Overview
IATSE Local 856, established in 1893, represents more than 100,000 specialty artists, technicians, and freelance craft workers across North America. Its members, many with over fifteen years of experience in the Manitoba film industry, have contributed their talents to a wide array of projects, including movies of the week, seasonal specials, and renowned TV shows and major feature films.
When Eckler took on the project to revamp IATSE Local 856’s website, I was tasked with leading the initiative. The goal was a complete overhaul to improve the site’s appearance, information architecture, usability, and accessibility of information for union members and applicants. The website redesign aimed to align with the latest web development trends and best practices, featuring modern typography, a colour palette consistent with the union’s branding, and ample white space to enhance readability and appeal to a new generation of filmmakers.
The process was seamless; we engaged with the IATSE 856 team, identifying and prioritizing the most valuable information, to streamline sections that no longer served a purpose.
Redesign
The new design emphasized a large hero banner showcasing film stills from Manitoba productions, accompanied by a call to action encouraging visitors to join the union.
Crafts represented by Local 856 and workforce statistics were prominently displayed, underscoring the union’s impact. A new blog-style “News” section kept members updated on events, nominations, celebrations, contests, and on-set developments, presented in a masonry layout for easy navigation.
A comprehensive footer, complementing the global navigation, facilitated exploration of all sections, offering insights into Local 856’s work and the benefits it provides members.
A breath of fresh air
Screenshots of the approved prototypes for the IATSE 856 redesign demonstrate how closely the current online version aligns with our initial vision.
Before & After
Although I didn’t implement the project due to a career move, I defined the information architecture and appearance of the new IATSE Local 856 website. The current website, implemented in WordPress by another developer, adheres to the guidelines and branding established during my tenure, guided by our project manager, Tom Milne.
Before
After
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