Blending Functionality and Inspiring Design

The project called for a careful blend of functionality and inspiring design. Gigantic’s team set out to build a brand website that served as both an informative resource and a collaborative space where the integrity of the science was respected while engaging a range of audiences.

To accomplish this, we focused on three primary objectives:

Increase Discoverability and Access: The site needed to make AIND’s research accessible, drawing in scientists, collaborators, and students by promoting open science and discovery.

Contextualize Complex Data: With a vast array of tools, protocols, and interactive resources, the site required intuitive organization and clear presentation of information to guide users seamlessly to what they need.

Encourage Collaboration: By integrating CTAs and interactive moments, we wanted to foster a space where users could engage with AIND’s work and even contribute their own research or insights.

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User-Centered Information Architecture

To help users navigate AIND’s extensive research, we designed an information architecture that catered to each of AIND’s diverse audiences. From biologists looking for detailed datasets to students seeking tutorials and publications, we organized content based on user needs, ensuring critical information was accessible and easy to find. By mapping out clear pathways through AIND’s data, publications, and tools, we ensured that users could quickly locate what they needed, whether they were accessing data, protocols, or upcoming events.

Dynamic Visual Storytelling and Interactive Design

To bring AIND’s research to life, Gigantic developed a visual framework that strikes a balance between scientific rigor and engaging design. The website features interactive elements and moments of “surprise and delight” that capture users’ attention and help contextualize AIND’s scientific findings. From animated data visualizations to thoughtfully designed layouts, we created a visual experience that invites users to explore. The site’s design integrates Gigantic’s component design system within Webflow, ensuring that AIND can easily manage updates and maintain flexibility as the organization grows.

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Robust Digital Strategy with SEO Optimization

Understanding that AIND’s audience spans the globe, Gigantic built the site with a proactive digital strategy focused on semantic HTML and SEO best practices. By optimizing for search engines, the site’s discoverability allows scientists worldwide to connect with AIND’s resources easily. We also included links to external tools and portals, fostering a cohesive ecosystem where users can engage with AIND’s entire collection of information.

Seamless Integration with the Allen Institute Ecosystem

The new AIND brand website maintains a clear connection to the overarching Allen Institute brand, creating continuity while establishing AIND’s unique identity within the Institute’s ecosystem. We respected brand guidelines while giving AIND the freedom to present its specialized focus, ensuring the site would serve as a beacon for open science and collaboration. Gigantic’s design complements the broader Allen Institute branding, maintaining a sense of unity while highlighting AIND’s unique mission.

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Empowering Researchers to Explore, Collaborate, and Innovate

The new AIND brand website is a transformative digital space, thoughtfully designed to support the science and the community that drives it. With an intuitive structure and user-centered design, the site now serves as a gateway for a diverse audience to access and engage with groundbreaking research. Scientists, students, and collaborators can seamlessly navigate AIND’s vast data, tools, and publications, discovering resources that inform their own work. The enhanced user experience invites curiosity and exploration, making connecting with AIND’s mission more accessible than ever.

Gigantic’s partnership with AIND underscores our commitment to creating digital experiences that foster innovation and connection. By building a flexible, inviting platform, we enabled AIND to continue its mission of open science, inviting the world to participate in the remarkable journey of understanding the brain.