Wikimedia Foundation website/2017-2018 update

The Wikimedia Foundation communications department is leading a redesign to improve and update the Foundation’s website during Fiscal Year 2017-2018.

Background

In 2016, the Communications department, at the request of the Leadership team, agreed to undertake a review of the current Wikimedia Foundation website. Based on that assessment, the decision was made to redevelop the existing Wikimedia Foundation website.

The opportunity

The Wikimedia Foundation website is a high-traffic web destination for thousands of monthly visitors. We aim to update the site to increase staff usage of this high visibility communications point, and improve understanding of the Foundation’s work among community, donors, partners, and potential employees.

The process

Current stages: Design and develop

• Audit - Establish traffic patterns, current usage habits, total pages, etc.
• Discovery - Partner with Mule Design to understand site needs from Foundation staff and other key stakeholders.
• Design - Explore approaches to improving the site. Assess best approaches with key stakeholders.
• Develop - Build new site materials, architecture, and designs to suit established needs.
• Deploy - Update Foundation site and educate Foundation staff on how to make changes.

Timeline

April 2017	May 2017	June 2017	July 2017	August 2017	September 2017	October 2017	November 2017	December 2017	January 2018	February 2018	March 2018	April 2018	May 2018	June 2018	July 2018
Audit
		Discovery
					Design
								Develop
													Deploy
															Soft launch

Soft launch

On 30 July 2018 the Wikimedia Foundation soft launched the new website. Soft launch will conclude when these goals are achieved:

• Translated into at least 5 target languages
• Completion of quality assurance testing with outside vendors (including completion of accessibility testing)

Feedback can be submitted on the website's Meta-Wiki talk page.

The team

Wikimedia Foundation team

• Gregory Varnum (project lead)
• Melody Kramer (editorial lead)
• Katherine Maher
• Zachary McCune
• Heather Walls

External partner

We are working with Mule Design on this project. Mule is based in San Francisco, and has completed 6+ projects with the Wikimedia Foundation, establishing deep understanding for our free and open cultural values and unique design needs. These projects include the Public Policy portal, Wikipedia 15, and the 2016 Wikimedia Foundation brand update.

Mule will lead discovery, design, and site development for this project collaborating closely with Foundation staff (especially in the Communications department) and key stakeholders.

Findings

Findings from research conducted for this work:

• Update during July 2017 Wikimedia Foundation metrics and activities meetings
• Final brief from Discovery process (PDF; in English)