Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

An efficient approach to the rebuild.

When we began our work with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation [EGPAF], we found that their existing site had good bones and some valuable custom components. 

So, rather than rebuilding from the ground up, we leveraged a “migration in place” approach to maximize efficiency and maintain existing functionality. Meaning, we built a new frontend while maintaining the underlying content and data structures. When it was ready to launch, we could turn off the old theme and turn on the new one — as easy as a light switch!

This approach also allowed us to transition the site from a legacy theme and classic editor to Gutenberg, which gives EGPAF a much more modern, block-based editorial experience.

Flexible navigation and reimagined taxonomies.

One of the central priorities of this redesign was to better communicate who EGPAF is and what they do, while remaining flexible enough to surface timely content aligned with current events and organizational focus areas.

In the new site, navigation is fully-optimized for flexibility. EGPAF staff can curate the topics living in the main navigation (see: Our Work > Featured Countries > Featured Work) to showcase their work in line with current events, funding opportunities, and what people are paying attention to.

We also developed a faceted taxonomy system to replace their existing system of loose tags. Tags are now nested within main buckets of work, which brings logic to the incredible breadth and depth of their work, and ultimately creates a more intuitive and meaningful way for users to explore research, stories, and resources.

Using design to facilitate storytelling.

EGPAF has an exceptionally rich asset library, full of photography and video that brings their work to life. However, a legacy backend made it difficult to surface these stories in ways that reflected their depth and impact. By unlocking their asset library and introducing a more modern editing experience, we enabled EGPAF to build dynamic, interactive stories that better showcase both their brand and the real-world outcomes of their work.

One standout area in the new site where this takes shape is Ideas & Impact. Previously, EGPAF presented their stories as a grid-like view of blog posts that didn’t convey the importance and weight of the stories they were telling.

In the new site, this section blends curation with utilitarianism. At the top of the page, editors can curate featured stories, highlight the latest updates, and surface podcasts and press coverage. Below this, users who need it can still use a searchable library for deeper exploration, fueled by the new taxonomy system. Individual stories feature full bleed images and a parallax on scroll to make them more immersive, with intentional pacing.

“ThinkShout was an incredible partner during our website refresh, helping us create a site that reflects where our organization is now and gives us flexibility for what’s ahead. They made a complex migration feel seamless, were always responsive and budget-conscious, and brought a level of friendliness and understanding that made the whole process genuinely enjoyable.”