Creative Studio @ Cengage

Empowering Internal Creatives

As the Lead Developer for Product at Cengage Learning, I was responsible for building a new website for the Creative Studio team to effectively showcase our services to internal stakeholders. The objective was to highlight the team’s capabilities and creativity while adhering to Cengage's strict brand guidelines.

I led the entire project lifecycle—from conceptual design to final deployment—and developed dynamic elements to bring a more engaging and interactive experience to the platform.

Key Contributions

• Custom Video Production & Integration: Created the homepage’s dynamic video header using Adobe After Effects. The video was designed to introduce the Creative Studio team’s offerings with a vibrant and engaging narrative. Additionally, I produced mini-videos for each team member, giving the site a personalized and lively feel. This multimedia approach effectively communicated the team’s creativity and collaborative spirit.

• Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) Pro Development: Leveraging my expertise with ACF from previous projects, I developed flexible content templates that allowed non-technical stakeholders to update and manage the site easily. These templates included various custom layouts such as tabbed sections, interactive sliders, and media galleries, making it simple to present information in an engaging way.

• Custom Post Types & Content Architecture: Implemented custom post types for managing team profiles, project portfolios, and service offerings, which streamlined content updates and allowed for future scalability. This approach ensured consistency across all pages and reduced dependency on hardcoded layouts.

• JavaScript Interactivity & UX Enhancements: Utilized JavaScript for adding interactivity and animations to elements like sliders, video overlays, and tabbed navigation. This added layer of engagement enhanced the user experience and aligned with Cengage’s high standards for quality and design.

Challenges & Solutions

• Adhering to Strict Brand Guidelines: Worked closely with the branding and marketing teams to ensure all site elements were in strict compliance with Cengage’s brand guidelines. This included precise color schemes, typography, and multimedia formats to maintain brand integrity.

• Dynamic & Flexible Content Management: By designing modular ACF templates and custom post types, I allowed for future-proofed content updates and extended site functionality without the need for additional development, thus empowering the internal team to manage updates autonomously.

Tech Stack

• CMS: WordPress with Advanced Custom Fields Pro (ACF)
• Custom Development: Custom Post Types, JavaScript, and PHP-based templates
• Multimedia Production: Adobe After Effects
• Design & Branding: Figma for initial wireframes and design compliance checks

Outcome

The new Creative Studio website successfully showcased the team’s talents and services while maintaining consistency with Cengage’s brand standards. The incorporation of personalized video elements and interactive components made the site more engaging and visually appealing. This project highlighted the value of combining technical development with multimedia production to create a compelling stakeholder experience.

Conclusion

Although Cengage eventually closed its San Francisco offices, the site is still active internally. I have archived it on my domain for posterity. 😉

Creative Studio @ maryahayne.com