A PR network for the world

www.iprn.com

Formed in 1995 the Independent Public Relations Network (IPRN) is now the world’s largest independent agency network and offers opportunities for client referrals and for members to work together on global projects for clients.

IPRN's previous website design:

We were asked to design and build a new website for the IPRN as its existing website, whilst functional, was dated and didn’t accurately convey the forward thinking nature of the organisation.

There are two main purposes to the IPRN website: to attract potential clients, directing them to the relevant IPRN agencies and to encourage other independent PR agencies to join the IPRN.

As such, the original brief was to make the current site more user friendly and appealing, with improved navigation and ensuring the key areas are more visible for visitors to the site. We expanded on this brief, highlighting that the site should be more current, engaging, visually accessible and a ‘living’ entity – ie regularly updated with informative content – to help reinforce IPRN’s brand reputation and value proposition.

In addition, we were asked to come up with ideas for refreshing the existing IPRN brand, which included redesigning the logo to create a fresh, contemporary and bold identity that enhances the brand and reflects its members’ global expertise.

So, following a competitive pitch process, we got to work implementing the chosen logo – a series of orange off-centre, concentric circles that allude to the global nature and knowledge sharing of the IPRN, with contrasting black text – and building the new site.

Our new IPRN identity

We built the site using Wordpress as it needed to be simple to use for members and non-members, with clear navigation and easily uploadable content. We also created a specific Members only area using Buddypress, to make it easy for members to add their own content and news, thereby encouraging the sharing of information and expertise and also increasing the site’s SEO.

A test version of the site was unveiled to the IPRN members at the annual general meeting in Buenos Aires, to very positive feedback, with the site going live this month.

IPRN founder member Maggi Fox, who has been instrumental in launching the new site said:  

“We're delighted with the fresh, crisp appearance of the site. It wasn't an easy job for the designers to provide a site which had to satisfy so many members from so many countries and they met these challenges to the great satisfaction of us all."  

View the new site here: www.iprn.com