Web page to document event results | Mandate Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC | Concept dubbed perceptions | Design Zeilenwerk, dubbed perceptions | Coding Zeilenwerk | Language English | Year 2017 | Link to web page

The SDC thematic network on democratisation, decentralisation and local governance uses innovative knowledge sharing methods since its inception ten years ago. Using a web page to document their workshops instead of written reports has been in their tool box for quite some time. This time we have pushed it a step further: https://2017.ddlgn.ch/

I approach web design from the story point of view. I aim to create web pages that lead the audience through the information. It should feel like a journey without having to resort to tales about knights and dragons. Attractive design (the world of your story) is key for your audience to buy into your story. In this example we use a simple but strong color scheme with images from the workshop. These visual elements help the participants to reconnect with their workshop experience.

Another key element is story structure. In the case of the event page we draw in the attention of the viewer through the homepage which provides glimpses into the information present. In addition, the home page is actually a blog. Thus we could use it from the announcement of the event to its conclusion. The home page displaying the most recent page update, making the view come back ever so often.

Words and sentences have been chosen carefully to feel more personal. The audience should feel part of the knowledge generated during the workshop. The language should fit the language used during discussions. It is a break with the rather administrative language used in a Swiss public administration.

If you would like to read more about the page concept and design, I have blogged about this event page last year.

Of course it is! ;-) ... The workshop was attended by 40 participants. After the workshop they go back and will report to their team about the workshop. But it usually takes the event organizer or moderator 4 weeks to write-up a report and send a PDF to all the participants. At that moment participants are back in their daily workflow. The workshop topic is not that hot anymore. If they send the document to their colleagues, who will really read this PDF document?

An event page is much more dynamic. Participants start using it before the workshop to read background documents, to get ready. Their colleagues who stay back can follow the workshop from far as first information is posted each evening: comments, photos, videos, power-point presentations... And once back from the workshop, the participants can report to their team about the event and refer them to the web page, which is usually finalized in the week following the event.

Though google analytics is to be interpreted with caution, I argue that this web-based report has reached far more people, than just the PDF [see below]. For me there is no doubt that this is the way forward.