Featured Client
From institutional to inviting: a content overhaul for the City of Mankato's new website.
The City of Mankato was preparing to work with a company to redesign their website. As they evaluated what they wanted from a new site, they decided refreshed copy and content was a priority.
As a city of over 40,000 people, the City of Mankato offices span a lot of services, including transit, utilities, public safety, parks and recreation, and more. All of these services and departments have multiple web pages, and all of them needed eyes on them.
I went through page-by-page and thought about how residents and visitors use the information. I edited down the text, and in some cases, made it skimmable. I talked to departments about how the information is used and changed the way things are organized on the site. I made the tone friendlier and more welcoming but still professional; less institutional and reduced the “government-speak”.
Not only am I serving on the website redesign team, but I also provide design services as needed for advertising, documents, and other needs. With an ongoing monthly contract, I serve as an extension of their Engagement and Communications Department team, consulting and providing active input for how the City engages with its audience.
Kate Hansen’s professionalism, expertise, and quality of work have been exceptional from the moment I began working with her and Blue Sun Designs. Kate has become an important extension of my team. She fits in seamlessly and is very responsive to both scheduled tasks and last-minute needs. She communicates regularly and truly cares about her contributions to our success. Kate “gets” us, and that’s critical when pulling a contractor into daily workflows.
Paul David
Engagement and Communications Director for the City of Mankato
The result is a site that feels less like a government portal and more like a genuine resource, one that makes it easier for residents to find what they need and engage with the city they call home. The work continues through an ongoing partnership with new content and design support added as Mankato's needs evolve.
Learn more about the City of Mankato's website at mankatomn.gov
Thinking about hiring, but not sure you need a full-time staff member? I’d love talk about how I can contribute to your team’s success!