Cutting-edge research for major challenges: Helmholtz Association

The challenges of our time can only be solved with the help of cutting-edge research. The Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest research organisation. With more than 43,000 people in 18 centres, they are working to shape the world of tomorrow. The Helmholtz Association was advised by 3pc in shaping its own digital future. We provided conceptual and design support for the relaunch process and implemented it technically with TYPO3.

helmholtz.de

Research and technology: the website as a central knowledge platform

With long-term and interdisciplinary research programmes in the six research fields of Energy, Earth and Environment, Health, Information, Aeronautics - Space - Transport and Matter, it aims to help secure the basis of human life in the long term and develop technologies for a competitive economy. The Helmholtz website is the central public relations tool for communicating these topics to researchers and interested parties.

"3pc helped us to design and implement a modern website that meets the requirements of the various target groups. Even in difficult project phases, we worked together very collegially and never lost the fun of designing together."

Martin Trinkaus, Senior Online Manager Helmholtz Association

A new design system for the website

Based on Meta Design's new corporate design, we have adapted and further developed the website concept and design. The blue colour palette was integrated into a newly created flexible and modular design system. Editors now have more choice when creating new pages. From now on, micro and subpages can also be built and expanded in the new design.

The responsive design ensures that all content can be accessed clearly and intuitively on desktop, tablet and smartphone.

Generate the best results "by far". From card sorting to paper prototyping. All workshops were conducted digitally and remotely!

Foresight in terms of content: reaching your goal with our workshops

In order to find out exactly what users need on the website, two co-creative workshops were held at the start of the project. Together with the stakeholders of the Helmholtz Association, a new navigation structure and a new content concept were created in these workshops. Particular emphasis was placed on the explorative use of the website. Supported by the use of moving images, cross-links and numerous alternative entry points to relevant content, new and inspiring content can be discovered again and again. This enhances the user experience and invites users to return.

In order to make the website as explorative as possible, a visible menu bar was dispensed with and a burger menu with fold-out and full-surface navigation was used instead.

For the technical implementation, we used TYPO3 version 10 as the CMS, primarily to optimise user-friendliness for editorial work. The Helmholtz Association not only promotes research programmes, but also shares its knowledge with society: numerous publications are freely available to users and should now be available with an optimised search.

Energy, environment or health: you'll find what you're looking for with the Headless Solr search

The headless Solr search provides the site with a high-performance search function that quickly and adequately accesses research programmes, publications, events and all 18 centres.