Laguna Art Museum
Industry
Culture/Art
Client
Studio Misfits
Service
Project Management
Date
2019
Laguna Art Museum, approaching its 100th anniversary, needed a modernized digital presence that could honor its rich history while making its collection more accessible to the public. The existing site lacked ease of navigation, up-to-date accessibility features, and the ability to house digitized collections in a user-friendly format.
My Role
I served as Project Manager for Studio Misfits, acting as the bridge between the museum’s leadership, curatorial staff, and our internal creative team. I ensured the project stayed on track, within budget, and aligned with both functional requirements and the museum’s heritage.
Key responsibilities included:
Managing timelines, feedback cycles, and task coordination between teams.
Facilitating communication with the museum’s leadership and curatorial staff.
Translating curatorial and accessibility goals into an actionable site architecture.
Overseeing scope management to ensure delivery on time and within budget.
The Strategy
Center the project around delivery and governance to hit the centennial deadline without scope creep. I set up a lightweight PM framework focused on clear ownership, content migration, and accessible templates in WordPress, so the museum could manage the site post-launch.
Scope & schedule: lock scope against the anniversary milestone; create a week-by-week plan with approval gates.
Content inventory & migration: catalog existing pages/assets; prioritize collection entries and exhibitions; phase content loads.
Information structure: translate curatorial + accessibility goals into a practical page/template map in WordPress.
Accessibility & QA: aim for WCAG-informed patterns; checklist-based reviews for images/alt text, headings, and contrast.
Stakeholder comms: weekly check-ins, consolidated feedback rounds, and a change log to keep teams aligned.
Handover & training: simple editor workflows and documentation so staff could update content independently.
The Build
Content & Structure
Conducted full content audit of the existing site to identify essential pages, outdated material, and gaps.
Organized exhibitions, events, and collection items into clear categories to improve navigation.
Mapped content to a new, user-friendly site structure reflecting both curatorial priorities and audience needs.
Templates & Design Integration
Collaborated with the creative team to implement accessible, mobile-friendly WordPress templates.
Ensured visual design respected the museum’s established identity while enhancing clarity and usability.
Integrated event listings, exhibition highlights, and visitor information into dynamic, easy-to-update modules.
Accessibility & QA
Applied WCAG-informed accessibility practices, including alt text, heading hierarchy, and color contrast checks.
Conducted iterative testing across devices and browsers to ensure a consistent user experience.
Maintained a live change log to track and resolve issues quickly during the build phase.
Launch & Handover
Coordinated the launch to coincide with the museum’s centennial anniversary timeline.
Delivered training sessions and written guides for museum staff to manage content post-launch.
Provided final QA and performance optimization before going live.
The Outcome
Delivered a fully redesigned website ahead of the museum’s centennial celebration.
Improved public access to the museum’s collection through a searchable, organized digital archive.
Enhanced accessibility by implementing WCAG-compliant features for inclusive browsing.
Streamlined navigation and content structure, making it easier for visitors to explore exhibitions, events, and educational programs.
Strengthened the museum’s ability to serve as a cultural resource for the community, both in person and online.
Reflection
Working on Laguna Art Museum’s website was more than just a digital project; it was about helping a historic institution carry its legacy into its second century. Guiding the process from concept to launch taught me how to balance respect for an established brand with the need for modernization. It reinforced the value of clear communication between creative teams and stakeholders, especially when the subject matter is as meaningful as a community’s cultural history. This project deepened my appreciation for how design can connect people to art, history, and shared experiences.
