Harvard Law Petrie-Flom Center
Combining two different web properties onto a unified WordPress platform
The challenge
Bring together two separate web properties on two different CMS platforms: the Center’s main site on ExpressionEngine, and its “Bill of Health” blog on WordPress.
The Solution
Design and build a cohesive WordPress experience that unifies the sites while keeping visual distinction between the Center’s main site and the blog.
A center for mission-driven science scholarship
The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School, established in 2005, promotes interdisciplinary analysis and legal scholarship in these fields. Over the years, it has evolved into a leading research program dedicated to unbiased legal and ethical analysis of critical questions facing health policymakers, medical professionals, patients, families, and others involved in the health care system. The Center fosters a community of leading intellectuals, practitioners, and policymakers from various backgrounds at all career stages across Harvard University and the globe.
One goal, two platforms
The Petrie-Flom Center’s primary website and its “Bill of Health” blog existed as separate entities—the main site was hosted on ExpressionEngine, with the blog operating on WordPress.
As WordPress design and development experts with a longstanding relationship with Harvard, the Modern Tribe team was brought in to redesign and unify these sites into a single, cohesive WordPress platform. Key priorities included modernizing the design, ensuring accessibility and responsiveness, implementing SEO best practices, and effectively serving the Center’s diverse audiences.
Smart design, simplified tech
The major challenge was ensuring the blog’s design maintained its identity while fitting within the overall Petrie-Flom main website. Our design team carefully threaded the needle with thoughtful use of colors, typography, and navigation.
On the CMS side, the main website was moved from ExpressionEngine to WordPress, and in parallel a scripted migration of blog posts from the separate WordPress site was completed. Additionally, to support the Center’s goals of enhancing engagement and simplifying site management for their small team, we made sure the site was easier to edit without requiring access to developer support.
A unified, future-ready platform
By unifying and redesigning the Petrie-Flom Center’s digital presence, we successfully enhanced user experience, improved engagement, and ensured manageability for the Center’s small team. The project not only modernized the aesthetics but also aligned the digital strategy with the Center’s mission of providing unbiased legal and ethical analysis in health law, policy, biotechnology, and bioethics.
