University of Cologne: in2code

With approximately 45,000 students, the University of Cologne is one of Germany’s largest and most internationally connected universities. This scale creates exceptionally high demands for its digital presence, where diverse target groups and complex organizational structures intersect.

We guided the university through a strategic overhaul of its central and department-level websites. By consolidating a complex, legacy web landscape, we improved user orientation and established a sustainable, forward-looking digital communication strategy.

We supported the university in the areas of concept and design – from initial analysis and strategic alignment to information architecture, UX/UI design, and prototyping, as well as accessibility, documentation, and code hand-off. Every phase was carried out in close coordination with the university's relevant committees and web team.

The technical integration into existing systems (TYPO3 and ZMS) and the final go-live were subsequently handled by the University of Cologne itself. Through close collaboration throughout the entire project lifecycle, a smooth handover and implementation were ensured.

A central goal of the relaunch was consistent audience orientation. Students, researchers, staff, and external users needed to find content faster and navigate intuitively. Today, a streamlined navigation structure, clear page hierarchies, and a consistent design ensure significantly improved user guidance across all levels.

As a public institution, the University of Cologne must adhere to rigorous accessibility standards. Accessibility was therefore integrated into the strategy, concept, and design from the outset. Through prototyping, user testing, and a comprehensive accessibility audit, we developed a highly accessible, responsive web design that enables inclusive use across all devices.

The result is a modern, clearly structured, and future-proof web architecture designed for long-term maintenance and evolution. This relaunch strengthens the University of Cologne’s digital visibility and establishes a robust foundation to meet future requirements.

With the 2025 web relaunch, the University of Cologne now possesses a clearly structured, audience-focused web architecture that provides intuitive orientation and makes content easier to find. The new web design is modern, accessible, and fully responsive, supporting inclusive use across all devices.

Furthermore, we have established a sustainable, future-proof system capable of integrating new requirements and content over the long term without compromising consistency or quality.

For us, this project serves as a prime example of successfully delivering complex digital initiatives within the higher education and public sectors—a project where strategic conception, user-centric design, and operational feasibility dovetail perfectly.

Strategie & Konzeption

Informationsarchitektur & Navigation

UX/UI-Design

Prototyping & User-Testing

Barrierefreiheit & Accessibility-Audit

Übergabe, Schulung & Support

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David Richter | Product Owner & Project Manager

Strategic web relaunch for one of Germany’s largest universities