Process

I started with people, not design concepts. I talked with chapter leadership about what the organization wanted to be known for, reviewed how GET showed up on Instagram, LinkedIn, and other social platforms. I looked at how other student orgs and creative communities present themselves online. What stood out to me was most org sites bury the “why” under logistics. Prospective members wanted to understand the culture and credibility before they’d reach out.

Discovery

Audience

Prospective members: art and design students deciding whether this is for them

Current brothers: want to be represented well and have a place to show their work

Alumni and industry contacts: want proof that the organization is active and professional

Information Architecture

Drawing on my Experience Architecture background, I kept the site’s structure intentionally lean so no one has to hunt for what they need. Three primary pages carry the experience: Home introduces the mission, previews the brothers and hosts the membership sign-up; Brothers puts a face to the people behind the organization; and Works showcases a gallery of member creative work. Instagram and LinkedIn links sit in both the header and footer, connecting the site to the chapter’s other channels.

Wireframes and Design

I sketched the Home page as a short narrative that follows a visitor’s questions in order: what is this → who’s in it → how do I join. From there I moved into visual design, building a layout that stays clean and lets the members’ photography and work carry the personality.

The Build

I built the site in Squarespace, which let me move quickly and gave the chapter an editor their members could learn. I tested layouts on mobile and desktop and made adjustments after feedback from chapter leadership.

Key Design Decisions

Lead with the mission: The mission statement is the first thing visitors read. It sets GET apart from a typical social fraternity and frames it as a professional creative community.

Make people the proof: Instead of stock imagery, the Home page features a real photo of the brothers and a clear path to the Brothers page. For a fraternity, the members are the story.

One clear conversion goal: The page ends with a single call to action: “Want to Become a Brother?” The form asks for just an email address. A one-field form lowers the barrier for curious students who aren’t ready to commit.

A dedicated Works page: A creative organization should be judged by its creative output. Works gives members a place to show their talent and gives visitors evidence of what GET is about.

Minimal navigation: Three nav items keep the site easy to scan on a phone, which is where most students will first find it.

Built for handoff: Student org leadership turns over often, so I kept the structure simple and the content blocks easy to update. That way the site survives past any one e-board.

Outcome and Reflection

The site launched as GET MSU’s first dedicated website, replacing scattered social posts with one shareable home that answers “what is GET and how do I join?” It gives prospective members a direct path to express interest through the sign-up form, gives current members a place to be seen on the Brothers and Works pages, and gives the chapter a site its own members can update without a developer.

Designing for an audience of designers raised the bar. Every choice needed a reason beyond “it looks good,” and that discipline carried into my work at Isabella Design Co. and MSU, reinforcing my belief that the best websites answer people’s questions in the order they ask them. If I continued the project, I’d add an events and recruitment calendar, an alumni section, and member spotlights that go deeper into individual projects.

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