Higher education · Research platform
University College Dublin — Improvising Across Boundaries
Spencer led the work from discovery and stakeholder requirements through information architecture, technology selection, implementation, service setup, handover and simple user training.
Overview
From no dedicated digital platform to a maintainable research hub for University College Dublin School of Music’s Improvising Across Boundaries project.
No dedicated digital platform and no meaningful in-house web-management capability.
A live, maintainable research hub with routine publishing managed by the academic team.
Starting with the research team
Dr Sarah Raine was Spencer’s principal contact, with other UCD contacts involved where particular needs required them. Discovery focused on the project’s audiences, content and practical operating constraints rather than assuming a university-wide transformation.
Giving the content a usable structure
Spencer led interviews and workshops, requirements gathering, stakeholder mapping, content review and user journeys, then designed the information architecture, navigation, content model, taxonomy, page types and workflow.
Selecting for maintainability
Squarespace was selected because the academic team could perform routine updates themselves without relying on a developer for normal publishing. The technology decision followed the operating need, not the other way around.
Implementation and sustainable handover
Spencer handled technical implementation, domain and hosting setup, Google Workspace and supporting services, then provided handover and simple user training. The live platform supports the ongoing research project and helps it reach beyond the immediate project environment.
Outcome
Spencer took the project from no dedicated platform and no in-house web-management capability to a live, maintainable digital home that the academic team could update themselves. He continues to provide occasional, light-touch technical support around domain, hosting and platform questions.
Technology & methods
- Discovery and requirements
- Information architecture
- Squarespace CMS
- Handover and training
Credibility indicators
- Live research platform
- Routine updates managed by the academic team
- Ongoing light-touch technical support
Related capability
- Discovery
- Digital strategy
- Technical implementation