The Massachusetts Environmental Health Association website is an enormous repository of information that supports local boards of health and other environmental health workers in their day-to-day jobs in Massachusetts. The nonprofit organization also offers a variety of educational programs and resources.
MEHA’s website provided information about environmental health and upcoming events, but was missing interactivity. The site also used an insecure and difficult to use software platform, which made it difficult for anyone but their one technical member to manage the website’s content.
Because their website lacked eCommerce functions, MEHA had to collect renewed memberships from its over 400 members via check every year. Their website also didn’t allow members to register for events online.
As the MEHA website had grown over time, the information had grown with it. With over 120 webpages, the site had become difficult to navigate and important health information was buried several clicks deep.
The website just wasn’t helping the organization anymore. It was hindering it.
The Process
First, we began by reworking the information architecture of the site. We eliminated unnecessary pages and combined short pages where it made sense, then categorized common types of information to build archives for them. We also refreshed the overall design of the site with a new color scheme and typography.
Then we turned to new functionality. With the new website, members can apply for or renew their membership online and have the option to simply have their credit card charged every year instead of manually renewing. We converted several of the organization’s paper forms into webforms for easy data collection and management. We also built a calendar for upcoming events that includes the ability for members to register for events online.
Lastly, we built a members-only forum where members could share struggles and find solutions together to the common problems they experience every day.
