WORK

St Margaret’s College is a residential college located right in the heart of the University of Otago campus, providing more than just accommodation to its student members.

Their mission is to offer a true "home away from home" - a special community that supports and encourages students to be their best selves. Guided by the motto Altiora in votis ('Set your heart on higher things'), St Margaret’s is grounded in the values of care and connection, ensuring every resident has the comforts and support they need to thrive both academically and personally.

The College’s ambition was to create a website that reflected this nurturing spirit: welcoming, inclusive, and aspirational - a place where prospective students and their whānau could feel the sense of belonging the College offers, understand the admissions process, and explore the vibrant social life available to members.

We designed and built St Margaret’s College’s new website to:

• Create a welcoming digital space that reflects the College’s identity as a safe, supportive environment where students can grow into confident, connected individuals.
• Empower future students by clearly communicating the specific pathways to residency, demystifying the multi-step application process involving eVision and the College's specific additional information form.
• Showcase the vibrancy of college life, using engaging content to highlight the diverse mix of backgrounds, the busy social and cultural calendar, and the opportunities for new learning and friendships.
• Strengthen engagement outcomes by improving the visibility of key calls to action, such as booking a tour to experience the venue firsthand or applying for the Centenary Scholarship Fund.
• Support the College’s leadership in their commitment to fostering a community where ideas and cultures mix, ensuring the digital presence appeals to eligible first-year students from various backgrounds and abilities.

The new St Margaret’s College website embodies the organisation’s values in digital form - supportive, academic, and community-driven.

It balances the logistical requirements of university accommodation with a message of warmth and opportunity, creating a trusted space where students can seek a place to belong and set their hearts on higher things.

By clarifying the application journey and showcasing the unique "St Margs" experience, the new website enables the College to continue its vital mission: selecting a diverse cohort of students and providing them with the care and comforts they need to succeed