Blog

Created with assistance from ChatGPT

At Hop Studios, we’re passionate about leveraging technology to support scholarly communities and advance important causes. Since April 2021, we’ve worked with The Medical Cultures Lab at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), a dedicated scholarly community focused on understanding medical culture and promoting health equity.
When we began to collaborate, the Lab’s website was already a powerful resource for researchers and scholars, providing easier access to valuable information and tools. Our main goal was to improve the site’s ease of use and functionality for visitors and those maintaining it.

The Challenge

The Medical Cultures Lab’s original website, built on Wix, served its purpose, but when it came to supporting the site’s growing needs, it lacked the flexibility and advanced functionalities needed by the research community accessing it. The team required a more robust platform that could better handle complex search functions, secure sensitive information, and provide a seamless user experience for both visitors and administrators.

Our Approach

The project began with a kickoff meeting, which allowed both teams to get acquainted and clearly define goals. The first step was to migrate the website from Wix to ExpressionEngine. ExpressionEngine’s versatility would offer the advanced features needed for the Lab’s work. During this process, we also implemented tools that would better assist the research community in accessing data.

Key Enhancements

• New Hosting and DNS Migration: We ensured a stress-free transition by setting up new hosting and managing the DNS migration process.
• ExpressionEngine Configuration: We installed and configured ExpressionEngine, laying a strong foundation for the custom website.
• Tailored Design: We created mockups for 10 different page types, each designed to meet the specific needs of The Medical Cultures Lab.
• Advanced Search Functionality: A sophisticated search form was implemented, featuring text searching with relevancy rankings, category searches with “AND” and “NOT” functions, and the ability to download search results in CSV format.
• Secure Content Access: We developed a password-protected area to secure sensitive information and restricted content.
• Custom Request Form: A custom request form with email notifications was built to streamline inquiries and communication.
• Analytics Setup: Google Analytics and Google Webmaster tools were configured to monitor and analyze site performance effectively.

Training and Support

No project is complete without thorough training. We provided the Medical Cultures Lab team with a comprehensive walkthrough of their new content management system and tools. We ensured they were fully equipped to manage and maintain their improved website on the new ExpressionEngine CMS.

The Result

The transformation of The Medical Cultures Lab’s website has been remarkable. The new site offers advanced search capabilities and offers visitors a more intuitive and easy-to-navigate experience. Researchers can now easily find curated resources, access white papers and articles, and utilize tools that support their qualitative and mixed methods research.

Check out the live site here to learn more.

What’s Next

In 2026, Hop Studios will begin transitioning The Medical Cultures Lab website to a new format aligned with the lab’s changing goals. The site will shift from an interactive experience to a clear, information-driven website design. Visitors will still find the information they need, presented in a new, user-friendly way. Stay tuned for updates on our ongoing collaboration with The Medical Cultures Lab.

We’re proud to support The Medical Cultures Lab’s mission to understand and improve medical culture. This project exemplifies our commitment to creating transformative digital solutions that empower communities and drive meaningful change.

Stay tuned for more updates on our work and insights into how we’re helping clients achieve their goals through innovative web solutions!