WORKS

Work

CLIENT: The University of Osaka
INDUSTRY: University and research
CATEGORY: Official website
SERVICES: Web designDevelopmentPhotographyVideo productionGraphic design
PERIOD: 6 months
LAUNCH: 10 March 2025

CiDER, The University of Osaka Official website

We created the official website for CiDER at the University of Osaka, balancing the credibility of a research institution with ease of publishing and security. Since launch, we have continued to produce researcher interviews, videos and graphics for events and other communications.

Visit the CiDER website

UI/UX

Credible and forward-looking.

We aimed for a design that conveys both the credibility expected of a research institution and the forward-looking nature of its work. We initially proposed three different concepts. After the client selected a direction, we developed it into a website with a distinct CiDER identity.

System

Easy to publish. Designed with security in mind.

We chose a Jamstack architecture with the security needs of a university research website in mind. Separating the content management system from the public-facing website helped us balance security and performance.

SEO

Plan for search from the start.

SEO planning was part of the website project. We incorporated search considerations into the site structure and page design so people seeking research information could find CiDER. The project record reports that traffic rose to approximately three times its previous level soon after launch and remained high.

Creative production

From the website to wider communications.

Our work includes photography for the website, videos, interviews and graphics for events. By adapting the work to each purpose and medium, we help CiDER communicate consistently across channels.

Challenge

CiDER needed an official website that could make its research and activities widely accessible while maintaining the credibility of a research institution. As a university research site, it also needed careful consideration of security and ongoing operation.

Our approach

We designed the website as a foundation for continuing research communications, rather than focusing only on appearance. Design, information architecture, SEO and the system were considered together to balance institutional credibility with ease of finding and publishing information.

Results

The project record reports that traffic rose to approximately three times its previous level shortly after launch and remained high. The website project also led to wider creative support for CiDER, including videos, interviews and posters.

Director / designer

Mina Imai

We planned and built the site with more than design in mind: accuracy, clarity, security, content updates and ease of long-term operation were all important for an infectious disease research centre. We worked through the centre's role and communication needs in repeated discussions, refining the purpose and expression of each element. To coincide with the completion of the new research building designed by Tadao Ando, we also reflected its concept of a hub where people, knowledge and information from around the world meet. We wanted the website to convey the possibilities ahead for a place addressing a shared global challenge and communicating knowledge from Osaka to Japan and the world.

About the team behind this project

Double Factory Inc.

A creative company providing website planning, design and development through post-launch support. This article records the work of the team responsible for this project.

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