Beyond static: Bringing stanford.edu to Life

Websites often sit perfectly still while the world moves around them. In large, complex redesign projects — like a top-level domain overhaul — animation and motion are usually the first things cut. Budget pressures, hard deadlines and scope creep have a way of pushing our most delightful ideas to "the next version." But what if a little motion made it all the way to launch? This session explores how a deliberate, well-scoped approach to animation elevated the redesign of stanford.edu beyond what's typically expected from a higher ed website. We'll walk through real examples from the project — from subtle micro-interactions to more expressive moments — and discuss how the team balanced creative ambition with accessibility considerations and user controls. Whether you're mid-redesign or planning your next one, you'll leave with practical strategies for making the case for motion and actually getting it shipped.