As a team that loves building tools for community-driven organizations, this project was particularly special to us, as we were tasked with leading a complete digital transformation for the Jewish Museum of Maryland (JMM).
Our goal was not just to build a website, but rather to create a digital destination that feels as grounded and historic as the museum’s physical foundations, while remaining as vibrant and forward-looking as its future. We wanted to ensure that every pixel reflected the importance of the stories being told within the museum’s walls.
Who is the Jewish Museum of Maryland?
Located in the heart of Baltimore’s historic Jonestown neighborhood, on a campus that includes the landmark Lloyd Street Synagogue, the Jewish Museum of Maryland is the region’s leading destination for Jewish history and culture.
Image: The JMM Building
For over 60 years, JMM has served as a vital cultural hub and a cornerstone of the local community. They are much more than just the home of important collected artifacts; they actively tell the stories of Maryland’s Jewish community through immersive exhibits, public programs, and their robust educational outreach programs.
From exploring the immigrant experience to showcasing contemporary Jewish art, the museum’s mission is to spark curiosity and inspire action through the power of history. Their work ensures that the diverse voices of the past continue to resonate with and guide the leaders of tomorrow.
The Challenge: Matching a Physical Transformation
The museum recently underwent a major physical renovation to better serve its visitors. It was the perfect moment to ensure their digital presence matched this new architectural vision. They needed a site that accomplished several key goals:
- It had to make visit planning effortless for tourists and locals alike.
- It needed to serve as an engaging extension of the museum for those browsing from home.
- It had to provide their team with a powerful, easy-to-use backend to manage a high volume of events, news, and historical stories.
Image: JMM – Visit
The Design: Architecture in Every Pixel
This was another great project for us to bring in our friends and design partners at eighty2degrees, and in brainstorming the best design for JMM’s new website, eighty2degrees looked directly to the museum’s physical space for inspiration.
The resulting aesthetic is “Structural and Story-driven.” You will notice a bold, brick-themed color palette that pays homage to the museum’s physical masonry, alongside clean, open layouts that provide ample breathing room for historical photography.
One of our favorite details is the subtle use of arched designs throughout the user interface, which is a nod to the museum’s iconic windows and architecture. This creates a modern and cohesive frame for housing timeless artifacts.
The Tech: More Than a Brochure
We wanted the JMM site to be a destination in its own right rather than a static page. Here are just a few things we did to make the user experience seamless:
- Dynamic Event Management: We built custom, flexible layouts for their events and updates. This allows users to easily browse upcoming programs, as well as register and add the events to their calendar that they’re planning to attend.
- A Powerful Backend: A museum is only as vibrant as its content. We provided the JMM team with an intuitive management system, ensuring they can update galleries, announce events, and share news without any technical friction.
- Effortless Discovery: From the “Virtual Galleries” to the “Explore the Collections” sections, the site is designed for discovery. It encourages users to get lost in the history of Maryland’s Jewish community through an interface that is both beautiful and functional.
Image: JMM Calendar
A Collaborative Success
This project was a true trifecta of talent, combining the architecturally-inspired vision of eighty2degrees, our own web engineering expertise, and the deep historical knowledge of the JMM team.
We spent a significant amount of time aligning the technical infrastructure with the visual identity, ensuring that the final product was as functional as it was beautiful. By bringing these different perspectives together, we were able to create a digital ecosystem that bridges the gap between historical preservation and modern user experience.
We are proud to have played a role in building a digital home that respects the past while looking toward a bright, inclusive future. The result is a dynamic, engaging site that is ready to help the museum continue its vital work for generations to come.
We invite you to explore the new site and see how we have brought Maryland’s Jewish heritage into the digital age.