Cochrane reviews healthcare evidence to determine whether or not interventions work. Its systematic reviews are widely considered to be the gold standard for evidence-based medicine.
Cochrane initially evolved as a grassroots organisation, and now works with over 100,000 volunteers worldwide – healthcare professionals, researchers, students, patients, and members of the public.
The grassroots legacy has left Cochrane with an unmanageable web estate of more than 250 sites.
Cochrane called us in to help develop a way forward to a more manageable future.
Stakeholder and user research
We sought out views about Cochrane’s websites and aspirations for what they should provide from a wide range of people in Cochrane’s extended community.
Headscape’s project communications hit the sweet spot throughout. They kept us in the loop at the level of involvement that suited us. There weren’t meetings for the sake of meetings and every interaction had a clear purpose. I would not hesitate to recommend them for any web design project!
Harry Dayantis, Head of Communications, Cochrane
Architectural rationalisation
Our initial focus was on three of Cochrane’s most important websites, and the question of whether they should be on, two or three sites.
We facilitated a process leading to an architectural rationalisation, simplifying navigation based on users’ priorities.
I can truly say that working with Headscape has been a delightful experience. Cochrane is a complex organisation with a large web estate. Headscape quickly understood us and the challenges that we face. Their discovery and planning processes were intelligent and well thought-out, which have resulted in a streamlined, user-focused architecture and UX design that we’re extremely pleased with.
Harry Dayantis
Content style
Over the years Cochrane’s sites have become increasingly laden with dense, often impenetrable, text.
Working closely with Cochrane’s Head of Communications we helped to create an updated approach to text content that is punchier, more streamlined, and more scannable.
Design concept and component library
Reusable user interface components will be a vital enabler of Cochrane’s web estate rationalisation.
A key deliverable from our work with Cochrane has been a user-tested new design and component library.
What next?
Cochrane’s in-house Drupal developers are implementing the first of its updated websites based on the components, architecture, and content style we’ve helped to provide.
Cochrane’s in-house developers are enjoying working with the component library delivered by Headscape. It’s left them able to focus on tasks that require their specialist skills, significantly streamlining the implementation and build process. Even after final delivery, the design team at Headscape continue to make themselves available for queries which gives us great peace of mind.
Harry Dayantis
