristin Boden

Director of Web Communications, Portland State University

What We Did

We rebuilt PSU's entire web ecosystem on Drupal 8, implementing a component-based design system with five brand themes and a drag-and-drop interface. The solution centered on a single publishing site that feeds 200+ subscriber sites, paired with a streamlined governance model and content syndication system. We also developed a custom Cost of Attendance Estimator to help prospective students understand their educational investment.

Empowered Content Creation

The new platform revolutionized content management by enabling 500 non-technical editors to independently create and style content within PSU's brand guidelines. Using an intuitive drag-and-drop interface with 30-40 customizable design patterns, editors can now build sophisticated layouts without technical assistance.

Streamlined Multi-site Management

A centralized publishing system transformed how PSU manages its digital presence. The platform allows efficient content syndication across hundreds of sites while maintaining brand consistency and security standards. Content updates, maintenance, and compliance are now handled from a single location.

Enhanced User Experience

The redesigned information architecture and navigation system puts students first. A simplified site map, user-friendly URLs, and customizable breadcrumbs create clear pathways to information. The interactive Cost of Attendance Estimator helps prospective students make informed decisions about their education investment.

The Result

In less than three months, PSU's web communications team of 2-3 members successfully launched 216 consistently branded sites. The platform now efficiently manages over 40,000 pages of content, with 300 remote site authors building and maintaining sites independently—dramatically reducing reliance on the central web team and external platforms.

Digital Strategy & Discovery

User persona development
Content strategy
Information architecture
Governance planning

Design & UX

Component-based design system
Responsive templates
Brand standardization
Navigation optimization

Development & Integration

Drupal 8 migration
Multi-site platform implementation
Custom estimator tool
Content syndication system

Technical Infrastructure

Acquia Cloud hosting
Security implementation
Performance optimization
ADA compliance

Let’s start your project

Whether you're managing multiple microsites or seeking to empower your content teams, we can help you create a unified digital presence that drives results. Contact us to explore how we can bring what's new and next to your institution.