From neglected child to fresh new website

A complete renovation

Together, Provas and Illumi started from scratch. We analysed the user journey and built a new site and navigation structure. In addition, we took Provas' existing design manual and brought it to life in a completely new web design.

Louise Drachmann Lorenzen elaborates: "Our old website was very conservative and dark blue. With the new design, several of the colours from the design manual have come into play, giving us a lighter and more contemporary look - less authoritative. Our colours are better utilised and we can more easily use images in the new design."

Our old website was a bit of a neglected child in need of some attention. In particular, it was a problem that the website wasn't responsive and didn't comply with all web accessibility requirements. But there was so much we wanted to change that we decided to start from scratch.

Louise Drachmann Lorenzen, Communications Consultant at Provas

Focus on web accessibility and usability

"Overall, the website has become much more inviting," continues Louise Drachmann Lorenzen. "The old site was mostly used as an archive for ourselves, but that's not how it should be. A website is for the users, and that's what our website has become now. Also in terms of web accessibility and responsive design."

To ensure focus on users, Provas and Illumi invited a small group of citizens to test and provide input on the prototype. The user group tested both navigation and content before Illumi went ahead with the final implementation.

The final website is highly self-service orientated, and users can find guides to understanding their bills, sign up for SMS service in case of disruptions, find prices for water and waste management - and much more. If they don't immediately find what they're looking for, they can easily search for it via a search function.

“Most users don’t browse page by page - they search,” explains Louise Drachmann Lorenzen. “That’s why search must be easy. Our site is well visited, especially the waste section. For example, people want to know when their bin is emptied - and they can easily find that information today.”

Much easier to edit

End users are not the only ones who have benefited from the new website. The many editors at Provas also notice a difference. "The new CMS is so much easier to work in!" explains Louise Drachmann Lorenzen. "A lot of the editorial work is done by subject editors in the individual departments. They keep track of changes in legislation and also make sure to make operational announcements and things like that. It would be impossible for me to keep up to date in all subject areas and I would become a bottleneck if I had to cover everything. Today, editors rarely ask me how to use the CMS - it's pretty self-explanatory."

Innovative thinking with its feet on the ground

The fact that Provas chose Illumi for the task of creating a new website was no coincidence. "We received offers from several agencies, but Illumi was a good fit for us," Louise Drachmann Lorenzen reflects. "They have both feet on the ground and listen to our wants and needs. We don't want to shout too loudly, but at the same time we want to be professional and modern. Not least when it comes to attracting employees. We found that balance really well with Illumi, who were also good at shaking us up if we became too conservative."

Since the new website went live, the collaboration between Provas and Illumi has continued quietly.

Once a year, we have a regular meeting where we talk about our future plans. It's very nice because then we get it done. Of course, Illumi has a sales interest in holding such a meeting, but it's completely non-binding for us. They don't try to sell us a whole lot, but are very responsive to our needs. It's really nice.

Louise Drachmann Lorenzen, Communications Consultant at Provas