Summary
A challenging, time-limited build as part of the AtkinsRealis Rebrand, together with Edaroth, that pushed boundaries and delivered results.
About the Project
Engineering Net Zero, part of the Engineering a Better Future Division of the AtkinsRealis group, is a microsite mixing information and a set of blogs with an interactive Decarbonomics(tm) tool to allow you to closely study your carbon emissions.
This brief will share a lot with Edaroth and I’d advise you read them together!
The Brief
The brief for Engineering Net Zero came through as part of my work with FenechDigital Limited and was a combined brief with Edaroth. The previous sites for both Engineering Net Zero and EDAROTH had been built and maintained by us but the client, now undergoing a full rebrand, required the sites to be rebuilt using the new brand guidelines in a tight 5 week deadline (2.5 weeks per site).
Matters were not helped that I had a holiday booked right in the middle of the 5 week deadline, this shortened it down to a 4 week total timeframe.
The Approach
My first instinct when being a handed a project of this size is to just take a step back, usually with a cup of coffee and my AirPods and start planning out in my head the many complexities that come with a project of this size.
I personally feel that organized communication is a key part of any project. Due to this being a huge effort rebuilding 2 sites in 4 weeks I decided that, alongside the Project Manager from the agency, we’d sit and have regular catch ups over Google Meets to share progress and review the next steps forward.
This project included:
- 2 versions of Adobe XD Designs per-site,
- 100+ pages of Brand Guidelines
The Outcome
Engineering Net Zero was delivered slightly over deadline due to factors outside of my control however the site’s redevelopment was praised for it’s adherance to the new design guidelines and a reworking of the Content Management System.
The Content Management System rework, whilst part of the original proposal, was improvised by me due to consistent negative feedback I’d been hearing from the team in months previous. The new system harnessed the full features of Advanced Custom Fields to develop a system that was clearer, intuitive for new staff and less messy.
You can view the site here.
Reflection and Key Skills
The Engineering Net Zero and EDAROTH projects combined were the largest briefs I’d ever taken on as a Web Developer. Not only did they require me to harness my knowledge of Web Development but I’d argue more that my skills as a communicator and project manager were really exposed by these projects.
Specifically I:
- Assumed the in-house role as “point person” for all matters relating to these projects
- Engaged key stakeholders and maintained constant, good quality communication with them via E-Mail and Google Meet
- Ensured attention to detail by utilising the designs, brand guidelines and ensuring constant review through the use of a staging site
- Maintained a productive workflow through the use of a page-by-page, component based approach that prioritised recycling components over creating static templates