EBSN

Client: The European Beat Studies Network (EBSN)

Service: Website design, website development, brand refresh, SEO and performance optimisation

Result: A new, stylish and fully optimised website showcasing the organisation’s work

Founded in 2010, the EBSN is a membership-based organisation dedicated to promoting and sharing critical and creative work based on and inspired by the Beat generation.

To completely rebuild and redesign the website. Reorganisation of thousands of files uploaded over many years. The streamlining of content for easier access and faster loading. Holes in security architecture also needed to be plugged and optimised.

The EBSNs website was a relic from the early 2010s, built on outdated and buggy foundations. Performance was sluggish due to massive file sizes. Images and articles were mostly data-heavy screenshots that made load times unacceptable. Navigation was erratic, meaning subject categories were in random locations, and a number of links were broken. Design was functional but dated and uninspiring to visitors. 

To create a new website from scratch following best practices regarding web development, security, performance and SEO. Optimise and organise content for easy navigation and faster load speeds. Present the content in a dynamic, interactive environment that conjures the energy and spirit of the Beat scene.

Faced with a mountain of images, PDFs, articles, journals and videos, we got busy optimising every file, crushing heavy items down to less than half their weight.

Content categories were created and given their own pages for simple navigation. Conference events were given their own section, as were book reviews, press articles, opinion pieces, biographies and so on.

Web copy was freshened with a stylish new font and placed in neat and spacious columns.

An ecosystem of links was created to lead visitors through a rational course of discovery. Broken links were either repaired or redirected, meaning a smoother and more immersive experience could be had.

Throughout the website, we used iconic photographs, symbols and imagery synonymous with the Beat generation: posterised renderings of Kerouac, Burroughs, Ginsberg and others were used to head each section, an abstract cut-up mural was created for the conference section, and even the City Lights bookstore makes an appearance in the “New Publications” section.   

Security protocols were installed and optimised, and we continue maintaining the website for content, security and performance optimisations. 

The difference is night and day. Gone is the stale and blocky design of the old website. Now, pages pop with rich detail, peppered with thematic nods to the Beat poets and the counterculture they inspired.

Performance and speed are super-fast, and content is organised and linked to maximise ease of navigation and immersion.

The site is also much more stable and secure, free of bugs and broken pages.

We were thrilled with the feedback. Many of the EBSN members have told us how surprised and pleased they are with the result. So are we!