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When the New Student Programs team at Iowa State University began exploring new options for their online orientation, they were looking for more than a platform; they needed a partner. With a large volume of content, multiple student audiences, and the desire to create a more engaging and tailored experience, they switched to Advantage Orientation™ to bring their vision to life.

The result? A dynamic, well-organized digital experience that puts new students first and reflects the university’s unique brand.

Meeting the Needs of a Complex Content Structure

One of the biggest challenges Iowa State faced was the amount and complexity of the content they needed to deliver. Orientation couldn’t follow a one-and-done, one-size-fits-all model.

It needed to speak to:

• Different types of incoming students (like transfer students)
• Students who are declaring a major.
• Students who may change their major and need to revisit new information later

With the platform’s Member Groups feature, content is easily organized by student type and college, ensuring every learner sees what’s relevant to them, without wading through what’s not. That level of customization wasn’t possible on their previous platform.

“We had a lot of overlapping information. Advantage helped us reorganize it in a way that actually made sense to the student,” said Kelsey Nation, Online Orientation Coordinator.

A Dramatic Shift for a More Engaging Student Experience

With Advantage Orientation^®, Iowa State’s online orientation made a dramatic shift, from static info-dumps to a dynamic experience that feels personal and interactive while staying on-brand.

On-campus project leads leaned into the platform’s flexibility to deliver more than just information; they designed it with the intention to meet strategic goals.

Keep content digestible and interactive:

• Reveal slides and accordions break long sections into bite-sized pieces
• Animated transitions guide the eye and create a sense of flow

Reflect the Iowa State brand and marketing style:

• Custom layouts and branded callouts align the platform with Iowa State’s visual identity
• Every screen feels like an extension of their website (not a departure from it)

Build emotional connection and support belonging:

• Testimonial videos bring in real student voices, adding authenticity and relatability
• Personalized touches throughout help students feel seen and supported from the start

These aren’t just aesthetic upgrades. Each design choice serves a purpose, supporting cognitive load, reinforcing the brand, and helping students feel at home before they ever set foot on campus.

“We wanted our students to feel seen. The flexibility of the platform lets us bring that personal touch to every screen.”

Designed With Students, For Students

One of the most powerful aspects of the collaboration was a hands-on and student-focused approach to the process. The Iowa State team came prepared with extensive content and a clear vision, and our Client Success and Design teams worked closely with them to bring it all together.

This personalized support included:

• Creative guidance on how best to structure content
• Platform walkthroughs and strategy sessions
• Custom solutions within the project scope to meet their goals

From concept to launch, the development process became a collaboration and convergence of strategy, design, and purpose.

Smarter Orientation, Stronger Connections

After the soft launch, online orientation rolled out first to transfer students. It is already making a measurable impact:

• Content is more organized and manageable
• Students receive a more personalized experience
• Admins have greater flexibility to manage and update the platform
• The design reflects the Iowa State identity and voice

Looking Ahead

Iowa State’s new Advantage Orientation^® proves that thoughtful design and smart technology don’t just create a better student experience; they also support smoother operations and help the university stay aligned with its bigger goals. It’s informative, memorable, and built to flex with whatever the future brings. With unlimited training and support, Iowa State has an online orientation partner for the long term.

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