One website, 20+ unique visitor needs

Background

Established in 2011, the Lanier Theological Library and Learning Centre is a Christian learning community based in Texas and operated by the Lanier Foundation, a private non-profit organisation.

The centre is home to a world-class research library and chapel, and plays host to lectures, conferences, panel events, learning courses, guided tours, and worship services. With such a breadth of activity, the library attracts a wide audience of students, researchers, academics, event attendees, and visitors from across the globe.

We are a non-profit Christian organization that occupies a unique space, neither a church nor an academic institution, anchored by a theological library devoted to the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. We needed a bespoke website that could present complex information about the many resources and opportunities we offer, while capturing the unique beauty of our campus.
Janet, Senior Research Fellow

The challenge

The existing website was struggling to keep pace with Lanier’s ambitions. It was difficult to update, failed to articulate the breadth of what the library offered, and buried valuable learning resources deep within the site.

Through a digital product discovery, we identified that the site needed to support 25 distinct user needs. From deep researchers to casual visitors, each group had unique goals and expectations. The challenge was: how do you design a simple, welcoming website that makes sense to everyone?

At the same time, Lanier’s visual identity lacked cohesion online. The team had access to stunning photography of their library, chapel, and grounds, but the old website wasn’t doing them justice. There was also no digital-ready brand system in place to help unify communications.

Digital Product Discovery

Working closely with the team at Lanier, we began by exploring the breadth of audiences they needed to serve. Through workshops and exercises, we identified more than 25 different user needs, from deep researchers to casual visitors. We worked together to group these into four core user categories, library users, researchers, event attendees, and visitors.

This process helped us uncover each audience’s goals and pain points, and in turn guided the development of clear user journeys throughout the site. It also revealed the need for a new information architecture, one that could balance the demands of a working research library with the community-focused events and worship that also happen at Lanier.

At the same time, we began to explore the visual identity. Lanier’s existing branding was fragmented, so we ran style exercises to align on tone and look-and-feel. From this we established a direction that would reflect Lanier’s Christian heritage and academic credibility while still feeling warm and welcoming.

The Solution

A brand refresh

Alongside the website, we delivered a full brand refresh. Lanier’s original logo was designed for print, so we digitised and modernised it, introducing gold tones to reflect heritage and prestige. We also created a new colour palette and typography system to balance academic authority with a sense of warmth and ministry.

This new identity provided the foundation for a suite of custom brand assets, icons, arrows, and templates, that Lanier can use across the website and wider communications. These custom elements enhance the user experience and brand identity through unique, consistent visual cues, as well as elevating the overall design of the site.

Podcast Integration

Podcasts are a key part of Lanier’s learning resources. We integrated the website directly with Libsyn, automatically pulling in episodes to ensure the site is always up to date.

Visitors can listen to episodes using a custom on-site player or click through to their preferred podcast platform, with all play data captured in one place for consistent reporting and insight. This creates a seamless user experience while increasing visibility and engagement with Lanier’s growing library of audio content.

Design & Build

The final website is rich and complex in content but feels simple to use, thanks to a clear structure that makes it easy for users to find what they need. The new site feels welcoming and distinctly Christian, encouraging people to explore the community, attend events, and take part in learning. It is also visually elevated, giving Lanier the brand presence they deserve and showcasing the beauty of their library, chapel, and grounds.

Key features include:

Bespoke education section promoting Lanier’s range of courses.
Resource library surfacing a wealth of video and learning content, presented with custom templates for consistency.
Events hub with filtering tools to help people quickly find what matters to them.
Image-led design, optimised to highlight Lanier’s stunning photography without compromising site speed.

Built with Rareloop’s custom page builder, the site gives the Lanier team full flexibility to create new layouts and pages as their community and resources grow. Bespoke components, such as a dynamic header showcasing rotating imagery, have added depth and movement to the overall design.

The Outcome

The new website has transformed the way Lanier communicates online, and saves the team significant admin time, empowering the team to update content quickly while maintaining a high brand standard.

Most importantly, the site now truly reflects who Lanier are, what they stand for, and the value they offer to their diverse community. The team are proud to share their website, knowing it provides a clear and welcoming entry point for every type of user.

The site provides Lanier with a scalable platform that can grow alongside their library, events and resources.

Rareloop led the project with creativity, technical expertise, and genuine enthusiasm for our mission. From the very beginning, they grasped our vision and purpose, translating both into a website that is visually rich, thoughtfully structured, and deeply reflective of who we are, serving us locally and representing us globally. We’re extremely proud of the outcome and grateful for Rareloop’s partnership in bringing it to life.
Janet , Senior Research Fellow

A premium website for faith, tradition, and learning

Outcomes at a glance