Newspaper
New year, new image
The Landscape Institute is kicking off 2006 with the launch of a fresh image and a fantastic new website.
The new site will be up and running on 30 January at www.landscapeinstitute.org and will coincide with the launch of the new LI logo.
Marco Forgione, director of marketing and communications at the LI, told Vista: "The new website is a fully-enhanced service. We've gone back to basics and we've spent a lot of time thinking about not only who we want to communicate with, who our constituent bodies are, but also what we are trying to say; what our mission is, and what our ambitions are."
Forgione said that one of the main aims of the site is to clarify and define the very essence of landscape architecture. "It is such a broad, wide-ranging profession, and we wanted to communicate not just in words, but also in the feel and look of the website, what landscape architecture is really about," he said.
"A secure members' area will provide an incredible, enhanced service with greater detail and useful briefing on how to communicate with potential clients, both as an individual professional, but also as a practice," he continued.
Forgione explained that in the members' area there will be a full list of members with names, grades and e-mail addresses and the public section of the website will include an enhanced marketing tool for registered practices. "Each practice will have the facility to upload three images with brief details about projects that they are working on, so that users looking for a landscape architecture firm can scroll through and see work that is currently being undertaken by practices. Members will be able to edit their section and upload different images as often as they like," he said.
The improved site will feature an interactive events and news section, where members will be able to book LI events online, and there will also be links to third party events. "Members will be able to register to receive job and recruitment alerts automatically, and an impressive, enhanced news service will mean that members can register to receive press releases that have been issued either by the Landscape Institute or by relevant third parties," Forgione said.
"Our award-winning publications Landscape and Vista will have their own sections within the website, where people can register to receive updates," he added.
Forgione stressed that there will also be an increased focus on the regional LI branches, with each branch being allocated a specific area in which to promote their work and events. "It's all about having the information and communicating it effectively – that's been the ethos of the development for the website," he commented.
Bristol-based firm Enable created the website and commissioned artist Rowena Dugdale to produce a series of colourful graphic collages intended to represent the diverse and varied nature of landscape architecture. Forgione explained: "I believe Landscape architecture is about people's interaction with space – be it urban or rural – it's about the footprint of human existence, and I think that the collages encompass that fantastically well. Every time you visit the homepage you will see a different colourful collage."
Forgione told Vista that he is "very excited" about the website. "The whole thing is a united, coherent communications tool. For eight years, the LI has been discussing image and identity, and for four years, we have been talking about getting the website organised. We've now managed to do it – we've taken it forward and pressed ahead and I think we have delivered way above expectations. I think that we will have the premier built-environment website."
Forgione believes the new website is symbolic of the new-look LI: "There has been a period of flux and change for a number of years now and I think that we've drawn a line under that and have very clearly set out an agenda to progress the profession, and take forward the key important role that landscape architects are now playing at a national and international level," he commented.
Forgione concluded: "The appointment last year of Marion Bowman as director general – somebody who has a good deal of experience in the media and in communications – is beginning to show real results. The new website, the new identity, the new logo, and the ways in which we will be communicating and doing our business from now on, put us at the very forefront of organisations, where I believe the Landscape Institute needs to be."
The new website is due to be launched on 30 January and will be found at www.landscapeinstitute.org.
Discuss this articleWould you like to read more? To receive your copy of the Landscape Institute's monthly newspaper subscribe today.
