As a team that loves working with mission-driven organizations, partnering with the National Art Education Association on their new website was an especially exciting project for us. NAEA represents a passionate and creative community, so it was important that their digital home reflected that same energy and purpose.
Our goal was not just to launch a new website, but to create an engaging digital space that supports educators, highlights member creativity, and makes it easier for the community to connect with resources, events, and one another. We wanted every interaction with the site to feel inspiring, approachable, and easy to navigate.
Who is the National Art Education Association?
Founded in 1947, the National Art Education Association is the professional home for visual arts educators. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, NAEA serves teachers, students, researchers, and arts leaders across the United States and beyond.
For decades, NAEA has supported art educators through professional learning, advocacy, research, and community programs. The organization plays a key role in strengthening arts education in schools and communities, helping educators shape the next generation of creative thinkers.
From national conferences to ongoing professional development and shared resources, NAEA creates spaces for connection, growth, and creative exchange.
Image: NAEA National Convention 2025: Vibrant; Source: Frank Juárez
Bringing a Creative Community to Life Online
NAEA’s previous website did not fully reflect the energy and creativity of its members. The story of the organization felt buried, and valuable resources were harder to find than they needed to be. Visitors often had to dig through multiple pages to reach key programs, events, and member benefits, which created friction for both new and returning users.
The challenge was to create a digital experience that felt alive, welcoming, and easy to explore for a wide range of users. Educators at different career stages visit the site with different goals, so the experience needs clear pathways to content while still encouraging exploration and discovery.
The site also needed to support a large and active organization with frequent updates, events, and content. Content teams required a structure that could handle ongoing changes without slowing down their workflow. The final experience had to balance inspiration with usability, offering a clear structure for members while still leaving room for creativity to shine.
The Design: Vibrant, Playful, and Inviting
Working alongside eighty2degrees, we reimagined the layout with a focus on flow, personality, and visual energy. The new direction favors open compositions, confident color choices, and crisp type that feels contemporary without losing warmth. Modular sections and flexible layouts give the content room to breathe, while custom accents and playful details echo the creative spirit of the art education community.
Image: NAEA homepage
The finished experience feels lively and approachable. Content is easy to scan, pathways are clear, and visual cues invite visitors to explore further. Subtle motion and thoughtful spacing add polish without getting in the way. The overall effect turns the site into a place to engage with ideas and people, not just a place to look up information.
The Tech: Built for Discovery, Ease of Use, and Creative Showcase
We wanted the NAEA website to make it easy for educators to discover everything the organization offers while also celebrating the creativity of the community. The site structure supports clear navigation across resources, programs, and events, which helps visitors quickly find what matters most to them.
Image: NAEA Exhibitions / Virtual Gallery
Key features such as the virtual gallery put member artwork front and center, creating space for educators to share and explore visual work. The dynamic event calendar makes it simple to find upcoming workshops, conferences, and learning opportunities.
On the backend, the NAEA team now has a user-friendly system that gives them full control over content updates. This makes it simple to share news, highlight initiatives, and keep the site fresh as programs evolve. The technical foundation supports ongoing growth without friction for the internal team, turning the site into an active destination rather than a static resource. The result reflects the vibrant work NAEA does every day and presents it in a way that feels engaging and accessible.
A Collaborative Success
This project was a true collaboration between our team, NAEA staff members, and our design partners at eighty2degrees. Together, we aligned creative direction, technical execution, and organizational goals to create a digital platform that supports NAEA’s mission.
The final result is a site that feels like a natural extension of the NAEA community. It brings together strong visual identity, thoughtful user experience, and a flexible technical foundation that will support the organization for years to come. We are proud to have helped create a digital home that celebrates art educators and the important work they do every day.
We invite you to explore the new site and experience how NAEA’s vibrant community comes to life online.